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brayj_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
el_viral's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I found this book very hard to get into. The first half was slow, and felt quite stilted, so I just kept putting the book diwn, but the second half caught my interest more, and I read it within a couple of days. The biggest one for me, although the story is all about Clio's suicide, is that I cried at Eileen's chapter at the end, and not at all before that. The short look into Eileen's addled mind as she fails to understand Clio is dead, is heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Suicide
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
pixieparliament's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Chlio is a singer who dies in the first chapter. She is a bit of a has been pop-singer.
Scabby Queen is the name of a card game, where you pass the queen along because no-one wants to end up with her. At times in the book I felt as if Clio was treated like a Scabby Queen.
Clio is scottish, comes from a small town and had one hit. An anti-pol tax song. The story is told through memories of those who knew her, but never from her point of view. We also see it from their point of view in the wake of her death and shortly after.
It is a really good novel, in that it's feministic and political without being too much of either. Chlio is a hard pill to swallow. Selfish to some, really caring to others. Always championing the cause but without really knowing why.
There were some of the timeline that seemed to be wrong/jumbled. i.e. seeing her dad in 2003 and then in 2004 he states that he hasn't seen her yet. That was frustrating to me.
Chlio also seemed like a toxic character but of course once she dies everyone is all "wasn't she lovely". It hits on historic and current political issues.
This book would be great for bookclubs as it spans 5 decades of UK politics although only fleetingly touching on them but without much depth.
Scabby Queen is the name of a card game, where you pass the queen along because no-one wants to end up with her. At times in the book I felt as if Clio was treated like a Scabby Queen.
Clio is scottish, comes from a small town and had one hit. An anti-pol tax song. The story is told through memories of those who knew her, but never from her point of view. We also see it from their point of view in the wake of her death and shortly after.
It is a really good novel, in that it's feministic and political without being too much of either. Chlio is a hard pill to swallow. Selfish to some, really caring to others. Always championing the cause but without really knowing why.
There were some of the timeline that seemed to be wrong/jumbled. i.e. seeing her dad in 2003 and then in 2004 he states that he hasn't seen her yet. That was frustrating to me.
Chlio also seemed like a toxic character but of course once she dies everyone is all "wasn't she lovely". It hits on historic and current political issues.
This book would be great for bookclubs as it spans 5 decades of UK politics although only fleetingly touching on them but without much depth.
alohaellie's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ruthgottardi's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kirsten_emma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Needed to brush my modern studies higher off for this one 😅
I found it a slow burn but was hooked half way through I can just be funny with books that jump perspectives and timelines but I ended up finding it's rhythm and I can see why the author chose this style.
Love how you felt you knew Clio without ever having heard from her perspective. Favourite character was Sammi by far. What happened to her especially withMark made me feel ill for her and the fact it is based on real events is mad
Also heavily pictured the character Spider as Spider from Coronation street (IYKYK). If Natasha Lyonne could do a Scottish accent she would be my pick to play Clio when she's older.
I found it a slow burn but was hooked half way through I can just be funny with books that jump perspectives and timelines but I ended up finding it's rhythm and I can see why the author chose this style.
Love how you felt you knew Clio without ever having heard from her perspective. Favourite character was Sammi by far. What happened to her especially with
Also heavily pictured the character Spider as Spider from Coronation street (IYKYK). If Natasha Lyonne could do a Scottish accent she would be my pick to play Clio when she's older.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
stellarreads's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
charlottesteggz's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved how we get to see Clio through the eyes of all the people who knew her. The last chapter was really hilarious as well.
gemmamilne's review against another edition
5.0
Oh sweet Jesus this book is so damn good!
I loved the way the story is told - through a series of vignettes from multiple narrators who all have had their life touched, nay, shaped somewhat, by Clio Campbell - the feisty Scottish activist / musician (who found fame in her twenties) and who raged through life until her suicide aged 51.
It stunningly explores feminism, activism, celebrity, double standards, perception versus reality, Scotland under Thatcher and what it means for your life to be shaped by the cast of characters you meet along the way.
It’s funny and in-your-face and tragic and one of those books where you find yourself changing your opinion about the main character with every page turn. It feels real, more than anything else.
Everyone’s talking about this book and, after storming through it this week, it’s abundantly clear why. Give it a whirl.
I loved the way the story is told - through a series of vignettes from multiple narrators who all have had their life touched, nay, shaped somewhat, by Clio Campbell - the feisty Scottish activist / musician (who found fame in her twenties) and who raged through life until her suicide aged 51.
It stunningly explores feminism, activism, celebrity, double standards, perception versus reality, Scotland under Thatcher and what it means for your life to be shaped by the cast of characters you meet along the way.
It’s funny and in-your-face and tragic and one of those books where you find yourself changing your opinion about the main character with every page turn. It feels real, more than anything else.
Everyone’s talking about this book and, after storming through it this week, it’s abundantly clear why. Give it a whirl.
slater49957's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book ok, although I didn’t really like the ending. The main character is really unlikeable and I think that made it difficult to empathise with her throughout the body of the story.