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winsomefish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Medical content, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Addiction, Ableism, Body shaming, Grief, and Incest
nittiotvaan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Drug use, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Torture, Murder, Rape, Vomit, Confinement, Death, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual assault, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was absolutely repugnant to read, and frankly not enjoyable. The characters all sucked in their own ways, some more than others obviously - the discourse on HIV/AIDS was heinous and the grotesque descriptions of carrion and murder were horrifyingly indulgent. The love affair with abuse that all the characters (even the good ones) seemed to foster was gross as well.
I’m not naïve in expecting this book to be pleasant reading, but it could’ve been done in such a better way. This was just literal torture porn. In addition one of the fundamental plot points is just… unbelievable? Andrew somehow managing to basically die without actually dying, getting the better of actual medical professionals and then coming back to consciousness at the exact right time? Sure. Made the whole book even more ridiculous.
I wouldn’t recommend this even if it was good, but it wasn’t. So what’s the point?
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Classism, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Outing, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence
natreviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's told from four different perspectives. Three third-person, one first. Two murderers, one victim, and one the victims ex-lover. It was really interesting to read it this way. It was an interesting stylistic choice that actually ended up working. With also having the background set in 1990's New Orleans during the AIDs crisis, it's an interesting read just from a historical standpoint.
I will give you the warning that you will need to read the last 60-100 pages in one sitting. On the final day/night the book takes place, it really ramps up and is just better in one sitting.
I gave this book a 5/5 not only for the story (because even though it's extremally disturbing, it still is a good story), but for how it's written. It's a read that is worth it if you can handle it, but, like Tender is the Flesh, is a book that I don't think I will read again. Once was enough in my opinion.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, and Pedophilia
anxiousbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Grief, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
lycheejelly's review against another edition
- 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
1.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit
babieghoul's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cannibalism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Body horror, Drug abuse, Medical content, Sexual violence, Torture, Death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia