Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have had ‘The Beauty’ on my TBR for a while, so I was excited to receive an ARC of the 10th anniversary edition.
I’ll start by saying that the horror elements were enjoyable, and had it not been for the overall messaging of the book, I might have liked it more. Unfortunately, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book.
‘The Beauty’ is around 100 pages long, which is why I read it in its entirety rather than just not finishing it. I was truly hoping that it would become more inclusive or take an unexpected turn. But alas, I was left disappointed.
I went into this book knowing very little, which is often how I approach horror and speculative fiction to avoid spoilers. Since finishing it, I have read a few other reviews that reflect my feelings.
Although the book is anything but predictable or 'classic' in its plot and surrealism, it employs a classic 'gender swap' approach. Due to this, many have praised its supposed 'feminist' messaging. The issue, however, is that there are not only two genders... Any perceived 'feminism' in this book is, by definition, Trans+ Exclusionary (aka it is TERFy). I have found little to suggest that this was the author's intent; it is likely a byproduct of the author being heterosexual and cisgender, and therefore not having thought to explore beyond her own worldview when the book was first published 10 years ago. I am particularly upset that this is an anniversary edition that somehow made it to being republished despite this harmful and exclusionary messaging.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
I’ll start by saying that the horror elements were enjoyable, and had it not been for the overall messaging of the book, I might have liked it more. Unfortunately, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book.
‘The Beauty’ is around 100 pages long, which is why I read it in its entirety rather than just not finishing it. I was truly hoping that it would become more inclusive or take an unexpected turn. But alas, I was left disappointed.
I went into this book knowing very little, which is often how I approach horror and speculative fiction to avoid spoilers. Since finishing it, I have read a few other reviews that reflect my feelings.
Although the book is anything but predictable or 'classic' in its plot and surrealism, it employs a classic 'gender swap' approach. Due to this, many have praised its supposed 'feminist' messaging. The issue, however, is that there are not only two genders... Any perceived 'feminism' in this book is, by definition, Trans+ Exclusionary (aka it is TERFy). I have found little to suggest that this was the author's intent; it is likely a byproduct of the author being heterosexual and cisgender, and therefore not having thought to explore beyond her own worldview when the book was first published 10 years ago. I am particularly upset that this is an anniversary edition that somehow made it to being republished despite this harmful and exclusionary messaging.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
dark
medium-paced
The Beauty is set in a society of boys and men, where women have been eradicated by illness and no longer exist. The men live peaceful nonhierarchical lives until the women, who perished years ago, are gradually replaced by sentient “mushrooms” and all hell breaks loose. The book is a poignant and thought-provoking examination of gender norms and queer identities. It succeeds in deconstructing gender by exploring the reversal of gender roles, and the fluidity of both sexuality and gender identity. It also delves into notions of power, hierarchy, generational gaps, and how these are deeply tied with our understanding of gender and sexuality.
This book is weird. Very weird. At first, I wasn’t sure about it. I love odd and weird but as I was reading it I kept thinking “Is this maybe a bit too odd? Do I want to keep on reading it?” And yet I couldn’t put it down. Perhaps, this is what the book excels at the most: the uncertainty and ambiguity you feel while reading it perfectly emulates and mimics the uncertainty and ambiguity that the characters feel as the book progresses and as they are faced with a series of strange incomprehensible challenges. Reading it was therefore quite the immersive experience as I got the sense that I was in the thick of it with the characters, I too felt what they felt: they were not quite sure what was happening was good for them but they coudn’t get away from it. I was not quite sure what I was reading was the book for me but I also couldn’t get away from it.
It is at times deeply unsettling and uncomfortable - in a way that makes you confront your own ideas on gender - as well as disturbing and disgusting, particularly in the scenes with body horror.
I’ve read reviews where people ridicule and dismiss this book as preposterous and mad. The irony of these reviews is that, by doing so, people are playing out exactly what the book also aims to explore: it is a lot easier to ridicule what we don’t understand, than to stop and think critically. A lot of those reviews just prove that the book is right in its portrayal of how, when faced with that which is different and unknown, the default knee-jerk reaction is often to reject it, dismiss it as ridiculous, and sometimes lash out with violence.
This book is a tenth anniversary edition of The Beauty and it also includes The Arrival of the Missives, a very clever feminist coming of age story with a feisty intrepid protagonist who, I dare say, is impossible not to love. While this story is completely different from The Beauty, it is as thought-provoking and gripping and manages to both critique patriarchal society and the science fiction genre itself. One could describe it as “that 90’s ‘What´s Up?’ song by 4 Non Blondes, but make it historical science fiction”
*sings “I realised quickly, when I knew I should, that the world was made up of this brotherhood of man…” *
Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion Publishing for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A book I loved, creepy, lyrical, deep, and recommended... "the meanings squat low, so low in the words..."
dark
mysterious
tense
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book includes the story The Beauty and the story The Arrival of Missives.
I really enjoyed both stories. The first is quite horrendous in terms of body horror and an uncomfortable but interesting read. The depictions of gender and relationships are a little stilted but overall I found it really though provoking.
I think I slightly preferred the second story, The Arrival of Missives which follows a young girl who has a crush on her teacher. He is hiding a strange secret which affects the trajectory of her life. Just very cool and unique stories.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed both stories. The first is quite horrendous in terms of body horror and an uncomfortable but interesting read. The depictions of gender and relationships are a little stilted but overall I found it really though provoking.
I think I slightly preferred the second story, The Arrival of Missives which follows a young girl who has a crush on her teacher. He is hiding a strange secret which affects the trajectory of her life. Just very cool and unique stories.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A