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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
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
Honestly some of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever encountered.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“And men never understood loving something that didn't breathe air. They didn't understand loving someone who didn't love you back, even if that person said they loved you.”
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was very bad and I did not like it. RIP me, being taken in by the super cool cover
This book was full of short stories about the same kind of woman over and over; obsessed with being thin and beautiful and hating all women who aren't thin and/or beautiful. It got repetitive and frankly annoying having to read about thigh gaps and eating disorders over and over and over. Contrary to how the author may feel, not all women feel that way. This book left me with a nasty taste in my mouth and not a taste that inspires further contemplation.
What on earth was that?
So toxic, Lisa Taddeo is having a good go at dragging feminism backwards by only using horrible stereotypes that (“pretty”) women all hate each other, are jealous of each other and don’t support each other, whilst only caring about how they look and wanting to make men like them. And what is her bizarre obsession with brunettes?
It wasn’t a read of dark humour, it was more a read that made me pity the author - that she could write so crudely of women and further allow for the stereotypes that harm us makes me think she must think so poorly of women herself and not have close female-presenting friends around that empower her.
So toxic, Lisa Taddeo is having a good go at dragging feminism backwards by only using horrible stereotypes that (“pretty”) women all hate each other, are jealous of each other and don’t support each other, whilst only caring about how they look and wanting to make men like them. And what is her bizarre obsession with brunettes?
It wasn’t a read of dark humour, it was more a read that made me pity the author - that she could write so crudely of women and further allow for the stereotypes that harm us makes me think she must think so poorly of women herself and not have close female-presenting friends around that empower her.
Urgh. I really loved Taddeo’s debut, Three Women. I didn’t like the last book I read by her. This collection was hard for me to read.
“The One and Only” had to be skipped. It was full of triggering anorexic behaviour which was just not worth my time. Plus, it was written in second person and I simply can’t stand that. Then I moved on to “Forty Two” to find another protagonist with deeply disordered exercise behaviour and narcissistic obsessions with image.
I don’t care about image. I appreciate that some people like getting their eyelashes tinted etc etc but reading about women who’re obsessed with their image to the point of frankly destroying themselves- no thanks.
I had to stop reading the book in the end. I’m starting to think I don’t like Lisa Taddeo- her writing feels like it drags down the worst elements of 21st century femininity rather than building up.
“The One and Only” had to be skipped. It was full of triggering anorexic behaviour which was just not worth my time. Plus, it was written in second person and I simply can’t stand that. Then I moved on to “Forty Two” to find another protagonist with deeply disordered exercise behaviour and narcissistic obsessions with image.
I don’t care about image. I appreciate that some people like getting their eyelashes tinted etc etc but reading about women who’re obsessed with their image to the point of frankly destroying themselves- no thanks.
I had to stop reading the book in the end. I’m starting to think I don’t like Lisa Taddeo- her writing feels like it drags down the worst elements of 21st century femininity rather than building up.
challenging
dark
reflective
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:
Complicated
It’s hard to say. I really didn’t enjoy the book but also understand that the author doesn’t intend for you to enjoy the book. I read a review once that there a bits and pieces of these women in everyone woman known, which I can see but also makes me very uncomfortable. It’s effective! I just didn’t like it.
The stories aim to capture the complexities of human connection, often centering on flawed, emotionally distant characters.
However, these characters are so self-absorbed and unrelatable that it becomes difficult to care about their struggles. Their pain feels performative rather than profound, making the reading experience feel detached and hollow.
Taddeo’s prose occasionally shines with sharp observations, but even the strongest sentences can’t compensate for the lack of emotional engagement or meaningful resolution.
The collection also suffers from pacing issues; the stories meander without a clear purpose, making it hard to stay invested. My mind wandered repeatedly while reading—a sure sign that the book failed to captivate.
However, these characters are so self-absorbed and unrelatable that it becomes difficult to care about their struggles. Their pain feels performative rather than profound, making the reading experience feel detached and hollow.
Taddeo’s prose occasionally shines with sharp observations, but even the strongest sentences can’t compensate for the lack of emotional engagement or meaningful resolution.
The collection also suffers from pacing issues; the stories meander without a clear purpose, making it hard to stay invested. My mind wandered repeatedly while reading—a sure sign that the book failed to captivate.