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krisalexcole'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? It's complicated
0.75
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abortion, Cursing, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Pedophilia
jessicaludden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Madeline Miller managed to give Galatea such a distinct voice in such a short amount of time. She was blunt and cunning and exactly what you would expect a woman who was previously a statue to be like. I really liked Miller’s take on this story, especially the ending.
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
alexlily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Confinement, Misogyny, Suicide, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
crystxlxsxd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Abortion, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
ssp_amax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Like most people, I'm a fan of Miller's work (especially Song of Achilles), but this short story was just weird and off the mark.
Miller's story is a contemporary retelling of the Pygmalion myth. In the original myth, Pygmalion, a sculptor, creates the perfect woman out of ivory as a response to his disdain of prostitutes. Aphrodite brings his creation to life, and the two marry and have a child (and live happily ever after).
By comparison, this short story is told from the perspective of Galatea as she is interned in what appears to be a psychiatric hospital. We learn that her husband, Pygmalion, has put her there after she tried to escape from him. Pygmalion is shown to be an abusive, controlling man with a penchant for young girls below the age of 15 (yikes).
This story is hailed by many as a feminist take on the myth, but Galatea's brand of feminism is strange at best. She grovels, begs, and apologizes to the male doctor and her husband continuously, which you could argue that she's "playing the game" when she does so, but it comes off as cringeworthy instead. She often returns to her 'original state' of being a stone statue as a sort of defense mechanism, but this only seems to be contrary to the feminist message she is supposed to embody.
As for the 'twist' at the end, I'm not sure it's as impactful as what it pretends to be.
All in all, this short story just wasn't it for me in terms of what I've come to expect out of Miller's work.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, and Death
Minor: Abortion
luminifera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Abortion, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
It's a very dark book. Galatea describes her sufferings with much detail.cassandra_burleson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Excrement, Pregnancy, Abortion, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
lokes'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
2.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Confinement, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexism
mushroommoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Abandonment, Suicide, and Rape
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content