To say you understand this book is to not have read it. The author has done both a lovely and torturous thing in that everything is constantly something else. There is a story of magic gingerbread, and a story of social woes. There is a story of family, and of being alone. There is subtext abound and simultaneously seemingly none at all. It’s intensely challenging and can be a bit tiresome at points so give it the benefit of the doubt on getting through it. 

In addition, I believe there are important “animal farm-esq” qualities to the writing. Are the dolls literal or are they the questions the author wishes us to ask, or both? Is it a story of mothers and daughters or do the mothers stand for something else entirely…? Perhaps societal expectations put upon us are reflected? Is Gretel a physical girl, a reflection of youth, the narrator’s own inner voice? These are questions you simply will not get the answer to fully. A wonderful and excruciating thing. 

Be prepared to invest time in this book, be prepared to annotate and process and get confused. Good luck!