Reviews - Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma

3.1k reviews for:

Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma

Claire Dederer

3.82 AVERAGE

eburgardt's review

3.0

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

A book about the ethical complexities of art by bad people, and the fan’s role in all of it
Loved this book until about halfway through where it devolved into a book about motherhood and the patriarchy. Wouldn’t hate a book about motherhood and the patriarchy, but that’s not really what Dederer claims she’s trying to write
A friend of mine pointed out to me that Dederer overlooks the most monstrous acts of the women it discusses, which doesn’t sit well with me
Probably worth a read if you’re into philosophizing about whether the art should be separated from the artist, but definitely read with a critical eye

juliusclearance's review against another edition

3.0

It says "deeply personal" and it was true. I really thought it would come to a conclusion or make a statement, but at the end of the day the interactions you have with media are very personal and who can say how you should handle your emotions?

inky2310's review against another edition

0.25

If I could give this zero then I would!

I keep thinking ive found the worst book this year and then I find another... this is the current one at the top of my worst book ever read pile!

So what's wrong with it well:

What a complete load of rubbish... The author clearly has done very little resesch into the topics and people discussed within these pages and is mostly based on opinion rather than any solid evidence!
She constantly drops in the her kids are "leftists" which just shows me im reading the wrong book as a "Leftist" myself

Dederer seems to skirt around her points and never getting to them. she makes a statement and then won't actually talk about it, instead they will go round in circles about things maybe slightly related before gojng off on huge tangents.

There is a whole chapter about "the fan" but it is basically a chapter that bashes people for being part of fandoms, calling it unhealthy to be obsessed! I could write a whole book counter this one chapter.

oh and if you are a movie enthusiast, Dederer's analysis will make you want to bang your head against the wall... even more so if you are a student of media!

This book is not what it appears to be approach with Caution!

spores's review

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

emcheets's review against another edition

3.5

informative reflective medium-paced

Although the concept is interesting and the examples thoroughly explained, I find the concept that the only “monsterous” thing a woman is capable of if abandoning the social constructs of motherhood and family. I’m sure there are plenty of examples through the years of women doing the same actions as some of the men written about that could bring more of a rounded conversation. (I do agree that some of these actions do tend to be made by men on the most part but I just feel it’s very heavy on the “men do everything wrong” train)

Content Warnings

santaw0rld's review against another edition

4.75

funny informative inspiring medium-paced

Excellent read, very engrossing and I finished it over a long train ride. I felt it meandered a bit in the middle but the writing was always interesting. Didn't love the concluding chapters but I learnt alot.