Reviews with content warning for Racism - Boy Parts

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

astraea93's review

dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Eliza Clark is a strong writer, one who will leave a mark on anyone that reads her works. She may be the best author I've come across in years. I'm giving this a 4.5 because the story itself was so horrific that I can't say I enjoyed it, merely I strongly respected the way Clark depicted the growing insanity of the main character. This book is not for the faint of heart.

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gracepickford's review

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challenging dark tense medium-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? Yes

1.0

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forestfeyrie's review

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challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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rayannotates's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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lcr16's review

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challenging dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Never has a book been able to completely creep me out, and the next line make me chuckle from the blunt British humor that was characteristically so out of touch. Boy Parts is a very dark lampooning of rape culture that is grimly uncomfortable. Irina has a history of being a victim of sexual violence from men in power dynamics, whether it is her teacher or a guy at a party whom gave her drugs and alcohol to the point she was barely conscious. This as resulted in her trying to mirror the violence and do the exact same thing to men in her own fetish art by using the power dynamics of the artist/model. However, it becomes very clear she can not independently perpetrate the same violence as patriarchy. Her relationship with Eddie, the checkout boy from Tesco, is made more complex because she is unable to acknowledge that him being a low-income, man of color, that has also experienced male violence, changes their power dynamic completely. Irina's distorted, violent perspective prevents her from seeing compassion and power dynamics beyond men and women. She seems to spiral further and further, and truly becomes the most unlikeable main character I've ever read. Lastly, I mainly docked points because this was not the most enjoyable read because of how graphic it was and the sexual violence. It did grow on me once I finished and thought about it more. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the book!

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james1star's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Wow, what on earth did I just read? This book is very strange and deranged, like honestly I’m having a proper full on crisis. I don’t know where to start with this review…

What is the plot? I still don’t really know but basically we follow the main character Irina who gets invited to showcase her photography at a gallery in London in a few months so she sets out looking through her archives. In doing so she thinks back to different times in her life. There’s also her just going about her days, partying, picking up boys to photograph, seeing friends and family and things. Irina has a penchant for photographing ‘average’ looking young men in different but primarily submissive, vulnerable positions. She wants to view them via a female gaze, be in charge and have power over them. I liked how the men were all different in how they looked, not the typical model aesthetic, and it was refreshing seeing males viewed in this light. There’s a point where the story just kinda turns real weird (even more so) and you’re left like proper wtf? Eyes flicking left to right. Super uncomfortable.

Whilst she’s reminiscing, past trauma comes to light and this book is jam packed, literally overflowing with trigger warnings, explicit depictions of drug abuse, sexual content, sexual assault, rape, injury details, cursing, perversion, adult/minor relationships, blood and gore, body horror, alcoholism and just so many more. So definitely not for the faint hearted, it gets super intense. I would also say that each are not explored in a good light or positively at all. It’s refreshing in the blunt and millennial I guess writing style and inclusion of such topics but I would by no means take what the characters say and do as a guide - if anything do the opposite. This was a very uncomfortable read but oh my it was extremely captivating, I read it in basically two sittings because you are hooked. The pages literally turn themselves, you’re so invested and intrigued and constantly questioning everything. I dunno defo a strange one - reminiscent of when I read My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh and so is my next bit.

The characters. Oh my good lord above me was Irina so detestable!! Ahhh nope, ewww she was like the epitome of just horrible. She badmouths and doesn’t care about her friend Flo (she also talks about Irina on a blog and still has a crush on her which isn’t good but like nothing compared to how she’s treated) and the men she encounters. She’s super manipulative and doesn’t take people’s trauma into account, just using people as dispensable props in her story. She definitely thinks she ‘it’ reinforcing her good looks, skinniness, big breasts and how aesthetically pleasing she apparently is. This leads on to the disgusting fatphobia she spews and omfg it’s horrible to read at times. There’s also a subtle racist and paedophilic rhetoric at times. I’m not done here but she is so misandristic like she definitely views men as lesser, a play thing, her property - this is super refreshing but it’s still not nice. My defence of Irina: she was groomed and abused when younger, has dealt with past trauma, extremely likely someone dealing with an undiagnosed mental health problem and addiction to drugs and alcohol so many of the things she does/says/thinks are not dismissible but there are underlying factors and causes for some - I think. It’s not explicitly stated but you need to really not be paying attention to not consider this. Whilst she is disgusting and depraved, hence very unloveable, Irina is by far the most developed and complex character and this exploration is another factor keeping you hooked to read on. Flo was alrightish, I dunno to be honest. She was wronged and caught between Irina and her boyfriend but she didn’t really do much to help herself, accosted mistreat and Yhh did some things that were not good. Our FTM trans character, Finch, was a great addition but I did want more development of his character because there’s little we actually know. Eddie from Tesco was kinda adorable I think. He was super under appreciated, used and abused by Irina and just I felt so bad for him. He did have an objectification outlook at times and whilst it’s not okay he was by far the most likeable and I desperately wanted good things to come his way. Most of the other characters we come across are slightly developed and heavily unlikable.

The writing was good. I liked the blunt, witty and straightforward way it was written, it’s very real, characters and places are brought to life. As stated, it’s difficult and uncomfortable to read but is very readable. I would say there is maybe an overuse of italics softening their impact at times. I did like the inclusion of texts and emails and the various forms of dialogue again adding realism. The UK specificness was an added bonus too like shops such as Tesco, Waitrose and British Heart Foundation, place names, universities and just a lot that was very much appreciated. The formatting and how the story develops is mostly good, but it does take a few tangents and spiralling moments - maybe to emphasise Irina’s deteriorating mental health and sanity - which picks up towards the end. The pacing is fast which again forces you to read on, it’s enjoyable and despite being so quick you still pick up on all the plot points.

Overall, I am very conflicted on this book. It fully captivated me, certainly a refreshing story with complex characters. But… it was an uncomfortable read, the many trauma and TW topics are not explored well and Yhh it’s a strange, depraved tale.

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