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hrcobb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
Amazing social commentary. It evokes a lot of emotions, mostly negative (anger, sadness, despair). I really wanted the protagonist to stand up for herself but it would have been a totally different book if she had. This will stick with me for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Abortion
veelaughtland's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Abortion, Drug abuse, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
dumbcumpster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book reminded me a lot of my year of rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh. it was a quick read, but a tough one; I genuinely sobbed throughout a lot of this book, but it also made me laugh. the narrator's internal monologue reminds me a lot of my own, and it was both eerie and comforting to see it reflected elsewhere. I tore through this book in just over a day.
it was almost ergodic in how the author uses black holes and black pages and "e.g.:" and definitions throughout to mirror the content of the book. the black hole metaphor was a little heavy-handed for my taste, but the pomegranate metaphor really struck me. it's very heavy on internal monologue, childhood memories, and the narrator's internal thoughts feelings etc.
I've seen multiple reviews mention how Cassie, the main character, sucks or is a bad person or whatever, which I think is strange. I think the whole point is to draw attention to how capitalism ruins people's lives and turns them into something they never wanted to be, out of sheer economic necessity. Cassie is vain, competitive, cowardly, irresponsible, pathetic, an addict, lacks self control, the whole shebang, but so are we all. Cassie being directly impacted by being mistreated at her job, abused by her mother, half-heartedly committed to by her kind-of boyfriend, extorted by her landlord, put at risk by the virus, etc, all makes her want to shrivel up and hide and die. I think that's all of us. Cassie is all of us. that's what makes her so uncomfortable to understand and to see her inner machinations laid bare.
I think you'll either get this book or you won't, and you'll know pretty quickly which camp you fall into. if you have any experience with depression or poverty, you'll probably get it.
it was almost ergodic in how the author uses black holes and black pages and "e.g.:" and definitions throughout to mirror the content of the book. the black hole metaphor was a little heavy-handed for my taste, but the pomegranate metaphor really struck me. it's very heavy on internal monologue, childhood memories, and the narrator's internal thoughts feelings etc.
I've seen multiple reviews mention how Cassie, the main character, sucks or is a bad person or whatever, which I think is strange. I think the whole point is to draw attention to how capitalism ruins people's lives and turns them into something they never wanted to be, out of sheer economic necessity. Cassie is vain, competitive, cowardly, irresponsible, pathetic, an addict, lacks self control, the whole shebang, but so are we all. Cassie being directly impacted by being mistreated at her job, abused by her mother, half-heartedly committed to by her kind-of boyfriend, extorted by her landlord, put at risk by the virus, etc, all makes her want to shrivel up and hide and die. I think that's all of us. Cassie is all of us. that's what makes her so uncomfortable to understand and to see her inner machinations laid bare.
I think you'll either get this book or you won't, and you'll know pretty quickly which camp you fall into. if you have any experience with depression or poverty, you'll probably get it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Child abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Suicide, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Vomit
madelinemartin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For anyone dealing with changing jobs and burnout, this book is almost too relatable.
The book juxtaposes the situation Cassie finds herself in and the surrealistic depiction of her mental health issues in sharp contrast to one another, providing a sinister air to the shady corporate dealings she is forced to do, and an edge of realism to her very asbtract mental health issues. The tone shifts as her issues worsen, and while there isn't a whole lot of plot, her spiral seems scarily, worryingly relatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Classism, Abortion, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Misogyny, Addiction, and Pandemic/Epidemic
valeriedittrich's review against another edition
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
if you’re already feeling down about your corporate job and are actively in a depressive episode i’d skip this, honestly. but it’s a raw look into the dog-eat-dog world of silicon valley and the pressures of corporate life and how it can just exacerbate whatever you’re going through. characters aren’t super likeable but it’s kind of the point. feels very realistic to a scary degree
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Drug abuse
aprillem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
I enjoyed this book in the beginning; it was well written and I liked the overall tone. But the main character had absolutely no growth, no interests, no perspective beyond her misery. I relate to the congitive dissonance of having to go through the motions of life while witnessing endless daily tragedies, but there was no reflection beyond that. All we get from the main character is the sense that life is bleak and we have no control over any of it so what’s the point.
None of the characters in the book were likeable, they literally all suck. The writing was good but it got a bit tedious and the black hole metaphor was very heavy handed.
None of the characters in the book were likeable, they literally all suck. The writing was good but it got a bit tedious and the black hole metaphor was very heavy handed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Drug abuse, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide
samanthamohun's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am still at a loss for words for how to describe this book but I think a really good place to start is: this book is heavy. I cannot stress this enough, but if you are struggling with depression, this may not be the book for you.
And that is because the author does an incredible job at describing what it’s like to struggle with depression. Cassie, our FMC, is followed by a black hole that she has known all her life. As the story progresses through several all too realistic horrors (like a deadly virus spreading through the world, a job that overworks her to the point of mental and physical exhaustion, a situationship that adds to that exhaustion, living in a high COL city & witnessing extreme disparities between wealth and class, no true support system, and a difficult relationship with her mom), her black hole gets larger and louder.
I saw this book described as a capitalistic hellscape and that truly nails the story. This book looks at the game: what we have to do, who we have to be, to survive in a capitalist society at the sake of who we are. It’s dark and full of points that make you reflect on life and work and what is going on.
I enjoyed this book so much and definitely recommend. The writing was engaging and broken up with several definitions, facts, and a black hole itself. If you’re considering, please check TWs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
mari_is_here's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Gore
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
kaicedcoffee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. This book shook me up, man. Maybe it was just because so much of the story was close to home for me, but I was an emotional wreck reading this. Sobbed two different times, and I'm not one who cries over books....ever! Grabbed me by the throat and didn't get go until it was over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic
kellyung's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Abortion, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Mental illness