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thecriticalreader's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Run-Down:
Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn is a compulsively readable satire about a messy, problematic lesbian writer that’s delightfully—yet occasionally slightly worryingly—subtle.
Review:
Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn is the sort of book that feels like it could be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands, much in the same way that American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis (to whom this book makes several allusions) could be seen as aspirational by the very people it attempts to mock. The main character, problematic lesbian author Astrid Dahl is utterly captivating to read about. She’s a successful writer who, despite being recently “cancelled,” gains a movie deal for one of her books with a famous actress’s production company. Astrid copes with her social discomfort (and probable autism, although she won’t admit it to herself except in jest) and need for attention with a combination of drugs she calls the “Patty Highsmith” and a series of obsessive relationships with women who are somehow more toxic and obsessive than her. Also, she’s straight-up a bad person? She’s self-centered, reckless, and destructive to those around her. At the same time, however, Dorn makes it hard not to empathize with her—and even root for her at times. Unable to stop herself from silencing her opinion, the brash and self-aware Astrid will express some of the vilest queerphobic viewpoints imaginable and in the next breath make a refreshingly honest and insightful point about lesbianism and modern society.
The real question is where the satire stops (if it ever does) and the earnestness begins, which is what makes Perfume and Pain feel transgressive and risky.
You might like this book if . . .
· You like to read fast-paced, satirical books about messy, white, problematic queer people
· You’re interested in explorations of online fame, toxic relationships, and modern lesbian (and queer) identities
· You enjoy books that discuss LA celebrity culture and cultural narcissism
You might not like this book if . . .
· You don’t want to read the POV of a character who expresses extremely harmful and hateful opinions about other queer people
· You don’t like to read about interpersonal relationship drama
· You want to read a book that takes a obvious, in-text stance against its characters’ immoral and problematic behavior
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcohol, Stalking, Abandonment, Mental illness, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
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