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bek_p87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
mookisbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
opldxblqo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite its heavy reliance on niche internet nostalgia, what Clark gets right in Penance is the critical look at the culture of violence entertainment in true crime media. Penance asks readers to look inward at their rubber-necking voyeurism without scolding; asks readers to question the motives of true crime content creators, and understand that this content more often than not retraumatizes victims' families. Though this exact critique has been explored many times through fiction in the last couple of years in novels such as I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (blah), and Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (five starts!), Penance does so much more thoroughly through the use of metanarrative. The sections of prose are well written and each character feels fully fleshed and complex; a delightful surprise after Clark's disappointing first novel, Boy Parts.
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
rhona_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
phenixbradley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Self harm
Minor: Eating disorder and Self harm
katerina_l's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Death of parent
froon's review against another edition
4.5
the commentary was very pointed, and i found the characters fleshed out and complex. i really loved the multimedia sections (especially the tumblr posts).
my criticisms are mostly with the last section of the book.
overall, a really great book. it’s plot probably could’ve been avoided if dolly and violet were really into like one direction or kpop rpf.
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
kate_303's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings
gemin1reader's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A real biting look at the true crime industry though, it definitely made its point and packs a punch.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder and Vomit
texasdennys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence