Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth

13 reviews

alcmusso's review against another edition

funny relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Racism

acresofclams's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing

Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Antisemitism, and Suicide

Minor: Racial slurs

wiktoria_bojda's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexism, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism

julianfromme's review

funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry

riverleafing's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Sexual content

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

divyareads's review against another edition

challenging funny 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism

grammapollyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark funny fast-paced

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

4.0

 From the back cover:
Port­noy’s Com­plaint n. [after Alexan­der Port­noy (1933- )] A dis­or­der in which strong­ly-felt eth­i­cal and altru­is­tic impuls­es are per­pet­u­al­ly war­ring with extreme sex­u­al long­ings, often of a per­verse nature. Spielvo­gel says: ​‘Acts of exhi­bi­tion­ism, voyeurism, fetishism, auto-eroti­cism and oral coitus are plen­ti­ful; as a con­se­quence of the patien­t’s ​“moral­i­ty,” how­ev­er, nei­ther fan­ta­sy nor act issues in gen­uine sex­u­al grat­i­fi­ca­tion, but rather in over­rid­ing feel­ings of shame and the dread of ret­ri­bu­tion, par­tic­u­lar­ly in the form of cas­tra­tion.’ (Spielvo­gel, O. ​“The Puz­zled Penis,“Inter­na­tionale Zeitschrift für Psy­cho­analyse, Vol. XXIV, p. 909.) It is believed by Spielvo­gel that many of the symp­toms can be traced to the bonds obtain­ing in the moth­er-child relationship.

Really, this definition does describe the entirety of the book pretty clearly. The amount of sex, racism, and misogynism in this book is not to be undersold. However, one can easily see how at the time it was written that this book would have caught the attention of so many readers. Alexander Portnoy is absolutely obsessed with sex and seems to always be trying to find ways to find gratification. He seems pretty self-aware that his thoughts and actions are inappropriate but he either lacks true conscience or empathy. Throughout the book Alexander addresses comments to Spielvogel who is very clearly his psychoanalyst. I was equally offended by, angry at, and sympathetic to Portnoy. But when I reached the end of the book and realized that the entire story was a preparatory inner monologue prior to an appointment with Spielvogel, I actually laughed out loud. After all, some people do tend to have these internal conversations in the same way some people clean their houses before the cleaning crew arrives.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Sexual assault

This book is quite graphic in terms of sex including sexual assault and masturbation.

catarina_fernandes's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

dalumores's review against another edition

reflective 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

cnohero's review against another edition

slow-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

0.5

I did not donate this book it went into the trash. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Misogyny, and Excrement