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reflective
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
Hit me harder than I anticipated. Not because I’ve lived anything like the characters’ lives (I haven’t), but because it gets at how life can be an absolute chaotic mess, which I resonated with.
That said, the book goes deep into a lot of characters’ lives, only for the ending to feel kind of rushed. Like, it spends time setting up things like drug abuse and messy relationships, and then just… doesn’t follow through on all of them. Maybe that’s the point—life doesn’t tie itself up neatly, and not everyone gets a happy ending. I get it. But still, it left me wanting a little more.
I will say, though, it made me feel. Like, I was emotional at several points, and yes, I cried. It got to me.
Overall, it left me thoughtful but also a little conflicted, which I’m guessing was the goal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
dark
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-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
I hate this book. It’s like fleabag but less smart. I dont thinkits fair that Frank gets to live a happy changed life and we get stuck with not knowing what happens with Cleo. I think its a disservice to not give an inkling of hope that she can be better. I don’t think Frank was redeemed. Santiago was the only one with a happy ending. The emotional and physical violence thats described to happen only to Cleo was devastating. No one got what they deserved, it was deeply disturbing and unsatisfying.
Upon reflection i hate this book
Upon reflection i hate this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt
emotional
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
I’m still not quite sure how I feel about Cleopatra and Frankenstein - it was at times brilliant and sensitive and had me hooked, but also was quite messy and emotionally wrecking and felt all over the place. The titular characters, a wayward British arts student Cleo and a slightly older architect from NYC, Frank, certainly come to life through Mellors’ writing. They feel more like people you’d meet at a party than purely fictional characters, which although effective, leaves one feeling increasingly frustrated by their personal and romantic choices as the novel progresses.
There was also a very weird episode involving a pet, which even made me (who has had a fair share of totally absurd NYC moments) think: ‘WTF is going on here?!’. I nevertheless went on to read Blue Sisters, which makes me think I can’t have completely hated Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
There was also a very weird episode involving a pet, which even made me (who has had a fair share of totally absurd NYC moments) think: ‘WTF is going on here?!’. I nevertheless went on to read Blue Sisters, which makes me think I can’t have completely hated Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt
I found some scenes quite raw and difficult to read and detail occasionally too distressing, partly because of how hyper-realistic/recognisable the protagonists and setting are