Reviews - Shut Up You're Pretty

636 reviews for:

Shut Up You're Pretty

Téa Mutonji

3.62 AVERAGE

jessicabowering's review against another edition

4.0

Well written insightful sketches and snippets that layered into a compelling character
I found it sad and dark and also realistic and identifiable.

whydoihaveto's review against another edition

2.0

Wanted to dnf but didn't just because it was short.

esmol's review against another edition

3.5

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It was a weird book. It was such heartbreaking, grity and felt very real. I honestly feel bad for Loli and the relationships she becomes obsessed with. As I don't think dhe knows how to be OK by herself. I enjoyed the analysis of different forms of co dependency, as well as how your childhood experiences impact who you are and who you become and what you seek out as well as how you cope. Your childhood never prepares you for the slaughter of adulthood really stuck out and I think it has a lot to say about the trauma of being forcefully perceived in a sexual way from a young age has on girls. Most of the men and interactions with them were disgusting but i enjoyed and was saddenedby her relationship with other women. I think a lot of things were glossed over and a lot of questions were left open. A lot of it was just weird. We still don't know her father committed suicide or why? What happened with her mother or her roommates or her other relationships? It just kind of feels like a collection of moments in her life, but I was hoping for something deeper. It just leaves you feeling empty with new stories to relate to that you don't know what to do with.

thunderspeaker's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a very raw book. Vignettes of an migrant Congolese gril growing, it's harrowing, it's deep, beautifully shows the ugliness of addiction, poverty, migration, adultery, suicide, etc... Also shows the beauty of relationships that are nurturing and that save us. Relationships that accept the horrors, the violence, the ugliness of people. Just wow. Also, the casual pedophilia is jarring to me while also knowing that it's many people's lived experiences and we ought to talk about it more given that our society is becoming more tolerant(?) of it.

Also, as a Congolese, it's nice to read a book that tells one of our stories.