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oroseo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
and there are such beautiful quotes. when you finally get to the part where a character says the title. when you reckon with how horribly disposable every body is. the ways that love is twisted and deployed, the ways love is manipulated and disparaged.
there is a slower section in this novel, one that feels odd but reveals itself as necessary later in the novel. it took me a while to get through that section, but i would recommend actively trying to connect some of the more mysterious things happening to what you've already learned.
also. AIDS? the horror of aids!!! didn't even expect that. do we call this genre historical horror?
I think one thing i wish i understood more, one thing that maybe a lot of non-Argentine readers of the book might need, is a tad more context on the colonial/racial history of Argentina. anti-indigeneity comes across very clear, and not unexpected, but i guess i just need to read more about who colonized and when. shockingly, lack of Argentine political knowledge does not hold one back, despite the time of the book.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Suicide, Body horror, Murder, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Vomit, Rape, and Police brutality
It is a dark book about a physically ill man being used by a cult, who abused many, many others. Would not recommend reading if you cannot handle graphic descriptions.eelizard'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, War, Torture, Child abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Medical content, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Slavery
kneecole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Child abuse, Violence, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Homophobia, Classism, Car accident, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Medical trauma, War, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death
Death of a pet dog is “off screen”kate_303's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, War, Self harm, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Abandonment, and Chronic illness
Minor: Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape
yrioona's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Self harm, Chronic illness, Torture, Medical content, Murder, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Genocide, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma
ka_cam'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
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence
camscampbell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read the English translation (by Megan McDowell) and thoroughly enjoyed it. The structure moves around, and I never found myself annoyed by the time shifts back and forth.
It has some troubling scenes of violence, particularly of child abuse.
If you enjoyed Stephen King's It, you'll probably enjoy this. The part set in Buenos Aires in 1985–1986, in particular, reminded me of the Losers Club from that novel. Fans of Clive Barker would probably enjoy it, too. I felt some vibes of The Great and Secret Show in this in how dark it was.
My YouTube review of this book is here: https://youtu.be/M2GgCPpWEpA
Graphic: Gore, Medical trauma, Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Confinement, Body horror, and Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abandonment, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Classism
tree_star's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
It's also historical, political, and queer fiction, and that together is the triforce that did me in.
The end was worth all the hours spent wondering what the evil was and that it is both part of this world and not gives me the chills... but maybe you'll see it differently.
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Death, Torture, Body horror, Colonisation, Slavery, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Classism
Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, War, Self harm, and Vomit
Minor: Rape, Cancer, Genocide, Police brutality, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
henpower's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Violence, Gore, Abandonment, Death, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
ember_is_gay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
even though this book is so so long, it didn't feel that way at all. i was so caught up in the story and honestly my one complaint is that the ending felt rushed and i would have loved it to have been more dragged out (although i am not sure how much of that is because i just didn't want the book to end).
i honestly cannot wait to read this book again and to find someone who loves it as much as i do so we can spend hours talking about it.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Violence, Animal death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Murder, Grief, Death, Gaslighting, Slavery, Torture, Child death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm