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thesvnthsense's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
cspa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The commentary in the book was remarkably perceptive and thought-provoking, adding depth and sharpness to the narrative. So much so, that even with the lower raking, highly recommend reading this book for its insightfulness. While it was my favorite aspect as it encouraged deep reflection, I'm unsure if the protagonist's vibrant and unruly personality seamlessly aligned with the overarching heavier themes in the more essay-like chapters, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience.
Conversely, as someone with mild dyslexia, I found the book's format to be challenging. The abundance of run-on sentences, lengthy paragraphs that could be divided, and the absence of quotation marks for dialogue made it difficult to follow. I recognize that this style mirrors the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness narration and her unstable nature. Which I appriciate but did struggle with. At the halfway mark, I bought the audiobook to enhance my reading experience, and I regret not doing it earlier. The author's captivating narration truly brought the character to life in a authentic way my brain alone couldn’t.
My last qualm, I wish the timeline had been clearer and more linear, as the frequent shifts between past and present tense were somewhat disorienting.
In conclusion, I believe it's valuable to read due to its insightful analysis. Additionally, it's a shorter book with chapters of varying lengths so there’s no harm in giving it a shot!
Ultimately, I enjoyed it, but I didn't adore it.
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic relationship
thebigameiseverynight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
rachela_7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The premise was very intriguing, and I am generally a fan of unlikeable characters. I really liked the commentary on race and class at first, but eventually it started to sound like Patel was saying the same thing each time in very slightly different ways. The prose reads like slam poetry at times and jury’s still out on whether or not I enjoyed it. I did laugh at a few of the chapter titles, though, they felt very Tumblr-esque. I see myself potentially returning to this book in the future in case I missed the hype the first time around.
Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism and Sexism
bookwormteddy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse
schopenhauers_poodle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The premise is straightforward: a South Asian woman in her 30s is having an affair with a serially unfaithful married white man in London. Patel's writing is at its best when the narrator articulates the experience of trying to reconcile the image of a partner or relationship that we have in our head with reality. Less successful are the political and sociocultural rants the narrator goes on that feel preachy, awkward, and sometimes obvious.
But that's all surface, on a closer reading I realized that "I'm a Fan", similar to "Poor Things," functions as a political allegory. "The man I want to be with" stands in for the UK, while "the woman I am obsessed with" is the US, the man's wife is the EU, and the narrator is a colony, (at one point she even describes the man as colonizing her body). It's clever.
I also want to point out an observation I had of many reviews that deride the narrator, calling her "unhinged" or "crazy," which I find dishonest and troubling. Why the focus on the narrator, who we know has less power than and is subordinate to the man and British society? What responsibility does he/it bear? And what responsibility do we have to each other in relationships?
"I'm a Fan" won't stand the test of time but Patel succeeded in creating a time capsule, capturing the zeitgeist of life online during the early 2020s steeped in consumerism, celeb culture, and technology.
Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
elizabethgreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse
hannacolm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
ella_w_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
It reads like a mixture of fiction and non-fiction with ideas constantly repeated throughout. I guess it’s to reflect the obsessive nature of love but I honestly just hated it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship