Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

384 reviews

heyeva's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

plxtoprojector's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The pop culture references were terrible. Aside from that, this book was insane and beautiful- the way her narration progressively becomes more and more self-centered and cold really shows just how unreliable her point of view is. As I worked through the book it went from "oh she's a little strange" to "she should get some help" to "what the Fuck." Loved the characterization and exploration of gender and sexuality, especially the application of toxic "masculine" traits to a woman, who's then able to use her power to manipulate men. Photography as her medium also really adds to the power discrepancy between her and her models for reasons I don't fully know how to articulate because it's very late while I write this.
Really disliked the way her eating disorder was approached. If you're not going to delve into something as complex as an ED beyond stereotypical, surface level definitions, don't write it at all. I think a lot of the insufferable writing choices are just that- insufferable, but they also are very appropriate for the protagonist.
I have so many thoughts I don't know how to explain- will definitely read again and annotate.

Content Warnings

sophiapt's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A book about a women exploiting and killing men? Sign me up.
Jokes aside, this was such an interesting book about how women are so easy to abuse in our patriarchal system but therefore are also not seen as a threat to men or even as people who could do any harm.
There where so many interesting themes covered such as art, beauty standards, (poor) mental health,... And the book manages to be horrible, funny and beautiful all at the same time.
Maybe look up trigger warnings before reading...

Content Warnings

beerxper's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

gewrgia_lightwood's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This had a very slow start for me
Yes I read it fairly quickly but idk what kept me coming back

Irina was one of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read. I know that’s the point but maybe I’m not that keen on reading unlikable characters. I was genuine annoyed (but that also works as a compliment for the story).

My biggest issue was this whole “woke” agenda the book tried to radiate. She was thought of as a feminism yet never show anything close to solidarity among women. Also her discomfort in being called working class once, really shows her political agenda. Even her work in the sexualisation of men as a critic in the sexualisation of women felt very “white” feminism to me.

Lastly her ED never being called out almost made it feel like it was romanticised (along with drugs).

By the halfway point it started to pick up and by the end it was quite interesting this whole distortion of reality ngl. But at the end of the day it’s hard for me to really enjoy books I’m not attached to its characters.

The writing was meh at its best

Content Warnings

shadysands's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down. It gave me American psycho vibes but with the gender roles reversed. Unreliable narrator where it is not sure what is real or not. Interesting to consider the lack of consequences she seemingly gets as a woman, where a man would be chastised. Brings in thrmes relating to power structures. A unique look into how traumas can transgress into adulthood- exploring female rage, sexuality and lack of true connection. Interesting view of women as lacking real danger, and the comparisons made in the book to Ted Bundy likens to the idea of 'pretty privledge' as a cover.

Also interesting in the context of kink art and exploring the line between artistic expression and exploitation of subjects.

Content Warnings

fujo_cat's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Full review here: https://fujoreads.tumblr.com/post/744584555725488128/boy-parts-by-eliza-clark

This book gave me a lot to talk about, but if I had to summarise it: this is a deep dive into an exasperated woman’s mind and how trauma can shape your whole thinking. The writing is crude and realistic but jaded and there’s a lot of themes to make us reflect on various issues.

Personally, I love flawed protagonists and cast, so this was a great read for me, even if heavy at times. It’s one of those reads that made me stay a bit too late reading, so definitely a page-turner!

If you don’t enjoy unlikeable characters or crude ways of showing heavy issues, I wouldn’t recommend this. You’ll just have a bad time.

Content Warnings

ciaraohara's review against another edition

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1.5

This is a confusing one bc on one hand this is such a well written book. The attention to detail and the understanding that Eliza Clark shows of narcissism and narcissistic cycles of abuse is amazing, and the writing was really captivating. Each and every character was developed so well and appropriately given that they were seen through Irina’s eyes, and her portrayal of people on drugs was also (I am told) very accurate and very well done.

The reason for my rating being so low is unfortunately just that I found the book so triggering bc of my own experiences which !! is not super fun. I don’t feel I can rate a book higher if it caused me so much genuine distress, no matter how good the writing is. However I thought that it was thought provoking and well written and I would read more by her - provided that I look up the content warnings first.

I’m sorry for the low rating Eliza Clark, please do not beef me ❤️

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kelbell's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

honestly scared the shite outta me!

Content Warnings

harpyd's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. Very disturbing and off putting at times, but could not stop reading!

Content Warnings

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