Reviews

Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s by Sarah Ditum

ruthless_rubies69's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

miaetramontana's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

4.25

thisisadebut's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

yotterz's review

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dark informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

kocherreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective sad

4.0

beckychristina's review against another edition

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informative reflective fast-paced

2.5

A critical reflection on the toxic tabloid and internet coverage of nine female noughties celebs.

This book read a little like an early dissertation draft to me, but it was generally written in a very accessible manner and able to surmise a cultural moment.
It’s perhaps unfair to expect Ditum to add anything new to this conversation as it’s been written on many times in recent years. I think some of the attempts to draw her own new connections and conclusions are perhaps a little tenuous.

It is, however, an interesting read, and good to reframe some pop culture memories with modern context, but I suspect there are better books on the same topic. I’m interested in recommendations if anyone has some in mind!

knick83's review against another edition

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informative

3.75

bellahtrix's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.25

emilyrosebooks's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

If you are a millennial, particularly a female, this was so incredibly informative and healing. Each chapter documents the rise, and often the fall, of all the 90s and 2000s icons. I remember so many of the instances referred to in this book, but looking at it through the lens of 2024 and the excellent insight of the author, paints it all in such a different light. If you were growing up and learning how to define and value yourself in this time frame, this is a must read.

_bethb's review against another edition

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2.0

I was really into the idea of this book but the author didn’t really seem to actually say anything. Wanted more analysis and original thoughts. Also didn’t really like the audio narration.