Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

282 reviews

mariball's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

• 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

Irina Sturges, a character that really personifies “female rage“ and more. I hate her for the things she’s done-

murder (both human and animal), spiteful cruelty to her friends and acquaintances, exploitation in the name of art

- yet also pity her because of the horrible circumstances she endured as she grew up. Clark’s prose is so strong, assured, and darkly humorous that you feel like you’re in the novel, watching Irina descend into unfathomable darkness again and again, at some points holding your breath in shock, fear, and disgust. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, Blood, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

hades_hotline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

1.25

I don’t know how to feel

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Torture, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Vomit

sweethibe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Therapy isn't enough, Irina needs a psych ward. I think I'm also in love

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Eating disorder, Death, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Domestic abuse

plxtoprojector's review against another edition

medium-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

4.0

The pop culture references were terrible. Aside from that, this book was insane and beautiful- the way her narration progressively becomes more and more self-centered and cold really shows just how unreliable her point of view is. As I worked through the book it went from "oh she's a little strange" to "she should get some help" to "what the Fuck." Loved the characterization and exploration of gender and sexuality, especially the application of toxic "masculine" traits to a woman, who's then able to use her power to manipulate men. Photography as her medium also really adds to the power discrepancy between her and her models for reasons I don't fully know how to articulate because it's very late while I write this. 
Really disliked the way her eating disorder was approached. If you're not going to delve into something as complex as an ED beyond stereotypical, surface level definitions, don't write it at all. I think a lot of the insufferable writing choices are just that- insufferable, but they also are very appropriate for the protagonist.
I have so many thoughts I don't know how to explain- will definitely read again and annotate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Self harm

Minor: Sexual assault and Eating disorder

beerxper's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Addiction, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use, Fatphobia, Body horror, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Self harm, Gore, Eating disorder, Animal death, Blood, and Gaslighting

gewrgia_lightwood's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

This had a very slow start for me 
Yes I read it fairly quickly but idk what kept me coming back 

Irina was one of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read. I know that’s the point but maybe I’m not that keen on reading unlikable characters. I was genuine annoyed (but that also works as a compliment for the story). 

My biggest issue was this whole “woke” agenda the book tried to radiate. She was thought of as a feminism yet never show anything close to solidarity among women. Also her discomfort in being called working class once, really shows her political agenda. Even her work in the sexualisation of men as a critic in the sexualisation of women felt very “white” feminism to me. 

Lastly her ED never being called out almost made it feel like it was romanticised (along with drugs). 

By the halfway point it started to pick up and by the end it was quite interesting this whole distortion of reality ngl. But at the end of the day it’s hard for me to really enjoy books I’m not attached to its characters. 

The writing was meh at its best 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Addiction

Moderate: Blood, Death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Body shaming, Rape, Murder, Animal death, Bullying, and Self harm

Minor: Abortion and Classism

shadysands's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down. It gave me American psycho vibes but with the gender roles reversed. Unreliable narrator where it is not sure what is real or not. Interesting to consider the lack of consequences she seemingly gets as a woman, where a man would be chastised. Brings in thrmes relating to power structures. A unique look into how traumas can transgress into adulthood- exploring female rage, sexuality and lack of true connection. Interesting view  of women as lacking real danger, and the comparisons made in the book to Ted Bundy likens to the idea of 'pretty privledge' as a cover.

Also interesting in the context of kink art and exploring the line between artistic expression and exploitation of subjects.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Drug use, Murder, Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Body horror, and Sexual content

ciaraohara's review against another edition

1.5

This is a confusing one bc on one hand this is such a well written book. The attention to detail and the understanding that Eliza Clark shows of narcissism and narcissistic cycles of abuse is amazing, and the writing was really captivating. Each and every character was developed so well and appropriately given that they were seen through Irina’s eyes, and her portrayal of people on drugs was also (I am told) very accurate and very well done. 

The reason for my rating being so low is unfortunately just that I found the book so triggering bc of my own experiences which !! is not super fun. I don’t feel I can rate a book higher if it caused me so much genuine distress, no matter how good the writing is. However I thought that it was thought provoking and well written and I would read more by her - provided that I look up the content warnings first. 

I’m sorry for the low rating Eliza Clark, please do not beef me ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Transphobia

virtuadoll's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• 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

irina is such a fucking bitch i need to study her???????? (affectionate???)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Murder, Emotional abuse, Blood, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship

harpyd's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. Very disturbing and off putting at times, but could not stop reading! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Rape, Blood, Vomit, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, Death, Violence, Addiction, and Murder