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catmcso's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
2.5 stars, I liked the last quarter of the book when we meet the sphere. There were some very impactful passages about the denial of the N+1th dimension by the “solids” in the Nth dimension. I know the first three quarters of the book worth of definitions were necessary to build to those moments. And I don’t even really mind mathematical definitions as content!
HOWEVER!
Flatland was an incredibly chauvinist society. To me, the misogyny didn’t serve to amplify the satire. It seemed like just misogyny for misogyny’s sake. I read that Abbott was a leader for women’s education, but he explains in the book that the argument for educating women is only so men are not forced to talk down to women (and therefore dim their own male intellect). Maybe that’s part of the satire too! And it all went over my head! /s But…it really negatively affected how I felt about the novella.
Also, seems like an awful waste to setup 80 pages of math definitions, to only let the reader play in the world for the remaining 50.
HOWEVER!
Flatland was an incredibly chauvinist society. To me, the misogyny didn’t serve to amplify the satire. It seemed like just misogyny for misogyny’s sake. I read that Abbott was a leader for women’s education, but he explains in the book that the argument for educating women is only so men are not forced to talk down to women (and therefore dim their own male intellect). Maybe that’s part of the satire too! And it all went over my head! /s But…it really negatively affected how I felt about the novella.
Also, seems like an awful waste to setup 80 pages of math definitions, to only let the reader play in the world for the remaining 50.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
obviousthings's review
The concept sounded fun, but I wasn't expecting a book about shapes to be so sexist...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Classism
Minor: Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Ableism, and Confinement
Eugenicspoubelleboi's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
oliver9345's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Very 1800s in its worldview regarding women and the working class.hylian_narwhal's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
leonaolivia's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
nsv's review against another edition
This book attempts to make intellectual commentary while failing to make any remarkable observation. This is a self-pat on the back for white privileged men. The classist and misogynistic narrative is hard to stand with a self congratulatory pace for such a boring use of an interesting premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
yvanengelen's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Interesting topic, but be aware of the misogynistic language (probably because of the age of this book)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
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