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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Ostensibly about a lapsed evangelical whose girlfriend joins an extremist Christian cult, but really more about dealing with loss and gender politics. Interesting use of an unreliable narrator but ultimately left me wondering what the point of it all was.
CW for rape
CW for rape
dark
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Suicide attempt
Minor: Islamophobia
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tw: sexual assault // looking back at my review of kwon's 'kink,' it's impressive how much carries over to 'incendiaries': for the most part extremely boring and moderately pretentious. parts struck a nerve, but a lot was completely forgettable. i also deeply wish there wasn't rape.
so let's start with the good: kwon can write. i don't plan on keeping my copy of the book, but i saved enough quotes that i didn't want to lose. it's like out of nowhere every few pages you're hit with a stunning phrase. i also loved the exploration of struggling with faith, and about the different places we find faith (god, cult leaders, girlfriends, music). this part felt raw and real and powerful.
(minor spoilers ahead)
but the story itself just wasn't good. will is one of the worst characters i've read in a long time. he almost has no character, except being someone who thinks he's a good guy but is actually one women are right to run from. watching his entitlement, stalking and assault from his perspective didn't feel insightful the way getting into a mind of a villain sometimes does. it just made everything feel slimier. and to top it off, he is just so so so boring. phoebe was no more developed. they all have back stories that could have been something impactful, but the way the story is told keeps you at such a distance that there's no room to get attached to the characters and care for them. the way women were handled in this book read deeply like a dude writing, which was extremely disappointing. i'm trying to convince myself that it's ~commentary, but the persuasion is not going well. the cult itself is kept too far away to be compelling, and provides none of the true crime or weirdness one wants in a cult book. instead it's just a possessive, bland boyfriend pining after a girl in a relationship that feels weak.
this was also a really brutal book to read so recently after we lost roe v. wade.
overall, 'incendiaries' is just a big let down. it was so hyped that i'd been excited to read it for years, and i'm not sure it was worth it.
2.5-3/5 stars
so let's start with the good: kwon can write. i don't plan on keeping my copy of the book, but i saved enough quotes that i didn't want to lose. it's like out of nowhere every few pages you're hit with a stunning phrase. i also loved the exploration of struggling with faith, and about the different places we find faith (god, cult leaders, girlfriends, music). this part felt raw and real and powerful.
(minor spoilers ahead)
but the story itself just wasn't good. will is one of the worst characters i've read in a long time. he almost has no character, except being someone who thinks he's a good guy but is actually one women are right to run from. watching his entitlement, stalking and assault from his perspective didn't feel insightful the way getting into a mind of a villain sometimes does. it just made everything feel slimier. and to top it off, he is just so so so boring. phoebe was no more developed. they all have back stories that could have been something impactful, but the way the story is told keeps you at such a distance that there's no room to get attached to the characters and care for them. the way women were handled in this book read deeply like a dude writing, which was extremely disappointing. i'm trying to convince myself that it's ~commentary, but the persuasion is not going well. the cult itself is kept too far away to be compelling, and provides none of the true crime or weirdness one wants in a cult book. instead it's just a possessive, bland boyfriend pining after a girl in a relationship that feels weak.
this was also a really brutal book to read so recently after we lost roe v. wade.
overall, 'incendiaries' is just a big let down. it was so hyped that i'd been excited to read it for years, and i'm not sure it was worth it.
2.5-3/5 stars
A book that lets you dive deep into someone else’s world. It shows the subjectivity of our perception, despair, and longing. Hard to tell what was real and not (would have made a great intro to the concept of an unreliable narrator). Pretty dark
Once I was oriented in the odd style and stopped looking for lush imagery that wasn't there, I was rapt by the bizarre look into religion, faith, grief, and obsessive love.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was such a struggle. The last 35% flew by at least.