k3volutionenergy's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
As you can probably tell by me giving this book the lowest rating position, I really didn't like this book, the only reason I didn't DNF it was because I blindly chose it for my English Literature course work.
Some of the main reasons as to why I didn't like it:
-It felt as though POC characters were used as a plot device rather than being seen as really people. The majority of these characters didn't have names, instead being referred to as 'The [ethnicity or race] man/woman', not to mention that the only role they seemed to serve was forwarding the lives of the all white main cast. As for the POC characters who were named, they were so incredibly stereotyped - The Latino doormen are the biggest examples of this
-It felt like an excuse for Tartt (a white women) to says slurs, particularly the n-word. Boris, a character who's first language is Ukrainian, starts to say the n-word as he likes rap (not kidding, Tartt wrote that). I think this was in an attempt of Tartt to show that Boris isn't allinged with what she deams as more western ideals of what is acceptable and that he isn't American however, Tartt can't mention Boris without mentioning that a) he is Ukrainian/is not American (eg. Pointing out the way he pronounces English words incorrectly) or that b) his morals are deemed unacceptable in her American lense. Either way, Tartt using the n-word as a white women is unacceptable, no question, but it just feels worse when it's just thrown in there for literally no reason (eg. Portraying racism (though, still no excuse))
-There is so many mentions of underaged boys wanting to sleep with/actually sleeping with fully grown women - there is more mentions of this that mentions of sex that is legal. I'm not accusing Tartt of anything but it definitely feels like some fixation with how much it's mentioned. I want to add, there is never sex between two consenting adults mentioned, at least not as explicitly as sex between two underaged boys or between underaged boys and adult women.
-Tartt seems to use queerness as a lazy plot device and nothing more. Boris and Theo's relationship in a romantic and sexual sense is only seen a few times when they are teenagers, more times vaguely with one time to my memory being outward (their kiss before Theo leaves Vegas). It mentioned offhand in their adulthood with Boris mentioning Theo is the only man he has ever slept with. This book seems to be pushed as a queer book and though the main characters may be queer despite their preferences to women, I definitely feel like the queer aspects of the book are a lazy plot above anything else - queerbating, really.
-This gripe is definitely very small compared to my others but I would still like to mention it - She mixed up the languages of two different countries. She writes of a Welsh side character named 'Kellin' when that's the Irish spelling of the name, the Welsh being 'Celyn'. Again, small gripe, but still something that stood out to me as a Welsh person.
I really wouldn't recommend reading this book, it's personally put me off Tartt's writing completely despite how acclaimed some of her other works are.
Some of the main reasons as to why I didn't like it:
-It felt as though POC characters were used as a plot device rather than being seen as really people. The majority of these characters didn't have names, instead being referred to as 'The [ethnicity or race] man/woman', not to mention that the only role they seemed to serve was forwarding the lives of the all white main cast. As for the POC characters who were named, they were so incredibly stereotyped - The Latino doormen are the biggest examples of this
-It felt like an excuse for Tartt (a white women) to says slurs, particularly the n-word. Boris, a character who's first language is Ukrainian, starts to say the n-word as he likes rap (not kidding, Tartt wrote that). I think this was in an attempt of Tartt to show that Boris isn't allinged with what she deams as more western ideals of what is acceptable and that he isn't American however, Tartt can't mention Boris without mentioning that a) he is Ukrainian/is not American (eg. Pointing out the way he pronounces English words incorrectly) or that b) his morals are deemed unacceptable in her American lense. Either way, Tartt using the n-word as a white women is unacceptable, no question, but it just feels worse when it's just thrown in there for literally no reason (eg. Portraying racism (though, still no excuse))
-There is so many mentions of underaged boys wanting to sleep with/actually sleeping with fully grown women - there is more mentions of this that mentions of sex that is legal. I'm not accusing Tartt of anything but it definitely feels like some fixation with how much it's mentioned. I want to add, there is never sex between two consenting adults mentioned, at least not as explicitly as sex between two underaged boys or between underaged boys and adult women.
