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emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is ostensibly right up my alley, and if we were judging on the last chapter alone, this would get five stars for the sheer audacity of making me cry alone at a wine bar. However, I found myself more drawn to (most of) the side characters who were brought in for a single chapter before then disappearing to the background, and desperately wanted to spend more time with them. I also have some concerns about one of the queer side characters being used as a potentially problematic plot device, which casts a further shade. Ultimately though the writing in this is quite good and I love the arc it takes, it feels very emblematic of Sally Rooney without actually creating a broader theme or heart to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A gripping and gorgeous read, Coco Mellors’ writing style is beautifully descriptive. As others have said, Frank and Cleo’s actions are irritating and I sometimes found myself gobsmacked — but I believe this is the point of this book. My only complaint is that the wild, substance abusing NYC lifestyle felt unrealistic and fantastical which slightly took away from the otherwise relatable characters.
As I got towards the end I wasn’t sure whether there would be a second ‘plot’ - ultimately, I was glad there wasn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
dark
funny
hopeful
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Dementia, Grief, Toxic friendship
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Cleopatra and Frankenstein" is a book about a 20 something year old woman and a man 20 years older than her that impulsively get in a marriage that will change everything around them.
just even before reading the book I felt as if this was going to be a reading experience different from other books. before even reading the book I either read really good reviews or horrible reviews of it.
I would say that for me it was a very unique reading experience. I basically devoured the first half of the book in a week or two. After that I think I would avoid reading it. Either because I didn't want it to end since I've become attached to the characters not because of some feeling of being like them but just because I was reading about them and felt like I should watch out for them. On the other hand I think some parts of the book can be very stress inducing and sometimes I even felt sick. I think that's great when a book can do that much. But because of that I think a 3.75 review is good enough.
I liked this book but I'm a bit biased since I tend to like the sort of no plot books. I'd say the characters aren't that relatable to most of the people reading the book... Expect for Eleanor maybe. I don't see that as a flaw though since books aren't meant to just be mirrors of things we already know or of what we already are.
I'd say this book is very character driven and since I don't want to spoil anyone and I think the characters are what makes the story go on and keep the readers on the tip of their toes I think I should rate the characters and not the plot itself!
Starting with Cleo our main character. I personally liked Cleo. She could come off as too melodramatic but I think that's just how she was. At the end of the day she was still just in her twenties trying to figure herself out. Still I have to say it was a bit mean and painful when she shows Frank her final art piece.
It's Frank's turn now. I also liked Frank. I think he got the ending he needed and I was glad to see him get better by the end of the book though I find it unfair to Cleo how he only did it when he did it...I think Frank was a very flawed character and unfortunately for me I tend to like those characters a lot. Still he was very imature.
I think for Anders I can just say...The bathroom scene in his chapter...The man has some serious issues. I found it quite sweet how he took care.of his ex girlfriend's son even though he didn't have too. I think that gave him some depth but it still didn't make me like him.
Eleanor seemed to me the realest of all the characters. Her chapters were always quite comforting and seemed private like we were reading her diary's entries. When she made jokes I laughed and when she was sad I cried with her. I liked Eleanor and I was happy for her. Even though I'll admit that I kinda didn't like her in the beginning...
Quentin is Cleo's troubled best friend. I have to admit that in the beginning of the book I found him funny even though his behaviour was probably questionable...I mean his wedding present...? As the book went on I started to get tired and annoyed of him. I think for me he truly remembered me and encapsulated a toxic best friend I once had...And I had to say it hit a nerve every time he was reckless and every time he dismissed Cleo's problems. So I would have to say he is definitely not on my top 3...
Santiago is on my top 3 though! I quite liked Santiago and his whole character development. I liked to read about his past as I liked to read about his present. The way he cared for Cleo and also for Frank always made me smile.
Last but definitely not least I'm rating Zoe. Zoe is Frank's younger sister. I found her to be quite funny and it was entertaining to read about her life. I liked to read about her development and the way she grew as the narrative went on.
