Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller

13 reviews

katietregs's review

dark funny mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.25

I still hope this becomes a movie! I picked this up because I absolutely adore the Love Witch, and I think if you like Anna Biller’s movies, then you’ll enjoy this book. She does a masterful job of translating the language of movies into her writing, and I think the tongue in cheek nature of the Love Witch is ever present in Bluebeards’s castle. It’s dark and disturbing, but the melodrama elevates it to something more enjoyable than a story of a smart woman falling victim to an abusive man. It’s equal parts poignant and parody. 

That said, I did find that it started to drag a bit at the 3/4s mark.

In hindsight, I appreciate how the writing became more frantic and train-of-thought as Judith started spiraling. But while I was reading I found myself getting a little bored by the page after page of circular thinking. I think some people might dislike the very straightforward description of Gavin’s crimes at the end, as it left little room for interpretation, but I think it was important that reader’s were invited to look at their own potentially problematic interpretations of the story. 

Overall, I’m very impressed by Biller’s writing. This book felt really fresh and different to me, and I’m glad I picked it up.  Like the Love Witch, this isn’t for everybody, but it’s worth your time if you like romance books and golden-age thrillers, but tire of the problematic tropes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

This book is meant to paint a sympathetic picture of how women become trapped in abusive relationships.

catherineneeds's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Murder

princess_araya's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

A beautiful love letter to the Gothic genre. Feminist readers can have their cake and eat it too, with the story’s self awareness and moments of reflection on genre tropes with modern terminology… while still delivering all of the delicious beats handpicked from Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca and the like. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Physical abuse, Vomit, and Death of parent