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chloe_601's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
It has a lot that it wants to say about the relationship between transphobia (specifically TERFs) and fascism, and especially how fascism can weaponise trauma to make even those hurt by it unwilling participants in spreading hate. It is very unsubtle about what it’s wanting to say through the story and the characters, but it at least seems self-aware of how blunt it is. But it could feel over-the-top and preachy at times.
I love the way the haunted house was as much a character in the story as the other two (human) main characters. The plot is very slow but the main characters’ internal monologues made it seem less slow/boring than it otherwise would have. The author did a really good job of portraying a sense of madness and losing grip on reality that made you question what is really going on. The ending was not as satisfying as I would have hoped, but overall I did like it.
Graphic: Transphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Xenophobia and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Vomit and Drug use
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
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
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
partly_stars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Rumfitt is a skilled writer that boldly delves into darkest places and makes the reader feel them viscerally. The narrative voice weaves and blends tge perspectives of the characters, The House and omniscient narrator referencing things that have not yet came to pass. It makes you qestion what is really happenibg and what is in the mind, the nightmare state
This book is dark, trigger warnings galore, but it's not used for shock value. It all has a purpouse to tell a story and tobcreate thisvbleak universe that explores some of teh darkest things in midern british hearts that yet have roots deeply within this nations heart. It's both the worst case scenario and a warnungod what could happen
I love horror that has a messege that is explored through it and this one certeinly does. It made me want to step away and take a mental shower but i thinkbitsva really good book
Chilkung in its horror elements too like holly shit
Graphic: Rape, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Transphobia, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Vomit, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual harassment
musical_alex'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
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gore, Vomit, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Self harm, Transphobia, Violence, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Addiction, Homophobia, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Excrement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual harassment
dodgeremerson'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
3.5
This book made me deeply uncomfortable the entire time I read it. I don't regret reading it, as it is a good look at how easy it is to fall into fascist ideology, especially for young people and marginalized individuals.
It is not for everyone, but if you have the stomach for it, it's worth a read.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Hate crime, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Body shaming, Gore, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, Racism, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Bullying, Confinement, Dysphoria, Grief, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, and Vomit
awesomeallie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit and Mass/school shootings
Fascism, rape & transphobia are the big themes of the book, so take careerin_is_reading'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
4.5
Graphic: Transphobia, Dysphoria, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Vomit