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yvieharris's review
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Half a star purely because it was beautifully written
Absolutely hated it. Maybe I’m too angry, but Margot was a sympathiser and I understand there are two sides to the story but alas, she did not hold him accountable and it made the book seem to !? maybe not condone, but it felt remorseful that finally women are standing up for themselves and society is losing gentlemen??
anyway, I hated it. luckily it was only 80 pages long, but I especially hated the positive outlook at the end, as if he could continue his life with no remorse or punishment for what he’d done?? idk maybe that’s just me & I’ve met multiple Quin’s in my life and maybe I’m too angry to understand any deeper hidden meanings in this book
Absolutely hated it. Maybe I’m too angry, but Margot was a sympathiser and I understand there are two sides to the story but alas, she did not hold him accountable and it made the book seem to !? maybe not condone, but it felt remorseful that finally women are standing up for themselves and society is losing gentlemen??
anyway, I hated it. luckily it was only 80 pages long, but I especially hated the positive outlook at the end, as if he could continue his life with no remorse or punishment for what he’d done?? idk maybe that’s just me & I’ve met multiple Quin’s in my life and maybe I’m too angry to understand any deeper hidden meanings in this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
issibelle's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
irene_fueyo_gomez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
monica9913's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was well written, i really enjoyed the different povs but i really can't get over it how this in the end became how men move on from accusations without any reproductions and even without any acknowledgement of the pain they create to those women. I didn't enjoyed that Quinn pov was the last one basically showing a future for a predator rather than the consequences of his actions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
sarahduxbury's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
noamorris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse
_malia_pt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
femme_en_feu's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Racism
mabel's review against another edition
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
i just... i dont even know how i feel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
jona's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really liked the book, if you see it as critique of the people portrayed in this book and their excusing behavior. But then I read this interview with the author and now I'm not so sure about my feelings for this novella.
In the interview Mary Gaitskill says:
"Actually, it is a defense of the male character, to some extent. He’s someone who, for all his life, has acted in a way that’s now called “harassment,” and not only was it tolerated but he did very well, is a great success, socially and professionally. So why would he realize how offensive his behavior now seems to many people? I don’t intend the story as an exoneration; I don’t see this character as innocent or completely harmless. But, really, who is? Quin is flawed, but he’s essentially a good man who is being punished beyond the scope of his “sins.”"
I feel very conflicted with this statement, because of course I believe that everyone has flaws and stuff like that and you shouldn't be cancelled forever, just because you didn't understand a situation. But I feel like statements like this are exactly what is damaging to the movement against sexual harassment. Of course Quin didn't rape anybody, but that's not the point right? He doesn't understand that his actions, even though there is no bad intent there, make other women feel bad and small and other things and that this debate is not about what he feels.
In the end I think I don't understand why this novella was published. If it's not to be shown the ridiculous behavior of people defending or not taking sexual harassment seriously, brushing it off as only a bad joke, then what does Gaitskill want to say with this? Because if there's one thing we don't need right now, it's showing "the other side" of the MeToo-Movement.
In the interview Mary Gaitskill says:
"Actually, it is a defense of the male character, to some extent. He’s someone who, for all his life, has acted in a way that’s now called “harassment,” and not only was it tolerated but he did very well, is a great success, socially and professionally. So why would he realize how offensive his behavior now seems to many people? I don’t intend the story as an exoneration; I don’t see this character as innocent or completely harmless. But, really, who is? Quin is flawed, but he’s essentially a good man who is being punished beyond the scope of his “sins.”"
I feel very conflicted with this statement, because of course I believe that everyone has flaws and stuff like that and you shouldn't be cancelled forever, just because you didn't understand a situation. But I feel like statements like this are exactly what is damaging to the movement against sexual harassment. Of course Quin didn't rape anybody, but that's not the point right? He doesn't understand that his actions, even though there is no bad intent there, make other women feel bad and small and other things and that this debate is not about what he feels.
In the end I think I don't understand why this novella was published. If it's not to be shown the ridiculous behavior of people defending or not taking sexual harassment seriously, brushing it off as only a bad joke, then what does Gaitskill want to say with this? Because if there's one thing we don't need right now, it's showing "the other side" of the MeToo-Movement.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault