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Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Cleópatra e Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

730 reviews

emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I wanted to like it so much but nearly every character was insufferable. It left me feeling empty. 

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is for New Yorkers cause I swear I know all of these characters IRL.

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i inhaled this book and i actually really liked it! there was some reluctance to read it at first but when i got started i found that it is incredibly well-written and full of touching stories and real characters. i feel like this is a coming of age story in the best way, for many people (of ALL ages) but the care with which mellors handles all her characters is really something very special, and it really brings the book to life. a special mention must go to the character of santiago, whose relationship with food and life and body and soul and friendship was one i felt particularly touching, and i really really connected with his character in the one chapter that highlighted him! but importantly, mellors makes everything feel so fleshed out and so human so even when we are looking at characters who are not cleo and frank, the book is just as compelling, and just as moving!

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emotional sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The editor must have been on annual leave. This insipid novel aims to be realist, but is at no point even believable. The characters are cringe-worthily written, self-absorbed cliches. The side characters and their traumatic backstories only exist to serve under the leads, and leaves a taste of tone deaf racism in the mouth. It take traumatic events and conditions- from addiction to suicide- and exploits them recklessly. So much so that it feel sensationalist.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book feels like you’re invited into the world of well-off socialite New York as a total voyeur. You’d never want to be part of this circle as all the characters are flawed and unlikeable in their own ways. However, Cleo and Frank’s relationship IS interesting and this discussion of how they destroy one another in the mutual distraction of themselves is why you keep reading it. You don’t want to look away from the car crash on the highway. (SPOILERS:) However, Eleanor’s 2 chapters felt really misplaced. First person was the wrong choice for her (esp when then rest of the novel is in third) and felt like an ill-attempt at making her feel normal, relatable or quirky - this I think was the more unsuccessful element of her narrative. I also don’t think she was Frank’s saving grace and I’m unsure if she was written to be. Although, her pining love for Frank could serve as an interesting contrasting how Anders pined for Cleo, as Eleanor’s love showed far more compassion, maturity and self-awareness as opposed to Anders’ vapid, self-absorbed obsession with Cleo was. All in all, this book felt like reading gossip, and for that purpose it worked fabulously. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings