This unique book was not at all what I expected - in a "what the heck is going on" kind of way - and not easy to categorize. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it, which is generally how I feel about most all speculative fiction. It is beautifully written in a mesmerizing but detached way that is neither plot nor character driven. There were parts of the book that felt irrelevant to the story and more like a snapshot into the protagonist's life. Oddly, it was difficult to put the book down. I kept thinking about it when I wasn't reading it, longing for someone to discuss it with because it is so strange and unsettling. There are many other reviews summarizing the book as an allegorical statement about motherhood, but I found it challenging to actually tease out the author's message. It seems to be more about isolation, loss and fate. It was at times shocking, sad, and hopeful. This would be an excellent book club book.