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trin's review against another edition
3.0
Some interesting ideas, but very heavy-handed, with only mediocre prose.
smateer73's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly this might be my favorite book ever written. I read this for my college Women’s Literature class, and we really delved into the intricacies that make the novel so poignant even today. It deals with race, class, gender, sexuality, even mental stability in so many ways that it is truly mind blowing. The flawed characters and unreliability of Irene’s narration make this book a mind twister on the same level as Inception. She really dives deep into what is it that makes us human? And perhaps the answer to that is that we can never really know.
rebecc4bee's review against another edition
dark
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? No
2.5
prettypious's review against another edition
5.0
Read it Sophomore year in college....as a grown ass woman I have a much deeper understanding of what this book was really about...
kaicedcoffee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
djkwm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
katieannwicked's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
zipporahreads's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i enjoyed this book! it’s a nice short read that reminded me of the vanishing half which i adored. i would have liked it more if some of the non-white passing characters were more fleshed out to add more depth to the story. that said, i did appreciate the nuance that was captured in the relationship between the two white passing characters, Irene and Clare.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really intresting book even if you were to skip the discussion on racism and identity it embodies. So many reviews see only those to he its themes. Claire is a very intersting tragic character. I think her exchanging self-respect and identity for social and financial previlages makes her similar to 'trophy wives' - another section of women people are biased against.
Irene's attraction toward her is another intersting thing. Kind of reminds one of attraction narrator of 'Battleby the Scrivener' had with titualar character of that novel. The object of attraction in both cases are made attractive by a seductive confidence in their own actions and mean destructive chaos for the socially well-adjusted person getting attracted toward them.
Irene's attraction toward her is another intersting thing. Kind of reminds one of attraction narrator of 'Battleby the Scrivener' had with titualar character of that novel. The object of attraction in both cases are made attractive by a seductive confidence in their own actions and mean destructive chaos for the socially well-adjusted person getting attracted toward them.