Oddbody by Rose Keating Reading Journal

How much of yourself are you expected to sacrifice just to be considered good enough?

This was easily my favourite story in the collection. I loved the writing, especially the inner monologue, and how something so horrifying was treated as completely normal. The actress is literally having her body cut open and altered for a supporting role, feeling everything that's happening to her, and afterward she's left trying to sew herself back togeather. Yet another actor casually suggests that next time she should bring her own sewing kit because it would be more professional. I found that detail particularly disturbing.

To me, the story felt like a commentary on the expectations placed on women, especially when it comes to their bodies. The constant pressure to look a certain way, to endure discomfort without complaining, and to sacrifice parts of yourself for the approval of others. I also couldn't help thinking about exploitation and sexual violence, particularly how easily someone's suffering can be overlooked when it's considered part of their job.

What made it even more unsettling was that she wasn't even the main actress. She was putting herself through all of this for a supporting role, and smehow there was still room for crtiticism. It made me wonder at what point sacrifice stops being seen as sacrifice and simply becomes something people expect from you.

I loved how much there was to unpack in such a short story. The imagery was disturbing, but it never felt like it was there just for shock value. It genuinely made me think about bodily autonomy, ambition, and how much people are willing to lose in order to succeed. Definitely the story that stayed with me the most.