Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Boy Parts

This book has altered my personality for the worser. This is my Joker. In all reality, Eliza Clark really made her character’s voice shine through. It was genuinely funny and unique without trying too hard. I’m not even sure I can do the praise I want to give justice. Anyone interested in reading should def know this book deals with horribly dark humor and literal crimes. The protagonist is a ~*horrible person*~ and sometimes that’s #goodforher but most of the time it is absolutely heinous.

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james1star's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Wow, what on earth did I just read? This book is very strange and deranged, like honestly I’m having a proper full on crisis. I don’t know where to start with this review…

What is the plot? I still don’t really know but basically we follow the main character Irina who gets invited to showcase her photography at a gallery in London in a few months so she sets out looking through her archives. In doing so she thinks back to different times in her life. There’s also her just going about her days, partying, picking up boys to photograph, seeing friends and family and things. Irina has a penchant for photographing ‘average’ looking young men in different but primarily submissive, vulnerable positions. She wants to view them via a female gaze, be in charge and have power over them. I liked how the men were all different in how they looked, not the typical model aesthetic, and it was refreshing seeing males viewed in this light. There’s a point where the story just kinda turns real weird (even more so) and you’re left like proper wtf? Eyes flicking left to right. Super uncomfortable.

Whilst she’s reminiscing, past trauma comes to light and this book is jam packed, literally overflowing with trigger warnings, explicit depictions of drug abuse, sexual content, sexual assault, rape, injury details, cursing, perversion, adult/minor relationships, blood and gore, body horror, alcoholism and just so many more. So definitely not for the faint hearted, it gets super intense. I would also say that each are not explored in a good light or positively at all. It’s refreshing in the blunt and millennial I guess writing style and inclusion of such topics but I would by no means take what the characters say and do as a guide - if anything do the opposite. This was a very uncomfortable read but oh my it was extremely captivating, I read it in basically two sittings because you are hooked. The pages literally turn themselves, you’re so invested and intrigued and constantly questioning everything. I dunno defo a strange one - reminiscent of when I read My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh and so is my next bit.

The characters. Oh my good lord above me was Irina so detestable!! Ahhh nope, ewww she was like the epitome of just horrible. She badmouths and doesn’t care about her friend Flo (she also talks about Irina on a blog and still has a crush on her which isn’t good but like nothing compared to how she’s treated) and the men she encounters. She’s super manipulative and doesn’t take people’s trauma into account, just using people as dispensable props in her story. She definitely thinks she ‘it’ reinforcing her good looks, skinniness, big breasts and how aesthetically pleasing she apparently is. This leads on to the disgusting fatphobia she spews and omfg it’s horrible to read at times. There’s also a subtle racist and paedophilic rhetoric at times. I’m not done here but she is so misandristic like she definitely views men as lesser, a play thing, her property - this is super refreshing but it’s still not nice. My defence of Irina: she was groomed and abused when younger, has dealt with past trauma, extremely likely someone dealing with an undiagnosed mental health problem and addiction to drugs and alcohol so many of the things she does/says/thinks are not dismissible but there are underlying factors and causes for some - I think. It’s not explicitly stated but you need to really not be paying attention to not consider this. Whilst she is disgusting and depraved, hence very unloveable, Irina is by far the most developed and complex character and this exploration is another factor keeping you hooked to read on. Flo was alrightish, I dunno to be honest. She was wronged and caught between Irina and her boyfriend but she didn’t really do much to help herself, accosted mistreat and Yhh did some things that were not good. Our FTM trans character, Finch, was a great addition but I did want more development of his character because there’s little we actually know. Eddie from Tesco was kinda adorable I think. He was super under appreciated, used and abused by Irina and just I felt so bad for him. He did have an objectification outlook at times and whilst it’s not okay he was by far the most likeable and I desperately wanted good things to come his way. Most of the other characters we come across are slightly developed and heavily unlikable.

The writing was good. I liked the blunt, witty and straightforward way it was written, it’s very real, characters and places are brought to life. As stated, it’s difficult and uncomfortable to read but is very readable. I would say there is maybe an overuse of italics softening their impact at times. I did like the inclusion of texts and emails and the various forms of dialogue again adding realism. The UK specificness was an added bonus too like shops such as Tesco, Waitrose and British Heart Foundation, place names, universities and just a lot that was very much appreciated. The formatting and how the story develops is mostly good, but it does take a few tangents and spiralling moments - maybe to emphasise Irina’s deteriorating mental health and sanity - which picks up towards the end. The pacing is fast which again forces you to read on, it’s enjoyable and despite being so quick you still pick up on all the plot points.

Overall, I am very conflicted on this book. It fully captivated me, certainly a refreshing story with complex characters. But… it was an uncomfortable read, the many trauma and TW topics are not explored well and Yhh it’s a strange, depraved tale.

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hapikohw's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

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

3.0

Was she a prick? Yes, yes she was.

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winterdevil's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

...nothing matters, and nothing lasts. Everyone forgets, and everything disappears. ... Would anyone miss you, if you went away? Would anyone look for you? Would anyone listen, or even care, if I hurt you? If I put my hands around your neck and crushed your windpipe and chopped you up, would anyone find you? And if it's a no to any of these, did you even exist in the first place?

This book is not for everyone, but it is definitely for me.

From the first page, we know protagonist Irina is not a good person, but Clark renders her inner dialogue and the responses to people around her so well. We know what they're warning about and responding nervously to, even as we're forced to see it from Irina's perspective. Irina looks down on so many people; she is extremely condescending and resentful, yet the side characters were still sympathetic and well-rounded. We feel for them as we watch Irina take advantage.

I think the comparisons to American Psycho are apt, particularly regarding Irina's personality which feels in conversation with Patrick Bateman. Not a copy, but from an overlooked subject that broadens the discussion to include gender in the performance of power and violence.

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owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

"I have a photo of each leg, each arm, and his torso: all these boy parts, which I can arrange on my living room floor like a jigsaw."

Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.

I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.

I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.

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