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Reviews tagging 'Sexism'
How to murder your Boss – McMasters Handbuch zum Morden by Rupert Holmes
36 reviews
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Pros: Lighthearted and humorous tone, charming fictional setting with a dark academia/more "grownup" Hogwarts vibe, the bits of the story that focused exclusively on the schooling and classes were the most fun and intriguing!
Cons: The plot wasn't particularly strong and felt somewhat bland at times for a novel centered on "how to murder someone" fictionally of course. I only found one of the three main characters highly likeable, the other two were unremarkable. The resolution at the end left something to be desired in my opinion.
Cons: The plot wasn't particularly strong and felt somewhat bland at times for a novel centered on "how to murder someone" fictionally of course. I only found one of the three main characters highly likeable, the other two were unremarkable. The resolution at the end left something to be desired in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Violence, Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Set in the 1950s, so sexism is prevalent in heavy doses alongside sexual harassment. Brief racism encounters mentioned also.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good idea but terrible execution. Doria and Gemma were after thoughts and Cliff used up too much thought. The whole thing was a convoluted mess with long sentences, clunky paragraphs, and unnecessary chapters slowing now the pacing at intense plot points. I mean Gemma was possibly killed and there were about 4 chapters between her getting crushed by cinderblocks and us checking in on her at the hospital to see if she even was alive Gemma was never meant to succeed. She was never meant to be anything other than an object for Cliff to fond over. We were only introduced to her “backstory” after Cliff had been dreaming of her and acting like he knew her. The misunderstanding keeping them apart was her relationship with Jud, but that was just because she had to “platonically seduce?” Her target so she needed practice. Like I said that was all just made up for the purpose of making Cliff jealous. And she was set up to fail, with her flimsy little plan all the teachers said would fail, but they graduated her anyone despite them all agreeing that she wasn’t ready… because Cliff was ready. And if Cliff wasn’t going to be at school to play water polo and work in the kitchen, then why would the narrative bother taking place at the school? For female characters to exist outside the male gaze of the real and only protagonist? No she she had to go and she had to fail because how else could she return to the school and be reunited with her beloved whom she had never spoken to. How else could she have a happy ending? it was a general convoluted mess with deep sea diving, secret trash can drop offs, cross dressing, stealing cars, something about the Dali lama and there was this one Latvian delivery boy? It was impossibly to follow. There were no real plot twists and between Cora, Gemma, and doria there was an unsettling demonization of female sexuality as if their sexuality was owned by some polygamous man or another with true female promiscuity being severely punished and virginal purity being rewarded. Even if the narrator did call out this double standard and did punish the worst male offenders. But it was clear in the end that the pure girl would be rewarded by winning Cliff, and the independent woman who don’t need no man would be turned into a pig one way or another, and that Cliff is the only true protagonist
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Medical content, Sexual harassment
The audio book has great narrators and the physical copy has nice illustrations
But overall I would not recommend it. Reviews from 1 star to 3 stars all agree that understanding was severely hampered by how convoluted and unnecessarily long it was
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
This is a comedically dark book that I enjoyed quite a bit. Told from many excerpts of journal entries and record-keeping, it was a really clever and unique way to make you feel like the McMaster school was a real place. The eventual and unavoidable murders were cleverly done, and it was like watching a movie like The Prestige where you have to finish it to know how it all comes together in the end.
Definitely a brain twister book, but I'll definitely be reading it again and look forward to reading any sequels.
Definitely a brain twister book, but I'll definitely be reading it again and look forward to reading any sequels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Pregnancy
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
More than anything, I think this book shines when it comes to how the author built up his characters. They're vibrant and alive, and you get this sense that even the minor ones have some measure of fleshed out life guiding them. Each one's a character unto themself and carried the story where I found it starting to drag. Kudos also to its dedication to staying in its general time periods (1950s.... somewhere), though whether the slang and sentiments are wholly accurate I'll leave to someone else's judgement. The author certainly did a good job making it feel plausible though.
It opened in a way I found both funny and novel, but I was more than a little sad when the humor didn't really carry through to the second half of the novel. It just took itself too seriously imopost graduation from McMasters .
While I found it a neat (if not always perclfectly executed) aspect, if you're not a fan of changing POVs in books, be aware that it happens a lot here, not just chapter to chapter, but even several times within one chapter as focus switches between both the different characters' live and actions as well as the one writing(Harrow's omniscient perspectives and the excerpts from Cliff's journals) .
All in all, it's a fun time, but kind of see-sawed between a fun jaunt and taking itself a but too seriously in its second half.
It opened in a way I found both funny and novel, but I was more than a little sad when the humor didn't really carry through to the second half of the novel. It just took itself too seriously imo
While I found it a neat (if not always perclfectly executed) aspect, if you're not a fan of changing POVs in books, be aware that it happens a lot here, not just chapter to chapter, but even several times within one chapter as focus switches between both the different characters' live and actions as well as the one writing
All in all, it's a fun time, but kind of see-sawed between a fun jaunt and taking itself a but too seriously in its second half.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Suicide
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Don't commit homicide. Commit a tragedy."
A fantastic read to kick off the new year! (I technically started this at the tail end of December, but I read most of it in January so I'll count it.) Holmes embraces what could be a dark topic with engaging wit and whimsy. Throughout the novel, you follow three main characters (Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Dulcie Mown) in their separate quests to "take care of" their individual problems. What seems to be a straightforward assassination plan is handled with care, stealth, and cautiously laid out plans that tie up every loose end imaginable. The act of killing isn't just thrown about willy-nilly, and it's interesting to see the different moral/ethical guidelines put in place by McMasters. Holmes successfully immerses the readers in the ideology of the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts by introducing them to the different classes, techniques, and professors that help create well-rounded deletionists (not murderers, obviously). Such an engaging book with a fitting while somewhat unexpected end!
A fantastic read to kick off the new year! (I technically started this at the tail end of December, but I read most of it in January so I'll count it.) Holmes embraces what could be a dark topic with engaging wit and whimsy. Throughout the novel, you follow three main characters (Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Dulcie Mown) in their separate quests to "take care of" their individual problems. What seems to be a straightforward assassination plan is handled with care, stealth, and cautiously laid out plans that tie up every loose end imaginable. The act of killing isn't just thrown about willy-nilly, and it's interesting to see the different moral/ethical guidelines put in place by McMasters. Holmes successfully immerses the readers in the ideology of the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts by introducing them to the different classes, techniques, and professors that help create well-rounded deletionists (not murderers, obviously). Such an engaging book with a fitting while somewhat unexpected end!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death, Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredibly thrilling overall. I would clarify this as a dark comedy thriller more than a mystery. Gives me the same fun vibes as a well done heist. Ending was almost too sweet in contrast with the serious subject matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The dry, witty sense of humor in this book is my cup of tea. Listening on audio was hilarious! So many death puns. The concept was original and I loved the first half of the book. I did feel like we knew Cliff better than the other two characters highlighted in the book, and I wish we had learned more. I honestly was not a fan of Gemma as a person or her storyline, so when her storyline was a more prominent part of the book, I enjoyed reading this book a bit less. I found her a bit pathetic and uncreative in her deletion thesis, whereas I was totally on board with both Cliff and Doria’s plans, executions, and contingencies. The only other gripe I have is that the setting in the 1950s was pretty subtle for most of the book, so I had to remind myself what the culture was at that time to understand the book. Overall, this book was so fun to read, witty and smart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism