Scan barcode
angel_kiiss's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I’ve never read any other book by Winterson, but - based off this book - I’d say she’s more a philosopher or robotic sociologist than she is a storyteller.
There’s a stark difference between the stories she’s comfortable telling and the story she obviously is leaving her comfort zone to explore. Ry Shelley is an incredibly complex character who Winterson is ill-equipped to handle and does horrifically wrong at almost any given opportunity (that’s where the major content warnings come in).
The gender exploration of a person who lives outside the binary while simultaneously finding comfort in an identity on the binary is compelling and relevant and real, but Winterson obviously hasn’t met anyone who actually lives like this otherwise she’d be aware of what not to do when writing a trans character.
It’s disappointing, because the story is actually beautifully written but is horrifically marred by the events that surround the trans character. Winterson’s stances on many political debates are also written in the most clunky way imaginable: “You must be one of those #MeToo women.” As if it were necessary to not only show the reader but tell us every characters politics.
I may also claim that the prose are very nice, but it needs to be acknowledged that the entire book looks like a first draft. Dialogue is not in quotations and characters with accents have their accents written out only for the reader to stumble over the words. You get used to it more as you read but it’s weirdly not used as a narrative device since it’s used throughout in both past and present storylines.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Outing, Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Medical content, and Miscarriage
amy2113's review
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
bookedbymadeline's review
Confusing how there aren’t any quotes around the dialogue
Problematic: Ry compliments a Black woman’s hair by saying she looks like an expert “maybe because of how you style it. Very professional.” As I’ve seen from other reviewers the book does not get any better in Trans rep for Ry. I have no interest in reading about a Trans character that is written for cis people like myself and would rather spend my time on books with more accurate representation.
The conversation around AI-prof stein says that AI won’t make women obsolete or be sexist which begs the question of how could it not be sexist when the ones building the robots are sexist themselves? It’s human error. He’s being idealistic in thinking that a future of AI will be non binary when the creators of AI have their own prejudices and beliefs that will be built into AI, just like humans writing the Bible put their own image on God.
Where is the story even set in?! First they talk about Memphis then they’re going to a bar in Trafalgar Square?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Ableism and Child death
sophiewelsh's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
laurajones's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Deadnaming
Minor: Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Body shaming, and Body horror
thoroughlyenjoyedbooks's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
caroline_reads's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I enjoyed the aspect of the story that fictionalised Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Polidori and Byron's time in Geneva and onwards.
Generally, however, I thought that the novel was generally unfocused with no clear plot or purpose. There was an unnecessary scene in which the trans protagonist was sexually assaulted by a background character. This incident happened randomly with little build up and there was no later mention to this event in the novel. The protagonist handwaved the incident as something that has happened to him many times before and it was fine. In summary, I don't see what this scene did to further our understanding of his character and I'm tired of reading fiction in which trans or genderqueer characters are abused/face violence as though this is acceptable and an essential element of being a queer person. . I almost gave up on the book at this point - the scene occuring 2/3s of the way through. Lazy writing at best.
Winterson indicates in her final note that the purpose of this novel is to explore how reality is unclear. Lofty ambitions, but she has not explored such an idea in a way that is compelling or adds to our understanding of human reality.
The best line of the novel comes near the end: "grief means living with someone who is no longer there."
Generally, however, I thought that the novel was generally unfocused with no clear plot or purpose. There was an unnecessary scene in which
Winterson indicates in her final note that the purpose of this novel is to explore how reality is unclear. Lofty ambitions, but she has not explored such an idea in a way that is compelling or adds to our understanding of human reality.
The best line of the novel comes near the end: "grief means living with someone who is no longer there."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
Moderate: Miscarriage and Religious bigotry
morebedsidebooks's review
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Child death, Sexism, Misogyny, Transphobia, Sexual assault, and Racism
Moderate: Pedophilia
rileyeffective's review
1.5
TW: transphobia, sexual assault
I liked the two timelines that the book had, especially because they were at two very different points in scientific development, yet the people were occupied with very similar issues. The many references to the history and content Frankenstein are also carefully thought out. If you have not read Frankenstein and want to read Frankisstein, read Frankenstein first. Otherwise a lot will go lost on you.
Those were the only positive things about the book. The book features transphobia and misgendering throughout. A lot of characters are not understanding of the gender identity of the trans character. I also have to point out that there is sexual assault described in detail (why was that scene in there to begin with?). I would honestly recommend reading something else instead.
I liked the two timelines that the book had, especially because they were at two very different points in scientific development, yet the people were occupied with very similar issues. The many references to the history and content Frankenstein are also carefully thought out. If you have not read Frankenstein and want to read Frankisstein, read Frankenstein first. Otherwise a lot will go lost on you.
Those were the only positive things about the book. The book features transphobia and misgendering throughout. A lot of characters are not understanding of the gender identity of the trans character. I also have to point out that there is sexual assault described in detail (why was that scene in there to begin with?). I would honestly recommend reading something else instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Misogyny
adriennne's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Child death and Forced institutionalization