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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Pretty good overall. Loved the way she told the same story in so many different ways.
Not being into the whole comics thing, I had no idea these characters are supposed to be riffs on ones from comics. So thanks, Goodreads, for that extra bit of knowledge. đź‘Ť
Not being into the whole comics thing, I had no idea these characters are supposed to be riffs on ones from comics. So thanks, Goodreads, for that extra bit of knowledge. đź‘Ť
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
If I knew comics I’d have appreciated this book more. That said, the short stories were each well written.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more. The author seeks to tell the ongoing stories of those lady characters in comics who have been fridged: bumped off in order to further the story of the male protagonist. In this, she seeks to subvert the narrative of inevitability in comics, that women have to die or otherwise be removed, and she succeeds with humor and biting commentary, all while winking at the knowing reader who may recognize certain story lines from famous comics but carefully avoiding any potential litigious threat from DC or Marvel lawyers.
The writing is a flashy in-your-face "look what I can do" style, and it makes for an enjoyable read. The bold voice helps to make the story both impressive and interesting.
The writing is a flashy in-your-face "look what I can do" style, and it makes for an enjoyable read. The bold voice helps to make the story both impressive and interesting.
I always enjoy Catherynne Valente’s prose. Her characters and world-building are a true pleasure here, as in her other books. The archetypes and plot lines will feel familiar even to a casual comic consumer, but as usual she has dropped perfect pearls of wisdom that will break your heart.
By its nature, the theme of the book is dark, and I found it hard to read at times. Usually her work helps me escape into dazzling fiction, but this book turned a magnifying glass to how women are treated in real life, and that made it not 100% fun to keep reading at times.
Still, I definitely recommend reading this compilation. It was worth it.
By its nature, the theme of the book is dark, and I found it hard to read at times. Usually her work helps me escape into dazzling fiction, but this book turned a magnifying glass to how women are treated in real life, and that made it not 100% fun to keep reading at times.
Still, I definitely recommend reading this compilation. It was worth it.
Taking cues from the title inspirations, Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues and the "women in refrigerators" trope spotlighted by Gail Simone, a veritable Greek chorus of women whose deaths are mere motivational fodder for heros' arcs vent their cumulative rage and fury in personal vignettes.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I firmly believe this book should be required reading, specifically for anyone who wants to get into creating comic books , and more generally for those who want to write fiction. It's such a beautifully written satirical look at how women have been marginalized and used as canon fodder throughout comic history, with remarkably funny writing, well realized characters, and some surprisingly good world-building for a book that's essentially a parody, all coming together to create one of the best (loving) dissections of superhero comics as a medium.
Absolutely brilliant. If the Wonder Woman movie showed everything right about what a woman in a superhero movie can be, The Refrigerator Monologues focus on everything wrong about how women are regularly treated in the comic book genre. Inspired by The Vagina Monologues, this collection of stories is told from the perspective of the women who have been killed, abused, or shoved aside to make room for the men in the stories, becoming no more than fuel for hero's manpain. Valente has created her own superhero universe, and tells the stories of the romantic interests of that world's Justice League or Avengers-esque group. In a particularly insightful touch, she also tells the story of the one woman - there can be only one, of course - superhero in that group.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in comics and superheroes. This is the wine to pair with your meal of Wonder Woman. It will make you see the distance the superhero industry still has to go.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in comics and superheroes. This is the wine to pair with your meal of Wonder Woman. It will make you see the distance the superhero industry still has to go.
Must read for all comics fans.
Side note: even though the characters in this are based on existing characters, Valente is so creative I desperately want full series in these worlds, and of the Hell Hath Club.
Side note: even though the characters in this are based on existing characters, Valente is so creative I desperately want full series in these worlds, and of the Hell Hath Club.
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes