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btaylorb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this, it's incredibly dark and has a leisurely, lush tone that contrasts well with the sense of high tension every time the main character goes to The Center. As always in a good horror novel, this story uses those glimpses at the monster behind the curtain to shed light on things that are truly horrific: racism (particularly through the supremacy of the Western canon and Western European language), classism, and sexism. Meanwhile the body horror, when it's revealed is more subdued. There's also a really good red herring early on that I would occasionally remember throughout the story and then gradually forget about. I loved how flawed and earnest the main character is: She is by turns introspective and aware of her privilege as she delves into why she's so unhappy, but also often blind and uncaring toward other characters.
I thought the use of different languages throughout, in particular Urdu, the MC's first language, was really well executed. I listened to the audio version where the Urdu dialogue is read by the narrator, but as far as I can tell they're not always translated for the listener. Apparently, these sections are also not delineated by italics in the physical or ebook editions. I think this is such a clever way to create a sense of intimacy with the characters and reinforce some of what the book is exploring around language and communication. I don't feel at all like I lost anything by not understanding those few sections. In the final section of the audiobook, the author gives an interview where she talks about the idea that if you don't understand something, it might just not be meant for you, and that's okay - and this is sometimes a central point of the story.
Also noteworthy: There's one passage toward the end where a racial slur gets bleeped in the narration of the audio. I'm going to glance at the physical copy at my library, because I'm curious if it's similarly censored in some way in the text. I would love to know if this was an authorial choice or an editorial one for the audio edition; I'm hopeful it's the former because, given the premise, I think that's an interesting and powerful detail.
I thought the use of different languages throughout, in particular Urdu, the MC's first language, was really well executed. I listened to the audio version where the Urdu dialogue is read by the narrator, but as far as I can tell they're not always translated for the listener. Apparently, these sections are also not delineated by italics in the physical or ebook editions. I think this is such a clever way to create a sense of intimacy with the characters and reinforce some of what the book is exploring around language and communication. I don't feel at all like I lost anything by not understanding those few sections. In the final section of the audiobook, the author gives an interview where she talks about the idea that if you don't understand something, it might just not be meant for you, and that's okay - and this is sometimes a central point of the story.
Also noteworthy: There's one passage toward the end where a racial slur gets bleeped in the narration of the audio. I'm going to glance at the physical copy at my library, because I'm curious if it's similarly censored in some way in the text. I would love to know if this was an authorial choice or an editorial one for the audio edition; I'm hopeful it's the former because, given the premise, I think that's an interesting and powerful detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Body horror, Classism, Xenophobia, and Cannibalism
Minor: Islamophobia, Sexual content, Racial slurs, and Gore
crgrace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, Colonisation, Death, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Cannibalism, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Bullying, and Classism
readwithbells's review against another edition
5.0
What a freaking read. I wish I had a physical copy so I could have highlighted things because it had so much going on I feel like annotations would only have been a good thing. This is a text on appropriation and consumer culture, critiquing elite universities that promote inclusion despite their racist and colonialist histories. This is about an unreliable (and selfish) narrator completely enmeshed in capitalist consumerism and internet wokeness that manifests itself as constant moral critiques of every person around her (and of course, never of herself). The Centre itself is fascinating, and although I accidentally spoiled the twist for myself by checking the trigger warnings, it was still an absolute delight t try king to figure out how it all worked. I could have had another 200 pages inside Anisa’s head (though Naima is obviously the best character). Genuinely obsessed with this. I had such a good time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement, Colonisation, and Cannibalism
Minor: Vomit and Slavery
ryuutchi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Cannibalism, and Sexual assault
anntharai's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Normally if I guess the twist it can't be a 5 star book for me, but even though I got it early on I thought this book was fantastic. Its also one of the best applications of audiobook production I've heard. Tiny bit obsessed.
It's the layering that gets me, it's not just about one thing. The esstereggs are there (including on the cover art, IMO but no idea if that's intentional or not)
It's the layering that gets me, it's not just about one thing. The esstereggs are there (including on the cover art, IMO but no idea if that's intentional or not)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Classism
Moderate: Islamophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual content
kyra_joy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Gillian Flynn Books for giving me early access to this audiobook for review.
This was a wild one for sure, and it may need a second reading for me to really grasp the whole thing. There are many things however that it says about womanhood and being a woman of colour that felt very really and struck a cord with me.
Also as a linguistics major I absolutely adored how this book looked at and talked about language, how it relates to us and our culture as well as how these things make us who we are.
It is a bit of a think piece and there is a lot of nothing that does seem to happen with my interest in languages and my love of reading about different POC it was enjoyable but I think it might not be for everyone.
I do think that once it comes out I may give it another read as I imagine this is the type of book that benefits from multiple reads.
This was a wild one for sure, and it may need a second reading for me to really grasp the whole thing. There are many things however that it says about womanhood and being a woman of colour that felt very really and struck a cord with me.
Also as a linguistics major I absolutely adored how this book looked at and talked about language, how it relates to us and our culture as well as how these things make us who we are.
It is a bit of a think piece and there is a lot of nothing that does seem to happen with my interest in languages and my love of reading about different POC it was enjoyable but I think it might not be for everyone.
I do think that once it comes out I may give it another read as I imagine this is the type of book that benefits from multiple reads.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, Cannibalism, and Racism
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