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beanith's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
To be clear, I don’t think I’d recommend this book to anyone. At least not lightly or casually. But I am giving it at least 4 stars (going back and forth between a 4 and 4.25). The themes, content, and characters of The Centre all require a willingness from the reader to just listen, even if they hate what they’re hearing.
Cannibalism. I knew it was coming - I spoiled it for myself when adding the book to my TBR, and again when I looked up the Jacques Derrida quote Shiba likes. But even knowing that there would be cannibalism didn’t desensitize me to the reveal - it was gross, made worse by how the founders of The Centre carry themselves with an air of enlightenment, sophistication, wisdom, elitism, etc.
I read Tender is the Flesh a couple of years ago and honestly, I don’t want to read another cannibalism book. I know as a theme and metaphor the girls are loving it (hello Ethel Caine, Bones and All, and Hannibal TV show) but I am not one of those girls.
Luckily, I think the cannibalism here is not a metaphor for an all consuming love (or whatever the girls are saying on Twitter). I think the characters delude themselves about their actions being justified or even morally superior because they obtained (dubious) consent. They convince themselves that they can live on forever this way. I think this is more or less an exercise in the extremes privelleged people go to not interact with the real problems of today (poverty, inequality, inaccessibility) in order to create a flimsy vision of the future. A future that seems to only benefit them and their circle.
Let’s talk characters
Anisa: if you need a main character to be likable or redeemable then do not pick up this book. She starts off pretty neutral, maybe a little lost in a general quarter life crisis way. But as the book goes on her anxieties, insecurities, preoccupations and judgements take center stage. She is unwilling to confront her own class and wealth privilege despite being hyper critical of the world around her. She’s manipulative (especially to Adam, and later, heartbreakingly, to Naima) and she cares more about how people see her vs how she treats them. She seems more motivated by curiosity than goodness. She’s interesting to read from but not exactly easy to empathize with (not that you always need to empathize with a character, anyway).
Naima: The realest one, ride or die, if Naima has 0 fans then I am dead. She is full of life and genuine emotion and reflection. Not academically fetishized enlightenment.
Adam:Adam enters and leaves the narrative without much fanfare, but I was surprised to find myself rooting for him when he was fighting with Anisa. It’s easy to make fun of Adam , especially when Anisa picks him apart for most of their relationship. But he is the one to throw the first flag and tell her that she is selfish.
Shiba: Cool, mysterious, thoughtful. She seems representational of what Anisa feels like she lacks. But also, she has a life outside of Anisa.Still fucked up. I’m sorry, joining your dad’s cannibalism cult is not the power move you think it is.
I think this book is messy and imperfect but I think that it gives a lot to ponder by the end. Not black and white moral ponderings (the things that are morally wrong in this book are self evident to me), but thoughts on class, race, gender, language, respect, dignity, consent and privilege.
I read Tender is the Flesh a couple of years ago and honestly, I don’t want to read another cannibalism book. I know as a theme and metaphor the girls are loving it (hello Ethel Caine, Bones and All, and Hannibal TV show) but I am not one of those girls.
Luckily, I think the cannibalism here is not a metaphor for an all consuming love (or whatever the girls are saying on Twitter). I think the characters delude themselves about their actions being justified or even morally superior because they obtained (dubious) consent. They convince themselves that they can live on forever this way. I think this is more or less an exercise in the extremes privelleged people go to not interact with the real problems of today (poverty, inequality, inaccessibility) in order to create a flimsy vision of the future. A future that seems to only benefit them and their circle.
Let’s talk characters
Anisa: if you need a main character to be likable
Naima: The realest one, ride or die, if Naima has 0 fans then I am dead. She is full of life and genuine emotion and reflection. Not academically fetishized enlightenment.
Adam:
Shiba: Cool, mysterious, thoughtful. She seems representational of what Anisa feels like she lacks. But also, she has a life outside of Anisa.
I think this book is messy and imperfect but I think that it gives a lot to ponder by the end. Not black and white moral ponderings (the things that are morally wrong in this book are self evident to me), but thoughts on class, race, gender, language, respect, dignity, consent and privilege.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Animal death
zarakoconnor's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Amazing commentary on colonialism, language and racism. Very reflective about the value we hold in non western voices, especially in story telling. Would recommend to anyone wanting to diversify their reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Minor: Cannibalism
bookishbrenbren's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I think I enjoyed this book but it's not the type of book I prefer so I guess I'm stuck in between enjoying what I got and wishing I'd gotten more of what I wanted 🤔 if that makes sense.
The writing has no subtlety or subterfuge (and what is there is more like a tongue in cheek between her and the reader). There is this element of metafiction to it - the narrator constantly breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly and you exist as a second level consumer of the story, always questioning what's real and what isn't. Which, idk, sometimes I thought it was brilliant but most times it was just too casual for me and kept calling attention away from the story, back to this idea of the book as metafiction, like 'don't forget!' - more like the princess bride movie than If An Egyptian.
