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Cleopatra and Frankenstein is a book whose narrative changes as the story goes on. LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD FOR STRUCTURE -
For people who would like to read this, be warned that there is a lot of drug use and sex throughout this book, and some topics that some people may dislike or be triggered by!
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
I laughed out loud at sections (which is really rare for me) and had a very soft spot for the chef, so I can’t give it lower than this rating. I appreciated how complex the characters were and in scenes of conflict I really felt like I was there with them, I could hear their voices and see their faces and feel their energy. So that’s gotta count for something! But not enough to redeem the initial rating I’d given.
I agree with other reviewers who are wondering what the point of this story was. It made New York sound like a dump, the art installation at the end made me furious and nauseated, the fact that Everyone is so Charmed by Beautiful Stunning Cleo got so old so fast (especially after seeing the author might have been writing those descriptions about herself 🥴) and why some characters are redeemed and others aren’t had little rhyme or reason. Anyway, it was fast and entertaining!
Graphic: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Death of parent
Mellors writes in the modern style, I first encountered when I read “Girl. Woman. Other.” It’s pervasive, a book on my tbr list, “I’m a Fan” is also written in a similar style. Morally grey characters who make morally ambiguous decisions. Cheat on their partners, humiliate themselves in public and are never sober.
I can never read more than a couple of these books a year. They’re too modern. I prefer confronting my emotions through several layers of illusion. This one, was brilliant however.
The characters are well-crafted, written with such empathy that it’s easy to see yourself reflected back in them, even the bad bits. Frank’s story particularly resonated with me.
Theme exploration in this book felt like a caress. It felt like someone had dug deep underneath my defences and helped rearrange things. Finishing this felt like I’d shaken something out of a favourite coat. I understand myself better now.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Minor: Animal death
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse
Minor: Infidelity, Transphobia, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Transphobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail