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samuelachillese's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Racism
arkwen452's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I find that the third person, multiple points of view essentially make it a little bit more confusing when going between, ila, Alice, Hannah and Jacob and even the House's point of view. I also need to say that Tell Me I'm Worthless is a very dark book and that readers should be prepared for all of the graphic details and metaphors and analogies that happened in the book.
There are a lots triggering elements/moments in the book but the main ones they should be aware of transphobia, sexual assault, harassment, racism, systemic racism, prejudices, misogyny, and the crooked, political and justice system. The author has a lot of nods to elements in the global society prejudices, but mainly focused on the elements that take place in London/England society.
I have read material from British authors before so I could follow along, but there were a few bits that were confusing. I also found that Tell Me I'm Worthless core was about the affects of society's toxic attitudes not only became one with the inhabitants of the house but also the house itself.
At times, I found I was being led by a backwards/forwards narrative due to a lot of double meanings present in the book.
With all of that said, strong themes when it came to the characters I got from Tell Me I'm Worthless was centered on identity, belonging, conformity, and self loathing. And the house of the story was this surcharged vessel that attracts the darker sides of people, seemed to encourage and enhance the evil in people's hearts.
There was a lot to deconstruct from this book and there were parts I just couldn't understand. I find that this may have been a good book for a book club discussion rather than a solo read, but that's my opinion.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Transphobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
unluckycat13's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It has unhinged fetish posts that are reminiscent of the real Internet, and it plays with the structure of a novel in ways that are meta without breaking the story.
The author builds moments of genuine tension that I rarely feel in a novel. The down side is that the author frequently undercut these moments too.
My favorite aspect was that the book is very topical. Most fiction is afraid to be set in the world we live in, identifiable and dated. It must always be timeless unless it's a period piece. This book is very identifiably the world I inhabit and see every day.
Overall solid and I look forward to seeing what other books the author writes.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Rape, Violence, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Drug abuse, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Self harm, Sexism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Drug use, Deadnaming, Confinement, Bullying, Body shaming, Antisemitism, Animal death, and Addiction
the_horror_maven's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Transphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape
Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, and Gore
jfontaine'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Body horror, Dysphoria, Antisemitism, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Violence
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I actually don’t know if I recommend this because though it is meant to be horror, possibly satire, and providing searing commentary on the many -isms and current zeitgeist, I am …. genuinely concerned that it may cause more harm than spark rumination. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m uninterested in forcing folks to read through deeply traumatic and painful events and hateful messaging (obviously posited as wrong and bigoted, but still!) just to get a point across. I’m unsure if this book executes the message it is trying to get across well enough to present the topics at hand.
I felt thoroughly creeped out, uncomfortable, and heartbroken as I read about Ila and Alice’s experiences in the haunted house that left their friend Hannah behind so many years ago. However, again, I genuinely don’t know if I recommend this. I am not saying there’s no room for deeply disturbing literary fictional horror, because obviously the trans community is under attack in the United States, with more policy targeting their rights and general wellbeing. I just don’t know if this book’s graphic nature was for me.
Graphic: Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Transphobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Dysphoria, Child death, Murder, Suicide, Deadnaming, Blood, Antisemitism, Gore, Drug use, and Cursing
f18's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Islamophobia, Gore, Body horror, Violence, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Drug use, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Child death, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Excrement, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Animal death, Vomit, Alcohol, and Bullying
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Blood, Racism, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Antisemitism, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gore, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Addiction, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Animal death, and Excrement
Minor: Kidnapping, Islamophobia, Gun violence, Child abuse, Car accident, Infertility, Child death, and Pedophilia
spookylilbean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Blood
meguary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Racial slurs, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Rape, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Murder, Antisemitism, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Body horror, Classism, Death, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts