Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - My Policeman

Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

My Policeman by Bethan Roberts

29 reviews

islamaunder21's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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guyjoey86's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Overall a really nice book but just wished there were more poc especially woc but I understand it was set in the 60s or around that time when people were not as excepting

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banannabel's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

So beautifully written. Emotional. Reading it the first time takes you on a journey with the characters. Reading it a second time gives you a deeper understanding of them.

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sunny_bumblebee's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

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higherwvrlvck's review against another edition

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reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

To sum up this book in one word: devastating. The cover and synopsis could tell you that much, but reading it, you feel it in many different ways you may not expect. Besides her beautiful prose, Bethan Roberts narrative structure was really clever and interesting. Most of the novel is told retrospectively from Marion's point of view. Two of the five parts are written/narrated by Patrick. While all three characters-Patrick, Tom, and Marion-are apart of the story, it really feels like Marion has the main voice. Thus, she seems to be the protagonist of this novel. But having Patrick as also another voice highlights their common subject, Tom or My Policeman. In the acknowledgements, Roberts mentions the main sources she used to write the novel, but the novel has also been advertised as "Inspired by the life of E.M. Forster and his relationship with his long-time companion Bob Buckingham and his wife." Reading this in the synopsis is what really convinced me to read My Policeman, having watched Maurice (1987) and knowing a bit about Forster's life. It definitely lived up to that selling point, but I wonder where the line is drawn between fact and fiction. Overall, really loved this book, but I found it a bit slow at times, Marion was a bit of an annoying narrator/character, and while the ending absolutely broke my heart, the story still felt incomplete with some practical gaps in the plot line.

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insanelyfruity's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

"You were looking at Tom without smiling, with an expression of deep absorption. You considered him, in the same way that others in the room were considering the displays."

I think the quote above sums up the relationships between the characters very well.
it took me a while to read this book because I could feel just how sad it was and that made it hard for me to read. everytime I picked up the book I was immediately engrossed and wanted to know what would happen but I had to pace out the reading for the sake of my mental peace.
this book is so gorgeously written and even though I wasn't alive in Brighton in the 50s-60s, I'm sure it's very accurate about the time period it mentions. I'm so glad that the author chose to deal with a sensitive topic like this with the proper care and respect by doing research and not romanticising terrible moments in history. the movie recently came out and I think because of all the details in the book, the book is more impactful than the movie.
I am so glad I stuck with this book. definitely would recommend.

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cat_astrophe12's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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james1star's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Currently a 4.5 ⭐️ but this could quite easily change.

My thoughts are kinda all over the place with this book. But one thing I am certain of is ‘this is a tragedy. One of the best.’ (This is a quote from my favourite part of the book and it perfectly sums up the story of Tom Burgess, this story)

My Policeman was my most anticipated read of the year after finding out about the book and story when I first got into reading around February/March. The plot, setting and characters really intrigued me and I felt I just needed this book in my brain and life. And in all honesty I don’t think it lived up to the hype I put upon it - this is my own fault but still like it did kinda underdeliver - but it was still good just not great.

The basic plot is: Marion (Tom (the policeman)’s wife) is writing an account of the past to Patrick (Tom’s gay lover) in 1999 after he came to stay following a series of strokes. She thinks back to how she met Tom, her teenageish years, teacher training, marriage, and just like other stuff. Another POV portrayed is from Patrick with his journal/diary entries from that time of how he met ‘My [his] Policeman’, their relationship and also his backstory/personal life and then a bit later. It’s essentially a love triangle with both Marion and Patrick expressing their admiration and love for Tom and how this set up was doomed to fail. There is a lot more with other characters and plot lines and things but I don’t want to spoil anything.

My main issue I found is how Marion, in her sixties, is able to think back forty-ish years ago and portray so much detail in her recollections. I just think like how? Yes it’s not like daily journal entries like Patrick’s POV and it is interjected with (then) present day accounts of what’s happening in her life, but I don’t think someone merely thinking back could pen that level of detail about another person’s lipstick or thoughts and stuff. I don’t know it just didn’t add up fully in my head.

What I loved most was the setting and how realised it was. Brighton is an area I do know a bit about but would like to visit and explore more. The city and surrounding areas really does come to life and the descriptions of places, people and scenarios is written really well. There are many nice, hopeful, sweet and heartwarming parts of the book but oh my A LOT of heartache and sadness. It’s a very difficult and heavy read I found but also captivating and makes you read on.

