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bloom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
McGlue is the third Ottessa Moshfegh book I’ve finished, the fifth including two DNFs (that I’ll most likely return to). The heart of the story is friendship and the human capacity to love, hate, and, in a way, make one’s own life. All over the backdrop of McGlue being accused of killing his best friend.
In all honesty, if this book had been any longer I don’t think I would have finished it. The story was intriguing but soured by the constant use of slurs. Moshfegh’s usual casts of characters don’t include many “likable” people, and while the choice of language was not surprising, the sheer quantity of it was nonetheless tiring.
McGlue plays back and forth through past and present smoothly, all the while the audience watching as McGlue doesn’t seem to understand what he is being accused of, unable (or perhaps subconsciously unwilling) to fathom the possibility of being responsible for the destruction of the one thing, other than alcohol, that he loves. An interesting journey to follow, I just wish it had hooked me more.
In all honesty, if this book had been any longer I don’t think I would have finished it. The story was intriguing but soured by the constant use of slurs. Moshfegh’s usual casts of characters don’t include many “likable” people, and while the choice of language was not surprising, the sheer quantity of it was nonetheless tiring.
McGlue plays back and forth through past and present smoothly, all the while the audience watching as McGlue doesn’t seem to understand what he is being accused of, unable (or perhaps subconsciously unwilling) to fathom the possibility of being responsible for the destruction of the one thing, other than alcohol, that he loves. An interesting journey to follow, I just wish it had hooked me more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racial slurs
Moderate: Fatphobia
nialiversuch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Blood, Child death, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
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