Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Boy Parts

My thoughts - this certainly was a ride. I give this book at 2.9 out of 5. I don’t think it was a bad book. It was just not my cup of tea. It was alright.

Parts I liked -

how unhinged it was. I’ve never read a book with such an insane narrator. I liked how by the end I was also trying to figure out what was actually happening and what wasn’t. Irina was so chaotic, but also tried so hard to get peoples attention. It almost didn’t come naturally for her. She was trying too hard and it consumed her to the point where she was just bat shit crazy.
The writing was great. Eliza Clark didnt try to make us sympathize or care for Irina. We all knew she was psychotic, toxic and a narcissist.

I didn’t dislike any parts necessarily, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was very artsy - which isn’t a bad thing. But for me it was meh. I didn’t even mind the gore and liked how unhinged it was. I didn’t finish the book feeling like I just read a WOW story. I just read a book about an unreliable and chaotic character and it was a good read. Nothing to really complain about but also nothing too memorable? Besides her literally murdering someone, abusing her subjects, killing a cat, and imagining glass in everyone’s eyes. I have a feeling I’ll forget about this book in the next year. Maybe it’s because I was so focused on starting other books. Maybe.

Content Warnings

hapikohw's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

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

3.0

Was she a prick? Yes, yes she was.

Content Warnings

poppyleab97's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

Content Warnings

owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious fast-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

3.75

"I have a photo of each leg, each arm, and his torso: all these boy parts, which I can arrange on my living room floor like a jigsaw."

Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.

I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.

I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.

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