Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

1 review

ettegoom's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This retelling of Romeo and Juliet brings the story into a completely new light - one that is substantially more disturbing than the modern interpretation would suggest.  It does make me wonder whether reading the play again might bring things to light that are easily glossed over in a time where concepts about informed consent are somewhat less valued than they should be.
I think I like this interpretation, although, as someone who loves the ballet, and always wanted to play Juliet, it also makes me wonder whether there is potential for this more subversive interpretation in the original.
I liked that Rosaline has a voice in this version, although the amount of agency that she acquires seems somewhat inconsistent with her status and state within the story - and the interpretation that she brings to her own, and Juliet's parents is interesting, although it could have been more nuanced. 

The depictions of emotional abuse, manipulation & sexual coersion of immature young women/girls is disturbingly accurate, as is the way that it can be difficult to 'talk sense' into someone caught up in this type of toxic relationship.  
An interesting and worthwhile interpretation of a story which may have been more akin to the original intentation than modern interpretations might suggest? It makes me wonder for sure. 

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