Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- an english professor develops an obsession with her younger colleague while her husband, also an english professor at the same college, undergoes a hearing regarding his numerous relationships with students throughout his tenure
- lots of interesting stuff in here about how we can be victims of certain systems and yet still defend or participate them (as a coping mechanism/so as to not view oneself as a victim/etc), older women's hostility towards younger women, anxiety about aging as a woman
- also a discussion of the role of the women in the lives of men who commit sexual violence - how responsible are they for their partners' actions? do they share any blame if they choose to stay with them?
- still, there is not a single likeable character in this book, and in fact most of them are pretty detestable, so if you are not into that, this is not for you
- i maybe wish this was a little bit longer so that the narrator's relationships with vladimir and cynthia respectively could've had more time to play out, also not entirely sure if i understood vladimir's motivations
up until his arrival at the cabin - but overall as an unlikable character enjoyer i thought this was a good read
- also thought the ending was kind of funny
I tore through this one, such a rollicking fun time, can’t wait to read more by this author
When I first started reading this I thought, "Oh, maybe the author was familiar with what happened in my university's English department," and then I thought, "No, she knows what happened in EVERY university's English department."
Definitely not a book for anyone who hates unlikable/disagreeable characters.
Definitely not a book for anyone who hates unlikable/disagreeable characters.
Rounded down from 3.5. I loved the relatable middle-ages woman parts. When I heard the line about Vladimir in the Peace Corps loving the moment when nobody knew where he was, I finished the sentence with her out loud. I had a moment like that myself once, and it was one of the best moments of my life. But the story took some real WTF turns. They weren’t bad, just so unexpected! I would have rounded up to 4 but the ending was a big pfffft.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The burning (iykyk) consequences of impulsivity was impressively written. I really enjoyed reading the MC’s realistic range of thoughts and emotions.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fuck yeah. Downright amazing portrayal of a full person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Kidnapping
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
I am sitting in duality over this book. I absolutely loved the writing. It's luscious and evocative and I cannot remember the last time I wanted to be folded into the narcissistic and self-indulgent essence of a character with such fervor.
The protagonist is an academic, a tenured professor at a university where her husband runs the English department. In the post #metoo climate of present day, multiple former students file sexual harassment claims against the husband for the consensual affairs they had with him years before. The professor and her husband have an open relationship, cheating isn't the issue here. Also, student-teacher relationships were not expressly prohibited at the time of the affairs.
What unfurls is a deep examination of power and sex and consent and the generational morphing of attitudes and mores as women claim greater ownership over their own sexual experiences.
I loved the intensity of the protagonist and thought the depictions of the morally bankrupt environment of intellectual academia were exceedingly well done. Jonas drills into her character's psyche with a skill reminiscent of Ferrante or Groff and I was overwhelmingly here for it.
The protagonist develops an infatuation with a hot younger professor, Vladímír, who is probably going to get the husband's job once he is condemned for his sexually forward behavior. It is the manifestation of her obsession where the book flew off the rails for me.
So basically I didn't like the end. However, the deep rooting around into the interior of this character was exceptionally well done. If complex and layered women are your thing, don't miss this one. This is quality writing.
The protagonist is an academic, a tenured professor at a university where her husband runs the English department. In the post #metoo climate of present day, multiple former students file sexual harassment claims against the husband for the consensual affairs they had with him years before. The professor and her husband have an open relationship, cheating isn't the issue here. Also, student-teacher relationships were not expressly prohibited at the time of the affairs.
What unfurls is a deep examination of power and sex and consent and the generational morphing of attitudes and mores as women claim greater ownership over their own sexual experiences.
I loved the intensity of the protagonist and thought the depictions of the morally bankrupt environment of intellectual academia were exceedingly well done. Jonas drills into her character's psyche with a skill reminiscent of Ferrante or Groff and I was overwhelmingly here for it.
The protagonist develops an infatuation with a hot younger professor, Vladímír, who is probably going to get the husband's job once he is condemned for his sexually forward behavior. It is the manifestation of her obsession where the book flew off the rails for me.
So basically I didn't like the end. However, the deep rooting around into the interior of this character was exceptionally well done. If complex and layered women are your thing, don't miss this one. This is quality writing.