Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Elektra

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Elektra by Jennifer Saint

104 reviews

gabrielleclawson's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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sarahbroccoli's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the best book I have read in a long time

I think a lot of the people who have reviewed this book before me are missing the point that Elektra is who the ~Electra complex~ was named after: the idea that daughters compete with their mothers for their father’s attention and affection. Sound kinda sexist? Absolutely, that’s because it is. Elektra is totally acting on internalized misogyny and rage toward her mother for seeking vengeance against Agamemnon, even though Agamemnon is the one who committed such a terrible act

(and murdered her sister!!)

Also, Elektra holds on to this rage and bitterness throughout the duration of the book, so of course she’s unlikeable. I don’t think we are meant to like Elektra. At the same time, I think to some extent her anger and hurt is justified; she lost her father and her mother has removed herself from her life. That’s part of the beauty of this book, it made me feel for both Clymenestra and Elektra, just to different extents.

Saint does SUCH a great job of showcasing the nuances of family relationships, female rage, grief, and the consequences of seeking revenge. It’s also worth mentioning that Saint does portray the ways that women CAN support and empathize with each other (I.e. the relationship between Clymenestra and Cassandra), even though Elektra clearly does not do that.

Of course besides the content, the prose was beautiful. I enjoyed every second of reading this book!

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lolasherwin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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chilivanilli28's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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claire_marg22's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

3.75

Beautifully written and captivating for the most part, but extremely frustrating at times when listening to a particular character’s perspective. However, I do think there is something to say about that being the author’s choice, as the cycles of trauma and violence that the women in this book result in each of them becoming metaphorically “uglier” than when they began. I think based on your own experiences, it’s is easy to empathize and relate to one or all of the narrators at one point or another. I did wish for more from Cassandra’s chapters, she felt like more of a plot movement device rather than an equal character on her own journey.

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