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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
So weird. Alternately super interesting and tedious.
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A truly bizarre read… it was definitely interesting! But very fractured, and hard to follow in places.
I’m glad I’ve read it, especially as it’s quite different to the film! It definitely made me think, and was outside my comfort zone so pushed me to think in different ways as I was reading.
The inclusion of 2 sides of the same story was really intriguing! If you’ve read it… whose side do you prefer, Archie or Victoria’s? 🤔
I’m glad I’ve read it, especially as it’s quite different to the film! It definitely made me think, and was outside my comfort zone so pushed me to think in different ways as I was reading.
The inclusion of 2 sides of the same story was really intriguing! If you’ve read it… whose side do you prefer, Archie or Victoria’s? 🤔
Overall I enjoyed this book. It’s a 3.5 stars for me…. Very interested in how this will translate to the movies.
This book was an absolute masterclass in its criticism of the medical field, politics, and the patriarchy. Drawing from multiple perspectives it gives a tongue in cheek commentary on how women's stories are told by men, how women from the past are dealt with by those in the future, how society treats women, and how the press treat ambitious outspoken women who make history.
This story, written by Bella/Victoria's husband, then retold and "fact checked" by Alasdair Gray was a wonderful way to "show not tell" how many men who consider themselves feminist allies talk over a woman's own account of her reality, end up siding with each other, and relegating her own story told in her own words to a handful of pages at the back of a book about her life where she states much of the book was a work of fiction - all while attributing her success to a man named God violating her personal autonomy (in her husband's recollection, of her choice to kill herself) to reanimate her into someone that will love him and sexually fulfill him.
Most of the book, as told by her husband, was men who told her they loved her while they contrived to take away her ability to choose her own path by giving her a few options and telling her choosing one of those was true freedom. From Godwin to Archibald, Wedderburn to Astley, Blessington to Blayton Hattersly - all looked to control Bella financially, sexually, and socially.
Victoria's account was, for the reader a little jab like "ah so you got pulled in by the Victorian aesthetic did ya? Got stars in your eyes for Frankenstein and the whole Gullivers Travels thing huh? Well bully for you I guess but I just ran away from my war criminal first husband and started living with this other guy I fell in love with and yeah I did worship him as a God a bit, but isn't that love?"
I find it SO interesting that the movie chose not to have any of the main character's letter (the only part of the book told by her directly) in any way involved in the plot of the movie, further cementing a man telling this woman's story without her own voice in it while appearing to be a first person POV! Was it intentional? I don't know, but it ended up continuing this piece of art across mediums to win further awards with even less of Book Victoria's own words. Don't get me wrong I loved the movie as well and I'm so glad I watched it first, but wow this book, much like the movie, is going to have me thinking for a very long time.
This story, written by Bella/Victoria's husband, then retold and "fact checked" by Alasdair Gray was a wonderful way to "show not tell" how many men who consider themselves feminist allies talk over a woman's own account of her reality, end up siding with each other, and relegating her own story told in her own words to a handful of pages at the back of a book about her life where she states much of the book was a work of fiction - all while attributing her success to a man named God violating her personal autonomy (in her husband's recollection, of her choice to kill herself) to reanimate her into someone that will love him and sexually fulfill him.
Most of the book, as told by her husband, was men who told her they loved her while they contrived to take away her ability to choose her own path by giving her a few options and telling her choosing one of those was true freedom. From Godwin to Archibald, Wedderburn to Astley, Blessington to Blayton Hattersly - all looked to control Bella financially, sexually, and socially.
Victoria's account was, for the reader a little jab like "ah so you got pulled in by the Victorian aesthetic did ya? Got stars in your eyes for Frankenstein and the whole Gullivers Travels thing huh? Well bully for you I guess but I just ran away from my war criminal first husband and started living with this other guy I fell in love with and yeah I did worship him as a God a bit, but isn't that love?"
I find it SO interesting that the movie chose not to have any of the main character's letter (the only part of the book told by her directly) in any way involved in the plot of the movie, further cementing a man telling this woman's story without her own voice in it while appearing to be a first person POV! Was it intentional? I don't know, but it ended up continuing this piece of art across mediums to win further awards with even less of Book Victoria's own words. Don't get me wrong I loved the movie as well and I'm so glad I watched it first, but wow this book, much like the movie, is going to have me thinking for a very long time.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wasn't sure what to expect based on the limited knowledge that the plot had to do with a grown woman having the brain of a small child, but thankfully that was very misleading in how the story actually goes.
The writing is witty and funny. The plot is so unique and a refreshing change. I enjoyed reading this so much! I truly think that anyone who read this would enjoy it, even if they did not also regard it as a 5 star read.
The writing is witty and funny. The plot is so unique and a refreshing change. I enjoyed reading this so much! I truly think that anyone who read this would enjoy it, even if they did not also regard it as a 5 star read.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was not only a SLOG, but it felt like chapter after chapter of a man trying to imagine what it'd be like if women were actually autonomous creatures with perspectives of their own. He had to frankenstein a woman to make this happen btw, clearly those women don't already exist.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes