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hapikohw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexism, Sexual assault, Classism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Self harm, Biphobia, Sexual content, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Murder, and Rape
winterdevil'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
5.0
...nothing matters, and nothing lasts. Everyone forgets, and everything disappears. ... Would anyone miss you, if you went away? Would anyone look for you? Would anyone listen, or even care, if I hurt you? If I put my hands around your neck and crushed your windpipe and chopped you up, would anyone find you? And if it's a no to any of these, did you even exist in the first place?
This book is not for everyone, but it is definitely for me.
From the first page, we know protagonist Irina is not a good person, but Clark renders her inner dialogue and the responses to people around her so well. We know what they're warning about and responding nervously to, even as we're forced to see it from Irina's perspective. Irina looks down on so many people; she is extremely condescending and resentful, yet the side characters were still sympathetic and well-rounded. We feel for them as we watch Irina take advantage.
I think the comparisons to American Psycho are apt, particularly regarding Irina's personality which feels in conversation with Patrick Bateman. Not a copy, but from an overlooked subject that broadens the discussion to include gender in the performance of power and violence.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Sexual content
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
lovelylilelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Gore, Murder, Drug use, Sexism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Violence
nataliebeech's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
savannahrb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Drug abuse, and Fatphobia
nlh132p'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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
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
tessa_grayreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Blood, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism
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