The author also brought up lots of great little aside ideas but a lot of the times she throws a line out and then dismisses it as boring or banal or cliche or whatever and that started to irritate me. We get it, you're not writing about immigrants or race or class, you're just writing about immigrants and race and class. Allllso the main character is kind of unlikeable 😂 but her friendship with Naima was the sparkling star of the story (can you tell I like character-driven novels?) they support and disappoint each other like humans and I froth for that. But again with the meta, their conversation about there HAS to be a Desi wedding scene for "those guys" nudge nudge wink wink... it was cute ngl but did it add? Did it add?
Now that I've complained, lol, the plot is excellent, the pacing is excellent, the suspense is suspensing and the ending is a lovely little cherry on top. The author's humor is also sprinkled as a nice little bonus throughout the book.
CW one of the characters is mentioned as being from Israel and having learned "mind hacking" in the IOF. Um ok, who was he mind hacking on occupied land...
The writing has no subtlety or subterfuge (and what is there is more like a tongue in cheek between her and the reader). There is this element of metafiction to it - the narrator constantly breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly and you exist as a second level consumer of the story, always questioning what's real and what isn't. Which, idk, sometimes I thought it was brilliant but most times it was just too casual for me and kept calling attention away from the story, back to this idea of the book as metafiction, like 'don't forget!' - more like the princess bride movie than If An Egyptian.
The author also brought up lots of great little aside ideas but a lot of the times she throws a line out and then dismisses it as boring or banal or cliche or whatever and that started to irritate me. We get it, you're not writing about immigrants or race or class, you're just writing about immigrants and race and class. Allllso the main character is kind of unlikeable 😂 but her friendship with Naima was the sparkling star of the story (can you tell I like character-driven novels?) they support and disappoint each other like humans and I froth for that. But again with the meta, their conversation about there HAS to be a Desi wedding scene for "those guys" nudge nudge wink wink... it was cute ngl but did it add? Did it add?
Now that I've complained, lol, the plot is excellent, the pacing is excellent, the suspense is suspensing and the ending is a lovely little cherry on top. The author's humor is also sprinkled as a nice little bonus throughout the book.
CW one of the characters is mentioned as being from Israel and having learned "mind hacking" in the IOF. Um ok, who was he mind hacking on occupied land...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, and Classism
spess's review
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death and Hate crime
samanthaleereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Drug use, Islamophobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gore
urnee's review
challenging
dark
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, and Cannibalism
lizzym126's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, and Cultural appropriation
btaylorb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this, it's incredibly dark and has a leisurely, lush tone that contrasts well with the sense of high tension every time the main character goes to The Center. As always in a good horror novel, this story uses those glimpses at the monster behind the curtain to shed light on things that are truly horrific: racism (particularly through the supremacy of the Western canon and Western European language), classism, and sexism. Meanwhile the body horror, when it's revealed is more subdued. There's also a really good red herring early on that I would occasionally remember throughout the story and then gradually forget about. I loved how flawed and earnest the main character is: She is by turns introspective and aware of her privilege as she delves into why she's so unhappy, but also often blind and uncaring toward other characters.
I thought the use of different languages throughout, in particular Urdu, the MC's first language, was really well executed. I listened to the audio version where the Urdu dialogue is read by the narrator, but as far as I can tell they're not always translated for the listener. Apparently, these sections are also not delineated by italics in the physical or ebook editions. I think this is such a clever way to create a sense of intimacy with the characters and reinforce some of what the book is exploring around language and communication. I don't feel at all like I lost anything by not understanding those few sections. In the final section of the audiobook, the author gives an interview where she talks about the idea that if you don't understand something, it might just not be meant for you, and that's okay - and this is sometimes a central point of the story.
Also noteworthy: There's one passage toward the end where a racial slur gets bleeped in the narration of the audio. I'm going to glance at the physical copy at my library, because I'm curious if it's similarly censored in some way in the text. I would love to know if this was an authorial choice or an editorial one for the audio edition; I'm hopeful it's the former because, given the premise, I think that's an interesting and powerful detail.
I thought the use of different languages throughout, in particular Urdu, the MC's first language, was really well executed. I listened to the audio version where the Urdu dialogue is read by the narrator, but as far as I can tell they're not always translated for the listener. Apparently, these sections are also not delineated by italics in the physical or ebook editions. I think this is such a clever way to create a sense of intimacy with the characters and reinforce some of what the book is exploring around language and communication. I don't feel at all like I lost anything by not understanding those few sections. In the final section of the audiobook, the author gives an interview where she talks about the idea that if you don't understand something, it might just not be meant for you, and that's okay - and this is sometimes a central point of the story.
Also noteworthy: There's one passage toward the end where a racial slur gets bleeped in the narration of the audio. I'm going to glance at the physical copy at my library, because I'm curious if it's similarly censored in some way in the text. I would love to know if this was an authorial choice or an editorial one for the audio edition; I'm hopeful it's the former because, given the premise, I think that's an interesting and powerful detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Body horror, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
bloupibloupreads's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Islamophobia, and Murder
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism
ethanmmc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Interesting ideas about culture and friendship, but the sci-fi element (how do people become fluent in a new language in just 10 days) remains undeveloped. We're told, eventually, "it works like this" but with no plausible explanation of how or why "this" would work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual content, Islamophobia, and Sexual harassment