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westcoastbooklover13's review
challenging
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
wayharshtai's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
chelseatm's review
2.0
It's difficult to think of a proper way to summarize this book. At once it's a fictional book exploring a very real issue, while at the same time it operates as a soapbox mouthpiece one the issue of rape culture and its prevalence on campus.
This is an issue I'm passionate about but I sometimes felt that the story was lost in favour of touting certain ideals and musings (which did come across a bit pretentious). While I found the medium effective in exploring different ideas around rape, I found that it came across a bit highbrow and intellectual. That, in and of itself, is not a problem but I imagine that the issue of rape culture may not need to be investigated with people for whom this book is directed. I am coming in with my own bias that people respond to high brow material such as this are already familiar with the concept and have come across it in other forms. I feel that the material could have been made more commonplace so that more people could join the conversation without being intimidated by material with which they were unfamiliar or language that was difficult to understand.
I felt that once the actual plot began, it was an interesting story but the lack of a firm conclusion was disconcerting. I felt just as lot at the end as I did at the beginning.
I think this is worth reading but not for the fictional element. Sarah Henstra reconsiders different areas of rape culture in interesting ways that I believe should be explored.
With that in mind, I leave it to others to determine whether it's right for them.
This is an issue I'm passionate about but I sometimes felt that the story was lost in favour of touting certain ideals and musings (which did come across a bit pretentious). While I found the medium effective in exploring different ideas around rape, I found that it came across a bit highbrow and intellectual. That, in and of itself, is not a problem but I imagine that the issue of rape culture may not need to be investigated with people for whom this book is directed. I am coming in with my own bias that people respond to high brow material such as this are already familiar with the concept and have come across it in other forms. I feel that the material could have been made more commonplace so that more people could join the conversation without being intimidated by material with which they were unfamiliar or language that was difficult to understand.
I felt that once the actual plot began, it was an interesting story but the lack of a firm conclusion was disconcerting. I felt just as lot at the end as I did at the beginning.
I think this is worth reading but not for the fictional element. Sarah Henstra reconsiders different areas of rape culture in interesting ways that I believe should be explored.
With that in mind, I leave it to others to determine whether it's right for them.
booksconnectus's review
3.0
I had a hard time getting into the book-took me a couple false starts to really grasp what was going on and who was who etc.
I liked the wrìting-always anxious to get back to the story.
I didn't like all the extra sex that just seemed to be thrown in for the shock value...or maybe I am just too old...but for me it just seemed to detract from the important story that was being told.
The ending was just blah...and maybe that was the point...?
Bottom line-I didn't love it but I didn't dislike it either. I would try another of Ms. Henstra's novel.
I liked the wrìting-always anxious to get back to the story.
I didn't like all the extra sex that just seemed to be thrown in for the shock value...or maybe I am just too old...but for me it just seemed to detract from the important story that was being told.
The ending was just blah...and maybe that was the point...?
Bottom line-I didn't love it but I didn't dislike it either. I would try another of Ms. Henstra's novel.
erboe501's review
5.0
Recommended by a trusted feminist friend who works in publishing. I kept wanting to describe the book to others as similar to Donna Tartt's The Secret History, but I'm also having trouble articulating the similarities beyond the superficial: both set on college campuses with larger-than-life professors at the center. Classical mythology informs how the students view events. And their is an overshadowing darkness, a knowledge that something bad (deadly?) is going to happen.
But The Red Word is a feminist book. A book about young feminists trying to figure out how to translate what they learn in a "Women & Myth" class into action against the fraternities on campus. But the women take things too far, and their relationship to each other, their professor, and the school disintegrates.
I really loved Henstra's descriptions of the photographs that our protagonist Karen takes. Such lovely, vivid imagery. And the detailed narration of fraternity culture was unsettling, but absorbing. Karen has such conflicting views of the fraternity that we as readers see their lovable and despicable qualities. But we have enough distance from the action to be able to point to the culture as overall extremely toxic. It is a culture that normalizes rape and blames assault on the victims.
A very well-written, thought-provoking book on gender relations, toxic masculinity, and the ways in which women enable, excuse, and condemn a culture that views them as sexual objects for the taking.
But The Red Word is a feminist book. A book about young feminists trying to figure out how to translate what they learn in a "Women & Myth" class into action against the fraternities on campus. But the women take things too far, and their relationship to each other, their professor, and the school disintegrates.
I really loved Henstra's descriptions of the photographs that our protagonist Karen takes. Such lovely, vivid imagery. And the detailed narration of fraternity culture was unsettling, but absorbing. Karen has such conflicting views of the fraternity that we as readers see their lovable and despicable qualities. But we have enough distance from the action to be able to point to the culture as overall extremely toxic. It is a culture that normalizes rape and blames assault on the victims.
A very well-written, thought-provoking book on gender relations, toxic masculinity, and the ways in which women enable, excuse, and condemn a culture that views them as sexual objects for the taking.
kendie13's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautifully told story of the human in the humanity, the person in the system, the subject of the photo. Asks complicated, unanswered questions and shows the messy parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
nidhisaakshi's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, Rape, Violence, and Suicide attempt