Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Cleopatra Y Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

30 reviews

aina21's review against another edition

2.75

This book had way too many drugs for me. I understand that they where there to illustrate point but I honestly felt like the point could be made without it. Addition was a big theme in the book and while the taking drugs and drinking lots was definitely explored,  I feel like the harm that is done to the individual and those around the person dealing with an addiction was not.

At the end of the book Cloe mentions that she feels jelouse of Elenor, because she gets sober Frank, while Cloe had to deal with Frank the addict. I felt like this was a very poignant reflection to make and a theme worth exploring, how addiction does not only effect the addict but also those around them. I felt that Cloe could have been painted with a lot more depth and a less glamorisation, she felt very much created for the male gaze. A deeper exploration of how it felt to be with Frank as he drank his way through the marriage would have been much more interesting. And lastly I feel like Frank never took any responsibility for anything, and got a happy ending. We didn't even get to explore how difficult it is to quit an addiction and how that too has a huge mental impact on those around you. Instead in 5 pages he had quit drinking and was moving in with Elenor. 

Overall I felt like it was a book that could have been very interesting, and touched on very relevant themes, but instead opted for a glamorised and shallow version of what it could have been. 

I enjoyed the focus on some of the side characters, but again we find ourselves with the issue of glamorisation.

Zoe would have made for a very interesting discussion of desperation, when she decides to look for a sugar daddy. Instead her sugar daddy is the nicest and most wonderful person imaginable and makes Zoe's life better.

What is the point of introducing complex themes if they aren't even going to be adressed? I found Andres boring, and Elenor insecure.

Elenor's insecurity is another place where the story fell flat. The way Elenor talks about herself is very sad, but this is not explored. Literally she is used to be like she is ugly but then she isn't vapid, instead of exploring insecurity, and how it can lead  individuals to very dark places here frankly absuive relationship is treated as something funny, except in one line at the end. She is also used as the archetype of Cleo's shadow as she is everything that Cleo is not, ugly and has substance. Except Cleo has substance, she is also living with multiple addicts, something that has a huge impact on mental health, not to mention that she was previously also struggling with depression. It feels much more like the author wants to play into the pretty but vapid stereotype than anything, and uses Elenor to highlight that, through juxtaposition. And then magically Frank is into her and all her problems are solved. We simply gloss over the fact that her insecurity makes her very easy to take advantage of, or the fact that she is frankly depressed. No because Frank likes her so it's okay, that's all that matter is the end.

And don't get me started on Frank.

He is horrible. He treats Cleo like a trophy, he doesn't care about anyone and this serves no purpose in the plot whatsoever. Cause then oh he magically quits drinking because that is so simple and suddenly he is an am amazing guy, and he gets the happy ending.

I hated Quinten and if I wrote about him this review would never end. Santiago was the best character by far, and tell mw why was he the only one with character development?? I quite liked Cloe though I felt like she deserved much more. 

The book it introduced multiple heavy themes, and ignored all of them to talk about parties and drugs. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Self harm, Fatphobia, and Suicide

Minor: Misogyny

ktwoolen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Tore me apart in the best way. I  love the reflective writing in this book and the raw depiction of human nature and relationships. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, and Death

thetainaship's review against another edition

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

cleotheo's review against another edition

emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Blood, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide and Dementia

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Racism

aleilvandrea's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Blood, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Sexual content, Body horror, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

Moderate: Classism, Gore, Abandonment, and Grief

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Transphobia, Ableism, and Antisemitism

moonbeamdmercutio's review against another edition

I was pushing my way through the audiobook. Wonderful narration but I can not stand the story, writing, characters, etc. Just used it as white noise while going about my day without an issue until the story strayed from Cleo and Frank (yknow, the titular characters) and started focusing on the stereotypical gay guy who apparently only cares about fashion and sex. Could ignore the downright terrible depiction of gay men until the author decides to throw in an unnecessary "orgy" scene? Couldn't get through two minutes of it. Corny writing. Bad characters. Offensive. Cannot imagine myself ever enjoying this book, in audio or physical format. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Drug use, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Sexism

huge age gap (approximately 20 or more years)

theraindiary's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Abandonment, Animal death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Dysphoria, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Transphobia

bookmark3brodi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual content, Misogyny, Deportation, Gore, Toxic friendship, Blood, Infidelity, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

finn_vibing's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Self harm

Moderate: Dementia, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Death of parent

marensh's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Death of parent, Death, and Drug abuse