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waterbear0821's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Well. I didn’t really enjoy this. It was too filthy and distressing and literary. It was deeply unpleasant and full of slurs and violence and harm. But the story is brilliant and bizarre and I know it will stick with me and I’ll probably want to read it again.
Pros:
-well-executed, unique sci-fi time travel
-twisty and brain-expanding
-captivating description of dystopian future; good world-building
Cons:
-truly how many racial slurs and homophobic slurs and how much violent misogyny must I read?
-so, so many content warnings
-the author is a musician and the droning, pretentious descriptions of the songs and music characters are playing or listening to throughout the book are cringe and insufferable
-high on aesthetics, light on plot. I’m curious what this author will write in the future
Pros:
-well-executed, unique sci-fi time travel
-twisty and brain-expanding
-captivating description of dystopian future; good world-building
Cons:
-truly how many racial slurs and homophobic slurs and how much violent misogyny must I read?
-so, so many content warnings
-the author is a musician and the droning, pretentious descriptions of the songs and music characters are playing or listening to throughout the book are cringe and insufferable
-high on aesthetics, light on plot. I’m curious what this author will write in the future
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Transphobia, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Homophobia, and Cultural appropriation
beansandrice's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This could've easily been 5/5, and it's sad it's not. A queer latin take on climate fiction, what more could I ask for? A less racist book :/
The African spiritual themes are treated as set-dressing, and black characters are treated terribly throughout the entire book, which makes the spiritual stuff feel appropriative. Even though near the endone of the characters of color says "damn isn't this racist?" it feels almost like a South Park take on racism: do something racist then say "damn that's racist!"
But on the plus side, it's still a great read. It's incredibly maximalist, and is one of the most unique pieces of climate fiction I've ever read. Is it worth it to make a better world if it's a world you can't live in? What would you be willing to do to live the life you've always wanted? I hope Rita Indiana has some introspection, then writes another book.
Last note, I read the English translation, but I'm not sure it's the strongest. There were some moments where I could tell what the original Spanish was and it was clear the English didn't hit the mark. If you want to read this and you can read Spanish, I'd recommend getting a Spanish copy.
The African spiritual themes are treated as set-dressing, and black characters are treated terribly throughout the entire book, which makes the spiritual stuff feel appropriative. Even though near the end
But on the plus side, it's still a great read. It's incredibly maximalist, and is one of the most unique pieces of climate fiction I've ever read. Is it worth it to make a better world if it's a world you can't live in? What would you be willing to do to live the life you've always wanted? I hope Rita Indiana has some introspection, then writes another book.
Last note, I read the English translation, but I'm not sure it's the strongest. There were some moments where I could tell what the original Spanish was and it was clear the English didn't hit the mark. If you want to read this and you can read Spanish, I'd recommend getting a Spanish copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
rigeloutinspace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Classism, Animal death, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Abortion, Incest, Racism, Colonisation, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Animal cruelty
This book is a challenging read and tackles a lot of challenging stuff, but i found it educational, thoughtful provoking, and inspiring. Was hard to put down once I was in it.hfrancesh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Dysphoria, Colonisation, Murder, and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty
neugrowf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
Reality totally bends and distorts with this book! It asks us to experience multiple timelines at once with manic-dreamlike intensity. I am bruised after reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Homophobia, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Rape
caitlin_waddick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, and Sexism
Great writing Complex plot Fabulous time travel. More to say later when I update the review.talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
challenging
medium-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
1.25
A set of expansive ideas that tries to squeeze itself into an under-200-page novella, Tentacle feels like three different narratives combined into one -- and not in a particularly good way. The writing style, or at least what of it is clear in translation, is stiff and dry, only sometimes veering into something more interesting. Information is revealed in flat blocks that make it impossible to tell what will be relevant later and what will never be referenced again, with the most key details about the plot and world buried in stream-of-consciousness rambling (and the occasional rape fantasy).
The most interesting elements of that world, like an "instant sex change" injection, are treated effectively as set dressing, never really explored in depth. Instead, the meandering plot follows uninteresting, indistinct characters through events and timelines that are equally difficult to differentiate. Despite parts of their backstories being recounted in detail, I have no sense of who most of the characters are as people... other than their bigoted attitudes.
Such views being expressed by characters is one thing, but they're present in excess and never treated with especial gravity or challenged meaningfully by the narrative, and if anything seem reinforced by it. Black characters are invariably treated with disdain, to say nothing of the constant use of the N-word (by a non-Black author and translator), and the trans protagonist is only appropriately gendered after undergoing full physical transition, with no real conscious examination of his identity and experiences. Perhaps these are purposeful qualities of the setting, but if so it's never communicated well.
Could have probably been very interesting in a different format, but the combination of dense writing and gratuitous racism/homophobia and sexual violence made it far from an enjoyable read.
The most interesting elements of that world, like an "instant sex change" injection, are treated effectively as set dressing, never really explored in depth. Instead, the meandering plot follows uninteresting, indistinct characters through events and timelines that are equally difficult to differentiate. Despite parts of their backstories being recounted in detail, I have no sense of who most of the characters are as people... other than their bigoted attitudes.
Such views being expressed by characters is one thing, but they're present in excess and never treated with especial gravity or challenged meaningfully by the narrative, and if anything seem reinforced by it. Black characters are invariably treated with disdain, to say nothing of the constant use of the N-word (by a non-Black author and translator), and the trans protagonist is only appropriately gendered after undergoing full physical transition, with no real conscious examination of his identity and experiences. Perhaps these are purposeful qualities of the setting, but if so it's never communicated well.
Could have probably been very interesting in a different format, but the combination of dense writing and gratuitous racism/homophobia and sexual violence made it far from an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Medical content, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Murder, Death, Homophobia, Transphobia, Body horror, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Antisemitism, Incest, Pedophilia, Fatphobia, Vomit, Ableism, Abortion, and Child abuse
clara_ward's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, and Biphobia
vegetablemathematics's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape, Racism, and Violence
dancevera's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
2.0
I did not enjoy this book, largely because I didn't like any of the characters. There were some interesting ideas in here sure, but I couldn't bring myself to care about anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Sexual violence, and Racism