Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

23 reviews

agw622's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This is a very heavy book. It is well written, but some of the sections weren't my favorite. One near the end exploring some symbolize that is speculated also gives the feel of as a way out of the horribleness the book covers. It handles sensitive subjects well. While it does give some voice to Penelope, it doesn't fully empower her. I thought it fitting, but keep that in mind. The maid sections were very well done and my favorite part.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, and Infidelity

meg_elyse's review against another edition

informative reflective sad 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Blood, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Misogyny

Minor: War, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

3arth2kaye's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Animal death

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and War

kotahlotah's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Slavery, Misogyny, Violence, Abandonment, Rape, and Infidelity

kleaf's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Slavery, Murder, and Rape

azalia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual violence

Minor: Toxic relationship, War, Emotional abuse, Gore, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Torture

sparksofdaisy's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Murder, and Infidelity

of_course_it_is's review

reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Minor: Misogyny and War

alix_the_book_witch's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

courtneyfalling's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I had to read this as a high school freshman right after my English class finished The Odyssey, and I really loved it then. It has a very second wave feminist approach to Penelope's story and Odysseus's brutal slaughter of her twelve maids, alongside all Penelope's suitors, and it made me realize how much of an aside, an afterthought, the maids were treated as in The Odyssey itself, as well as all the ethical and gendered issues present in classical mythology. I was at an age where I felt like I was constantly given conflicting advice about girlhood then punished no matter what advice I took, and so the main framing of the story hit home. But looking back now, it's... very second wave. In a cliche and kind of predictable way. And I wish we'd gotten more perspectives from the maids themselves, not only their generalized and preachy choruses and Penelope's external, often patronizing take on them. And there's so much crap Margaret Atwood keeps doing that I really only revisited this to see what I think now, and I don't plan to read any more Margaret Atwood after this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: War and Slavery

Minor: Infidelity