Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

51 reviews

late_nite_reads's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Wow….this book tackles a lot of topics ( American judicial system, memory, adolescence, #Metoo movement, victims of domestic abuse, the dark aspects of womanhood, and coming of age.) Plus Bodie’s voice was so STRONG. Like this read like an actual letter or diary, it felt so personal. Plus Bodie is super flawed which I think is Makkai’s point surrounding the plot of the novel. Like Bodie is conniving, manipulative, selfish, and hypocritical, and still naive. But that’s what made this story realistic. Bodie wasn’t a hero and her desire to be one was crushed by reality. This is the perfect book club book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Blood, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Eating disorder

mraddd's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Blood, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Child death, Death, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Suicide, Eating disorder, and Classism

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Self harm

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, Body shaming, Murder, Confinement, Death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Rape

Minor: Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Homophobia

eicart_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

I almost put this book down because I thought it was kinda boring at first (maybe the first 35 percent.) I expected a fast paced thriller/mystery, but that's not what this book is. I started to understand the bigger picture, let go of the idea that it was a typical thriller, and kept listening. I'm so glad I did because I ended up loving this! The book has so much to say about so many things: violence against women, racism in policing and criminal investigations, memories, family relationships, misogyny, social/economic class privilege, the use of social media to examine crimes... and a lot more.

The storytelling device used by the author to bring attention to the ever present news stories of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and violence against women was equal parts brilliant and heart wrenching. 

If you're looking for a mystery/thriller/true crime book that is straightforward and wraps things up in a neat bow, this is not the book for you. 

The audio is fantastic, narrated by Julia Whelan with a small cameo by JD Jackson. 

There is a lot of potentially triggering content in this book. Be mindful and maybe check The StoryGraph before diving in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Racism

Minor: Terminal illness, Self harm, Eating disorder, Cancer, and Death

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I like a book that makes me think. SOME QUESTIONS had me reflect on how we so often only construct narratives around justice to serve ourselves, as well as the sheer challenge of being a woman in this world. It made me angry—not because of the book itself, but rather because I share in its exhaustion over the many harmful ramifications of the patriarchy.

I know it's not perfect—some characters are thinly fleshed out, it critiques true crime as a genre without ever truly being able to escape it—but it had me hooked and it had me ponder and, for me, that's enough.

(I also found it cathartic reading about a private school and realising what bizarre, intense, and intoxicating places they can be.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Grief, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Death, Sexism, Racism, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide attempt

kathleenthebean's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Racism, Blood, Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

heather3879's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This is the first book I have read by Makkai, and it was solid. They story focuses on Bodie Kane, a podcaster who returns to her boarding school ostensibly as a visiting professor, but with the underlying intention of resolving some questions about the murder of her school roommate. It addresses inequities in the justice system; wealth, privilege, and power; and deeply ingrained misogyny. I do think Makkai could have eliminated some tangential characters and narratives that made the book difficult to follow at times, but overall it was a good read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

mollywill's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Eating disorder and Blood

Minor: Self harm

danil_knits's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

rachaelwho's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I can't quite pin down what made this not 5 stars for me. I thought if I waited a while to review I'd gather my thoughts more, but it's kind of fading instead. It did a lot and covered a lot. Interesting and a good read, especially if you have misgivings around our culture's true crime obsession... Though it was less interested in the morals and meaning of that than I expected. Maybe it spread itself too thin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Murder, Child abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Racism, Infidelity, Gore, and Child death

Moderate: Eating disorder and Death of parent