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pasteli's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is my second Sally Rooney book because I'm trying to understand the hype. By the end of this book, my indifference has turned to outright dislike.
Sally Rooney is Taylor Swift for readers.
Blah, boring, overhyped, need I say more?
She seems to feel the need to comment about communism in each of her books that I've read, but in a way that makes me suspect she learned about it through instagram accounts instead of reading political theory. She keeps saying 'communism would work but we're all too busy trying to fuck each other for it to be realistic' (not a direct quote, what she implies in her writing). Suffice to say its a very white privilege, first world, white feminism understanding of a political ideology. Plus, her characters that claim to be communist never engage in politics! They claim membership for moral superiority and to appear like a good person. Barf.
I also need to address her "queer" characters. Yes, I put it in quotes. Because her queer characters are written like the straightest cishets I've ever encountered. Maybe they're suffering from internalized homophobia, maybe Sally is writing characters with these traits to gain social justice points. I suspect it's the latter, and her point of discussing communism falling under the same reasoning.
Also, the sexual dynamics in this book...big oof. *CW SEXUAL ASSAULT*
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At one point a female character moves a male character's hand to her throat and asks him to choke and hit her, and then when the male character is disturbed by it says she doesn't even know why she did that? Like bro, WHAT. There's also this female character's obsession about being his wife and how she would take care of him and clean the house and fuck him good when he comes home... it's all veeeery patriarchal and there's no exploration as to why she may feel that way/feel inclined to serve the patriarchy. She says she feels comforted when he takes control and wishes that he would control her whole life because it makes her feel safe. Needless to say this girl has a lot of problems and it's written in a way that doesn't really present it as problematic.
If I had to give Sally a complement, I'd say this: Sally Rooney is excellent at writing unlikeable, dare I say hateable characters. So if hate reading is your thing, this author may appeal to you. But personally I'm going to return to reading things that have literary value.
Sally Rooney is Taylor Swift for readers.
Blah, boring, overhyped, need I say more?
She seems to feel the need to comment about communism in each of her books that I've read, but in a way that makes me suspect she learned about it through instagram accounts instead of reading political theory. She keeps saying 'communism would work but we're all too busy trying to fuck each other for it to be realistic' (not a direct quote, what she implies in her writing). Suffice to say its a very white privilege, first world, white feminism understanding of a political ideology. Plus, her characters that claim to be communist never engage in politics! They claim membership for moral superiority and to appear like a good person. Barf.
I also need to address her "queer" characters. Yes, I put it in quotes. Because her queer characters are written like the straightest cishets I've ever encountered. Maybe they're suffering from internalized homophobia, maybe Sally is writing characters with these traits to gain social justice points. I suspect it's the latter, and her point of discussing communism falling under the same reasoning.
Also, the sexual dynamics in this book...big oof. *CW SEXUAL ASSAULT*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
At one point a female character moves a male character's hand to her throat and asks him to choke and hit her, and then when the male character is disturbed by it says she doesn't even know why she did that? Like bro, WHAT. There's also this female character's obsession about being his wife and how she would take care of him and clean the house and fuck him good when he comes home... it's all veeeery patriarchal and there's no exploration as to why she may feel that way/feel inclined to serve the patriarchy. She says she feels comforted when he takes control and wishes that he would control her whole life because it makes her feel safe. Needless to say this girl has a lot of problems and it's written in a way that doesn't really present it as problematic.
If I had to give Sally a complement, I'd say this: Sally Rooney is excellent at writing unlikeable, dare I say hateable characters. So if hate reading is your thing, this author may appeal to you. But personally I'm going to return to reading things that have literary value.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
jasminrain's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I adore Rooney's way with words. This book is so beautifully written and the way in which she describes the world and moments is really extraordinary. I loved the letters and the intellectual discussion between the two main characters through them - they gave me a lot to think about. But as a story and characters, it was nothing out of ordinary. I didn't enjoy the characters or their relationships. There was just so much gaslighting and toxic relationships, and incidents such as sexual coercion that went unaddressed and the book seemed to normalise. On a lighter note, I also couldn't relate to any of the characters. For lots of people this seems to be the reality that we live in, but for me it seemed absurd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Self harm, Bullying, Classism, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
bookynooknook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Violence, and Sexual violence
lex_r's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I had high expectations for this novel, which should have been checked and adjusted entering this read. Although Rooney's discourse in this novel feels current with its emphasis on climate anxiety and political unrest the semi-epistolary style and language use make it seemed forced and performative. The book is formatted so every other chapter is a transcript of an email between Alice and Eileen, and more often then not I found myself uninterested in the email correspondences. To me they read as lengthy monolithic Wikipedia articles and exuded a sense of impersonality. The emails were lacking personality and I had a difficult time telling the difference between Eileen and Alice in these chapters. Although I do give credit for the narration style it is unique and creative! Overall, I don't think this book was intended for my demographic, I am sure other have found this devour-able but I spent almost every minute hoping it would end or get better. Perhaps I will re-visit closer to my late/mid twenties.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Mental illness
irinalast's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
scruffie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I felt like I could have done without the very elaborate descriptions of the protagonists' surroundings, but other than that I really liked this book. The characters felt complex and I quite enjoyed reading about their concerns, even if said concerns don't perfectly match my own. A highly quotable book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Pregnancy
lucyspivey's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
SUCH a good book. it’s structured very well and brings up important and relevant topics that i’ve had anxiety about and can relate to. LOVE
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Mental illness
saphirabloom's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
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