I think that's is all I have to say. I enjoyed reading this book and maybe a couple of yours from now when I'm in my twenties I'll reread this and find it even more realistic.
just even before reading the book I felt as if this was going to be a reading experience different from other books. before even reading the book I either read really good reviews or horrible reviews of it.
I would say that for me it was a very unique reading experience. I basically devoured the first half of the book in a week or two. After that I think I would avoid reading it. Either because I didn't want it to end since I've become attached to the characters not because of some feeling of being like them but just because I was reading about them and felt like I should watch out for them. On the other hand I think some parts of the book can be very stress inducing and sometimes I even felt sick. I think that's great when a book can do that much. But because of that I think a 3.75 review is good enough.
I liked this book but I'm a bit biased since I tend to like the sort of no plot books. I'd say the characters aren't that relatable to most of the people reading the book... Expect for Eleanor maybe. I don't see that as a flaw though since books aren't meant to just be mirrors of things we already know or of what we already are.
I'd say this book is very character driven and since I don't want to spoil anyone and I think the characters are what makes the story go on and keep the readers on the tip of their toes I think I should rate the characters and not the plot itself!
Starting with Cleo our main character. I personally liked Cleo. She could come off as too melodramatic but I think that's just how she was. At the end of the day she was still just in her twenties trying to figure herself out. Still I have to say it was a bit mean and painful when she shows Frank her final art piece.
It's Frank's turn now. I also liked Frank. I think he got the ending he needed and I was glad to see him get better by the end of the book though I find it unfair to Cleo how he only did it when he did it...I think Frank was a very flawed character and unfortunately for me I tend to like those characters a lot. Still he was very imature.
I think for Anders I can just say...The bathroom scene in his chapter...The man has some serious issues. I found it quite sweet how he took care.of his ex girlfriend's son even though he didn't have too. I think that gave him some depth but it still didn't make me like him.
Eleanor seemed to me the realest of all the characters. Her chapters were always quite comforting and seemed private like we were reading her diary's entries. When she made jokes I laughed and when she was sad I cried with her. I liked Eleanor and I was happy for her. Even though I'll admit that I kinda didn't like her in the beginning...
Quentin is Cleo's troubled best friend. I have to admit that in the beginning of the book I found him funny even though his behaviour was probably questionable...I mean his wedding present...? As the book went on I started to get tired and annoyed of him. I think for me he truly remembered me and encapsulated a toxic best friend I once had...And I had to say it hit a nerve every time he was reckless and every time he dismissed Cleo's problems. So I would have to say he is definitely not on my top 3...
Santiago is on my top 3 though! I quite liked Santiago and his whole character development. I liked to read about his past as I liked to read about his present. The way he cared for Cleo and also for Frank always made me smile.
Last but definitely not least I'm rating Zoe. Zoe is Frank's younger sister. I found her to be quite funny and it was entertaining to read about her life. I liked to read about her development and the way she grew as the narrative went on.
I think that's is all I have to say. I enjoyed reading this book and maybe a couple of yours from now when I'm in my twenties I'll reread this and find it even more realistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is the kind of book where you can’t really tell that the characters are becoming your comfort characters until you find yourself looking forward to keep reading it because of them. the book is incredibly character driven and provides a very diverse set of nuanced and delicately crafted people who all, in a sense harmonize (or conflict) with one another. cleo and frank, the protagonists are both lovable and also deeply flawed and traumatized, something you and the characters themselves come to understand throughout the course of the book. what i loved most about it was that the narration style gave you insight into every single person’s thoughts and sentiments (or at least of the most important ones) not only through different POVs separated into different chapters, but also sometimes within the span of a paragraph, switching back and forth in revealing each persons internal dialogue.
the book felt like an anti-romanticizing telltale of several New Yorker lifestyles while also being deeply philosophical and thought provoking
the book felt like an anti-romanticizing telltale of several New Yorker lifestyles while also being deeply philosophical and thought provoking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail