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boliv3's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, and Sexual violence
softstarrynights'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
5.0
Boy Parts is a black-comedy contemporary book which plunges us into the perspective of fetish-photographer, Irina. We follow her in her day-to-day life in the run up to her being featured in a big show in London.
As a character Irina was an absolutely fascinating perspective to be immersed in. The book is told from a first person perspective and it’s a very internal story with a great sense of interiority. She has big main character energy, which towards the end of the book is especially interesting. Clark is also very through in painting Irina as a fully fleshed out character. She is not a nice person, and it’s difficult to say that, as a reader, you support her decisions or actions. And I’m not sure I would even stretch to say that she’s a sympathetic character. However, we spend so much time in her head wrapped up in her perspective on the world, in past and present, that she does feel very real. The narrative could’ve taken her in a very pantomime villain direction but Clark’s writing deftly takes you in a different direction. I’m not sure you can endorse Irina but I think you are able to understand her.
The book does a brilliant job of exploring themes of gender, dominance, and the female gaze. I wouldn’t say it goes so far as to discuss these themes, because the writing isn’t heavy handed in that way. However Clark sprinkles enough subtle signposts and implications that I can imagine. The book lending exceptionally well to discussions and essays. It’s definitely the sort of book I would’ve loved to have written an essay on during my academic years. It’s excessively fertile ground for ploughing, and I imagine that there are already excellent analyses on it.
Only two books into the year and I have found my first five-star read. The fact that this is a debut novel is baffling. How can a debut author be this good. Unsurprisingly I want to read Clark’s second novel, Penance, asap. Will that be my second five-star read? Stay tuned to find out!
Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Eating disorder and Vomit
Minor: Suicide attempt
deanchaudhri's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Gore, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Violence, Body horror, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Drug abuse, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Excrement, Suicide attempt, Classism, and Fatphobia
rmannion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When I first picked up the book, I was excited by the distinctly Northern and female narrative voice. (This was surprisingly refreshing, considering how many Northern women there are and that at least some of us - please, God, more of us - must be talented writers, but there you go.) Add the dark humour into the mix and this novel just becomes the perfect concoction: engaging, funny, original. Horrifying.
And then things get completely fucked up and you find yourself laughing at something absolutely repulsive and you realise that Eliza Clark's heroine is entirely under your skin.
Not for everybody, but absolutely for me.
Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
alicerowano's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Outing, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Cursing, Body shaming, Blood, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Homophobia
aoifereadsbooks69's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Self harm, Pedophilia, Gore, Physical abuse, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
lovem210's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, Pedophilia, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
xlaraxk's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit
laura_cornelia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit and Violence