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Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
I initially picked this book up for the title - Cleopatra and Frankenstein, how unique - and found I could hardly put it down. Mellors' mastery of the mundane made every moment magical (alliteration absolutely intended). It was by no means a fantastical story, rather one of pain and humanity. Self-discovery and change can happen at any age, at any stage, and the lessons that Mellors teaches are gentle in a way I didn't expect. I was brought to tears time and time again, dancing from highs to lows. I railed at each character for poor choices, but not once did I feel that they were constructs. They felt like real people, and Mellors simply pointed the camera at their lives.
Cleo and Frank were childlike in so many ways. Their brash decisions and whirlwind of parties and events represented all that New York could offer, everything and anything. Cleo was unmoored from her mother's death, her own struggle with mental illness, and her search for purpose. Frank was aching for belonging, but chose to muffle the pain instead of facing it. His alcoholism didn't make him a villain, but his choices and ways he treated others soured his relationships. They were yearning for stability that neither one could offer, so they ended up spiraling.
The other characters were no less interesting than the titular duo. Each were undoubtedly intertwined with the Cleo and Frank, moving like a complicated dance, pushing and pulling. Each had their own sets of longing and battles to fight - Zoe searching for something to ground her, Quentin struggling with drugs and identity, Santiago aching for love and acceptance, and Eleanor learning to love herself. And not everyone had a happy ending, but each finds their own path for better or for worse.
I loved the writing style between perspectives. The first and last chapters are evenly split between Frank and Cleo's thoughts. The rest of the book is regimented to one character per chapter, looking through their eyes. Where it shifts is Eleanor - her perspective is in short snippets and thoughts, focusing on the world around her. It's a refreshing change of pace and from the first person instead of the third. It becomes more personal.
Overall, this story left me feeling emotionally drained in the best way. It was introspective and beautifully written.
#bookrecommendations #bookreviews #litfic
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Suicide
It’s a story about a very toxic couple, their friends and how they all live in this devil circle where everyone makes bad decisions. It is tough to read. The very very End is giving the Reader a glimes of hope.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Transphobia, Vomit
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Outing, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Transphobia, Vomit