-Tartt seems to use queerness as a lazy plot device and nothing more. Boris and Theo's relationship in a romantic and sexual sense is only seen a few times when they are teenagers, more times vaguely with one time to my memory being outward (their kiss before Theo leaves Vegas). It mentioned offhand in their adulthood with Boris mentioning Theo is the only man he has ever slept with. This book seems to be pushed as a queer book and though the main characters may be queer despite their preferences to women, I definitely feel like the queer aspects of the book are a lazy plot above anything else - queerbating, really.
-This gripe is definitely very small compared to my others but I would still like to mention it - She mixed up the languages of two different countries. She writes of a Welsh side character named 'Kellin' when that's the Irish spelling of the name, the Welsh being 'Celyn'. Again, small gripe, but still something that stood out to me as a Welsh person.
I really wouldn't recommend reading this book, it's personally put me off Tartt's writing completely despite how acclaimed some of her other works are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Racism, and Xenophobia
valentina_legge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
2.5
Well-written, interesting story, I had no issues with the length.
It would have been a 5 star if not for the racism and xenophobia in the characters' depictions. The only Korean character "smells of garlic", all Eastern Europeans are drunk mobsters and every Latino doorman is a stereotype. Oh, and the n* word is just casually dropped a couple of times, with no further comment.
Too blatant to ignore. A real shame for an otherwise excellent novel.
It would have been a 5 star if not for the racism and xenophobia in the characters' depictions. The only Korean character "smells of garlic", all Eastern Europeans are drunk mobsters and every Latino doorman is a stereotype. Oh, and the n* word is just casually dropped a couple of times, with no further comment.
Too blatant to ignore. A real shame for an otherwise excellent novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Xenophobia
morbidanatomy's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia and Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia
lizziejack_1030's review
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
martu_pm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Infidelity
rosebudglow's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism and Xenophobia
char233's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Vomit
gracealyssaa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wow. i have conflicting feelings about this book.
i didn't feel a particularly strong connection to any of the characters. i feel like i am definitely one of those people who seeks out character-driven books, so this was different for me. inevitably, despite their many flaws, i cared for theo & boris, so even though i didn't feel that connected to them, i was still engrossed in the story because i wanted to know what would happen to them both.
the plot was well-thought out and detailed, but i did find some passages included way too many details about either furniture and repairing furniture or social events theo attended and the people he encountered there (loved the francis abernathy references tho <3)
it's important to mention that this book has several problematic aspects. some language/passages did not sit right with me. i know some of it is maybe supposed to be because theo and boris are thirteen year-olds, but i was uncomfortable with the casual racism and some remarks related to women, and definitely uncomfortable with boris, a white, Russian male, using the n-word (several times).
this book took me quite a long time to read, and it did feel like it was dragging on sometimes. especially toward the middle, i wasn't sure i was going to enjoy the rest of it. but it got so much better & the last twelve pages alone deserve an award. if you can stick it through til the end, i promise you will be rewarded.
in general, i rate books based on how long after reading i'll be thinking about them. acknowledging its faults, i will definitely be thinking about this one for a while. maybe even making a pinterest board...
i didn't feel a particularly strong connection to any of the characters. i feel like i am definitely one of those people who seeks out character-driven books, so this was different for me. inevitably, despite their many flaws, i cared for theo & boris, so even though i didn't feel that connected to them, i was still engrossed in the story because i wanted to know what would happen to them both.
the plot was well-thought out and detailed, but i did find some passages included way too many details about either furniture and repairing furniture or social events theo attended and the people he encountered there (loved the francis abernathy references tho <3)
it's important to mention that this book has several problematic aspects. some language/passages did not sit right with me. i know some of it is maybe supposed to be because theo and boris are thirteen year-olds, but i was uncomfortable with the casual racism and some remarks related to women, and definitely uncomfortable with boris, a white, Russian male, using the n-word (several times).
this book took me quite a long time to read, and it did feel like it was dragging on sometimes. especially toward the middle, i wasn't sure i was going to enjoy the rest of it. but it got so much better & the last twelve pages alone deserve an award. if you can stick it through til the end, i promise you will be rewarded.
in general, i rate books based on how long after reading i'll be thinking about them. acknowledging its faults, i will definitely be thinking about this one for a while. maybe even making a pinterest board...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
More...