Scan barcode
vulgarboy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Drug abuse, Transphobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Ableism and Antisemitism
thebankofbooks's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Racism, Rape, Violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Suicide, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Excrement, Deportation, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
- 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
1.0
I'm applauding myself a little for getting this far before I decided to look up spoilers and call it a day. While this book will certainly have its audience, that audience isn't me. Not only do I think the writing is mediocre (and a very clear imitation of Shirley Jackson that falls short), but the mass amounts of hate in this book are nausea-inducing, even for someone, like me, who doesn't have triggers for these particular things.
Content-specific issues I had:
- massive amounts of anti-Semitism (VERY hateful language, numerous cruel Holocaust references, terrible treatment of a Jewish side character)
- how racist Alice is and has been in the past
- the portrayal of a closeted trans man as a very vocal and well-known TERF
- how heavy-handed the usage of rape as a plot device is (it is literally referenced and/or depicted constantly!)
As an aside, while I certainly don't feel like it's fair to hold it against a trans author for writing graphic transphobia, I have never read such gratuitous, over-the-top transphobia in any other book as this one. There's a scene in particular where a forum post/transphobic fantasy is included that is so long-winded and repetitive and cruel that I finally had to tune out the audiobook altogether until it was over.
I had tremendously high hopes for this book and author, and was genuinely banking on having a new favorite of the year here, but every single page has been an utter and complete disappointment and I can't currently say I have any desire to read future works by Rumfitt.
Thank you to the publisher and LibroFM for the audio review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Ableism, Transphobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Death
blackcatkai's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Now, i will admit, I am bad at understanding what satire is & isn't. I know it usually includes things being amped up to the nth degree, and this book definitely does that! i've seen a couple places say this is darkly humourous, but that aspect didn't hit me. Maybe the bits i just found weird & off-putting (in a good way) were oddly funny to others? very possibly.
overall, this one hit me in the heart a LOT. it's a book about fascism and trauma and it uses those real life things to tell a haunted house story. the house is fascism, and it's absolutely insidious. Tell Me I'm Worthless goes overboard with the horror to show how deeply ingrained fascism and hatred are in our culture, specifically England, but honestly, here in the US as well. How trauma and different life experiences can thrust you into being so so susceptible to fascist/right wing ideals & conspiracies. how even those who may be allies or in certain groups themselves can still fall victim to these ideologies. because its in the very soil, the very essence, of our cultures. and that's terrifying in so many ways.
there were definitely a few moments that felt like they could've been shorter, but overall, the experience was visceral. a lot, if not most, of right wing/fascist rhetoric is inherently transphobic, antisemetic, sexist, and all around gruesome & upsetting, in our very real lives, especially online where people can hide behind a screen. Rumfitt puts that all over this work, so it's very good to be aware of the especially before diving in.
There's a content warning at the beginning of the book that I give high props to Rumfitt for. More books should do that. Please do take those seriously here, they are explicit and serious on every page and it's best to be aware and take care.
okay i think that's enough of a ramble review. basically, i liked this, and i am definitely picking up more of her work in the future!!
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Death, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Suicide, Sexual violence, Body horror, Racism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Cursing, Rape, Violence, Transphobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Self harm, Homophobia, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, and Addiction
Minor: Classism and Ableism