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owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.
I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.
I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
lovefromhannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this is my second time reading this: I needed to read it again to truly have an opinion and I needed some time to collect my thoughts after finishing the second read. and yet i'm still not sure what I want to rate it: I feel 4 stars is slightly too high and 3 doesn't seem enough. this is not an enjoyable reading experience, but it is a very well crafted book nonetheless.
towards the final third of the novel, clark's writing seemed to become disjointed. and yes irina
with that being said, I was a huge fan of the ending.
in summary: you will not enjoy reading this, but you will love it anyways.
boy parts is an aggressive, tender and shocking read and I enjoyed the thrilling ride. i'm hoping to read penance(clark's next novel) later in the year and I think I'll like that more.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Classism, Eating disorder, Blood, Torture, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Dysphoria, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Torture, and Terminal illness
aquaria127'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
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Body horror, Blood, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
sarahjxde'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Alcoholism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, and Eating disorder
wilmawillis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Body shaming, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
conflictheory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Biphobia, Addiction, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism
Minor: Classism
szpetot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Vomit, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Self harm, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Eating disorder, Drug use, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Blood
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Biphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Misogyny
loxeletters'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
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Sexual content, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Self harm, Murder, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Pregnancy, Outing, Vomit, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Pedophilia, Excrement, Classism, Racism, and Abortion
alexandraemjly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
However, the ending was very frustrating. it feels like everything in the book sort of slots into place and you begin to, in a warped way, understand why Irina is the way she is. and you start to resonate with her pain more while being even more disgusted with her actions. and then it just...ends?
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Blood, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking, Fatphobia, Grief, Sexual violence, Gore, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Cursing, Cancer, Car accident, and Classism