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jul_ia's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gelliestar's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Chilling, incredibly upsetting. But inevitably beautifully written, and grotesquely gripping. Made me think a lot about my relationship with my sister, and the lies people will believe to justify their actions. Read at your own risk if you don’t like horror.
booksnpunks's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Orpheus Builds a Girl is a grotesque novel based on a real life disturbing crime that happened back in the 1940s. It has a dual perspective - one, a doctor who wants to conduct more experimental cures and operations but the hospital won't let him, and two, a young woman whose sister contracts TB and seeks out the help of the doctor to try and cure her. The doctor, upon meeting the sick sister, develops an obsession which completely shocks you to the core and becomes warped and horrific in the most disturbing ways possible.
The most interesting thing about this book was that it was based on a real life case and I found myself really drawn into the story - shocked and disturbed by what I was reading and constantly looking details up to find out if they were true. It is a horror novel which is very understated as there's no real scares or supernatural elements, rather the point of view of the doctor is so calm and collected that it really creeps you out how he speaks about Luci (the sick sister) and in his growing delusion the horror becomes more and more disgusting until you find yourself needing to take a break from the book.
It was really interesting getting the point of view of Luci's sister as it adding a lot of padding to the story. From the press there wasn't really much reported from the family's side of the affair and the doctor, up until recently, wasn't treated as the true villain that he was. Getting this secondary perspective greatly added to the story and it was a shock switching from the doctors very strange monologue to the sisters and sort of having the true horror revealed to you through her eyes where the doctor couldn't see it.
Giving this a 3.5 because I don't think it's a book I'd ever re-read again and despite it being super gross it hasn't really given me the wow-factor I was looking for based on other people's reviews but I still think it was a great book and I'm glad I read it. Really looking forward to reading more of Heather Parry's work as I can tell she is a talented writer.
The most interesting thing about this book was that it was based on a real life case and I found myself really drawn into the story - shocked and disturbed by what I was reading and constantly looking details up to find out if they were true. It is a horror novel which is very understated as there's no real scares or supernatural elements, rather the point of view of the doctor is so calm and collected that it really creeps you out how he speaks about Luci (the sick sister) and in his growing delusion the horror becomes more and more disgusting until you find yourself needing to take a break from the book.
It was really interesting getting the point of view of Luci's sister as it adding a lot of padding to the story. From the press there wasn't really much reported from the family's side of the affair and the doctor, up until recently, wasn't treated as the true villain that he was. Getting this secondary perspective greatly added to the story and it was a shock switching from the doctors very strange monologue to the sisters and sort of having the true horror revealed to you through her eyes where the doctor couldn't see it.
Giving this a 3.5 because I don't think it's a book I'd ever re-read again and despite it being super gross it hasn't really given me the wow-factor I was looking for based on other people's reviews but I still think it was a great book and I'm glad I read it. Really looking forward to reading more of Heather Parry's work as I can tell she is a talented writer.
literamie's review
4.0
One of those books that will ruin your life a little bit —
Imagine the grotesque of Frankenstein with the perverse obsession of Lolita, but with commentary on the role fascism and white supremacy play in the control of women’s bodies.
Imagine the grotesque of Frankenstein with the perverse obsession of Lolita, but with commentary on the role fascism and white supremacy play in the control of women’s bodies.
lredfern31's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
saffyofthecakes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rittisoncco's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A German doctor falls in love with a Cuban immigrant & decides to try to resurrect her after her death. This book is half his version, and half the version told by the young woman's sister.
Who owns a woman's body?
Now get this: this book is based on true events and inspired by several other true events.
So many important historical events I had no idea of, observations of how fickle public opinion is, so damn well written (in two distinct writing genres), and such a clear analysis of structural violence, power, fascism, chauvinism.
What an incredible book. Really recommend.
Who owns a woman's body?
Now get this: this book is based on true events and inspired by several other true events.
So many important historical events I had no idea of, observations of how fickle public opinion is, so damn well written (in two distinct writing genres), and such a clear analysis of structural violence, power, fascism, chauvinism.
What an incredible book. Really recommend.