Scan barcode
cphunter's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If I had stopped after the first few chapters, it would have been a 5 star read. The writing is really engrossing and I can’t fault the author’s talent and creative work.
My expectations played into my reaction to this book though, as most other titles from 404 Ink I have read have been horror-skewed, so I was hoping for way more darkness. The opening scene combined with the title create an interesting point to which the plot could move. However, it doesn’t.
By the time I was about halfway through, I found myself feeling uncomfortable. There was so little character development of the narrator that it felt intensely personal; I may be way off the mark but I was left with a gut feeling that some people in the author’s life would feel real icky about this book!
The other disappointment was that the plot didn’t really go anywhere, by the time we were introduced to some character arcs, it was so close to the end that I don’t feel like they were explored: more of an upward curve than an arc!
It felt by the end that it was a series of sex scenes tied together with very loose threads - I would have preferred it to be a series of short stories centring on the different characters, linked by the sex they are all having. To me that would have been cleverer and more gripping.
My expectations played into my reaction to this book though, as most other titles from 404 Ink I have read have been horror-skewed, so I was hoping for way more darkness. The opening scene combined with the title create an interesting point to which the plot could move. However, it doesn’t.
By the time I was about halfway through, I found myself feeling uncomfortable. There was so little character development of the narrator that it felt intensely personal; I may be way off the mark but I was left with a gut feeling that some people in the author’s life would feel real icky about this book!
The other disappointment was that the plot didn’t really go anywhere, by the time we were introduced to some character arcs, it was so close to the end that I don’t feel like they were explored: more of an upward curve than an arc!
It felt by the end that it was a series of sex scenes tied together with very loose threads - I would have preferred it to be a series of short stories centring on the different characters, linked by the sex they are all having. To me that would have been cleverer and more gripping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
backpackfullofbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
“Pain is closer to love than indifference right?”
~
A unnamed young woman is bored with life in her hometown but has no motivation to leave. She enters into a variety of sexual relationships, including one with a previously established couple. The only emotion she seems to feel for any of these people is need, she is manipulative in the extreme and is constantly searching for a novel sensation, she only really wants someone when she can’t have them.
As these relationships start to wind down and then disintegrate she commits to more and more self destructive behaviour.
~
So I read this one for a book club and it isn’t something I would have chosen by myself. Even with that said, I really didn’t enjoy reading it.
I thought from the description that it would explore polyamory in a way that shows how it can be both functional or dysfunctional (like all relationships). However this books characters are in a state of complete dysfunction, all the relationships are unhealthy and manipulative (often verging into abusive) and there seems to be no consent discussions at all, which I understand from the book club discussion is generally an important part of polyamory.
I may be skewed against this book as I don’t like reading about characters that are in self destruct mode, which the main character definitely is, and as the book is from her perspective I found it even harder to read. Maybe if this interests you you’ll like this book 🤷♀️
Wouldn’t have finished it without the book club.
~
I recommend this book if you like reading about true dysfunction and self destructive tendencies (I guess).
~
A unnamed young woman is bored with life in her hometown but has no motivation to leave. She enters into a variety of sexual relationships, including one with a previously established couple. The only emotion she seems to feel for any of these people is need, she is manipulative in the extreme and is constantly searching for a novel sensation, she only really wants someone when she can’t have them.
As these relationships start to wind down and then disintegrate she commits to more and more self destructive behaviour.
~
So I read this one for a book club and it isn’t something I would have chosen by myself. Even with that said, I really didn’t enjoy reading it.
I thought from the description that it would explore polyamory in a way that shows how it can be both functional or dysfunctional (like all relationships). However this books characters are in a state of complete dysfunction, all the relationships are unhealthy and manipulative (often verging into abusive) and there seems to be no consent discussions at all, which I understand from the book club discussion is generally an important part of polyamory.
I may be skewed against this book as I don’t like reading about characters that are in self destruct mode, which the main character definitely is, and as the book is from her perspective I found it even harder to read. Maybe if this interests you you’ll like this book 🤷♀️
Wouldn’t have finished it without the book club.
~
I recommend this book if you like reading about true dysfunction and self destructive tendencies (I guess).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Addiction, Self harm, and Violence
More...