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headfirstslides's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Vomit, Drug abuse, Addiction, Incest, Rape, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Medical content
eeviee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Medical content
mezzano's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I had heard nothing but praise for the quality of writing which surrounded The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, and had hoped that since the move had been liked well enough by general audiences, the book would especially shine. What I found was a story which felt as though the author honed in on perceptions and problems which surround poor and working class communities and weaponized them in order to create a story which would peak middle class interest. The collection of stories feel like a ceaseless cycle of child neglect and abuse. Setting aside the whole controversy behind the LeRoy persona, the constant focus on trauma and abuse borders dangerously into "torture porn" categories. The abuse feels artificial and only placed for reader shock factor, especially since there is no greater message or purpose tied to the repeated actions. The writing failed to grab at my attention at its slowest moments and horrified me at its most egregious. I found myself asking what the point of this story even was and why people would willingly read a story which festers from the darkest parts of humanity. Had this not been a book I had received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I would not have finished the novel.
I realized early on in the book that its shock factor and controversies is the very reason that this book is a part of literary circles at all--seeing as the only worthwhile discussion this book offers a general audience is what it means for a book to be defined as a fictional work. Unfortunately, this would not be a book club discussion question had LeRoy's identity never been released as falsified, meaning that the book on its own merit has very little to offer. What's left is a disturbing narrative which exploits marginalized people for the sake of a warped middle class audience.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Violence, Transphobia, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Confinement