The characters. It’s difficult to gather together my thoughts. They are all nuanced. Ugh I don’t know!! Marion - she is a nice person who was caught up in a ‘bad’ situation because of the society and laws of the time. Things having been different, I feel she’d of been upset to have lost Tom but accepted him. She did a very unforgivable thing which filled me with rage (especially the child part!!! Omfg nope, no way bitch - sorry I’m passionate) but she was hurting bad. I am confusion. Patrick - I did like him and I most definitely preferred reading his parts, I just was more empathetic to him and I felt very touched and saddened by certain things he went through (especially with Michael - my heart = shatters) and I felt he was a very kind and giving person. Tom - oh hun. Wrong time to be alive - well wrong attitudes and laws - because it ruined his life and those he loved too. I don’t know honestly, I want to love him but also certain things just ughhhh but then like he couldn’t have acted differently… I… ummm. Brain not functioning right now. Julie - I loved you girl. Awgh of my favourite parts of the book was with you and Marion in the part bit where you confessed something. But also you did kinda sow a couple seeds which lead to things. But like they’d of came abound anyway in all honesty but still. Sylvie - you did some things that were kinda (well were) deceitful and wrong. And what you said about Tom to Marion ugh maybe you should have been a bit more persistent… told her straight like you did after the thing? There are more characters but I want to end on my favourite of the bunch… Patrick’s mum - I love you. I needed more more you. You were just agh my heart. Your attitude was it. Yes mam.

I do feel I have a lot more to say about this book, like I could have a massive mind blurt and roll on and on. I also have questions and needed more but also like quite a few parts of the book I was thinking this is a little needless, I don’t really care that much. But also like it was good. I don’t know l. My thoughts are honestly all over the place and it’s been very difficult trying to compose them. This leads to my rating. I so so badly wanted this to be a full on 5 ⭐️but I don’t know… with some parts it is undoubtedly so but others are closer to 3. In general I think I would give it a 4-ish maybe. I don’t know!! I’m so confused but also like I do need to factor the time period and everything and just like yhhh. I think I’ll give it a 4.5 ⭐️ rating overall. But this is likely to change. I do know one thing for sure: I need to give this book a reread.

Final point: I did watch the film right after finishing the book and it was good. I liked the scenery and characters and stuff. I would say the book was better and there were (obviously) changes made with quite a lot of the book being left out. This included my favourite scene of Patrick in prison shortly after Marion’s visit just the whole thing gripped me. So Yhh good not great, sad but nice and would like to watch it again.

Content Warnings

steffan_tastic's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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binreads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Let me preface this by saying, I did pick this book up so I could read before the movie came out because of my boy Harry.

This book is complicated for me, with characters who are extremely complicated. It's a very sad and tragic story. It's hard for me to completely like or dislike any of them. They all have their strengths and huge flaws. I finished the book and thought "...that's it? that's how it ends?"

I hurt for both Marion and Patrick. I actually really disliked Tom. For using Marion, who is seemingly was so blinded by love she would do anything for Tom, even when he didn't deserve it. And for not allowing himself to be true to himself, and be fully with Patrick.

I almost wonder if that's the exact reason he chose to marry her. He knew she was in love with him. Maybe he always knew, sensing her infatuation in their younger years. It wasn't fair to anyone involved. He loved Marion platonically but he should've at least tried to show he cared for her. He must've to some extent if he married her? Cut to the part where he finds out Patrick has been arrested and he has the nerve to break down to her. He never had the courage to tell her his true feelings, and yet I guess he suspected she knew? I hate how he gaslit her anytime she stuck up for herself. It was so infuriating. He was way too concerned with the proper way of doing things, his job and reputation and not the people in his life.

I think they were all pretty selfish in different ways. Patrick, for being the 3rd wheel in their marriage, full well knowing here's a woman who genuinely loves her husband and here you are having a secret relationship. Marion, for not leaving Tom and allowing herself to move on - instead writing the dreaded letter that ruins everything and hurts everyone. That was unforgivable. I'll never understand why she couldn't work it out with Tom or just leave him. And Tom, for unfortunately using both people for his own needs.

Heck! Tom should've married Julia then it could've been a Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo kinda situation. An understanding between them all to love whom they wanted in private. I sensed she was also queer and even rooted for Marion to have feelings for her.

I am really excited for the movie because I think it will portray Tom and Patrick's relationship better on screen. That's the one thing that confused me is I didn't expect this to be so much of Marion. I wish we got to see more from Patrick.

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