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audreybethc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Incest, Torture, Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Animal cruelty
bookishconnections's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An engaging tale of a fictional true crime and a fascinating look at internet culture from the eyes of a crooked journalist who imagines the truth in this fictional true crime book.
All the characters are despicable but sympathetic at different times and the story is horrifying but believable.
I will definitely be reading more of Clark’s work because she is an incredibly talented writer…after a break.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Incest
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: Suicide, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Mass/school shootings, Incest, Gun violence, Child death, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Murder, Torture, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Death
sarahrosebooknook'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
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Pedophilia, Drug use, Rape, Animal death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Violence
aliyachaudhry'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
3.0
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Racism, Torture, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Murder, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Sexual assault, Biphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Vomit, Ableism, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Incest
Minor: Self harm and Eating disorder
chronicacademia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Adding a content warning for necrophilia as well as the content warnings listed below.
Graphic: Classism, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Incest, Lesbophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Medical content
sarah984'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
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Classism, Gore, Body shaming, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Drug use, Racism, Eating disorder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Confinement
taliakdean'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Vomit, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Incest, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Dysphoria, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, and Torture
Minor: Dementia, Body shaming, Racism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Ableism, Grief, Abortion, Miscarriage, Outing, and Pregnancy
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Rape, Toxic friendship, Murder, Death, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia and Ableism
rachelcoconut's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Confinement, Child abuse, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Death, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness