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deli_neli_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Abortion, and Suicide
Minor: Classism, Addiction, and Emotional abuse
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
sarahrosebooknook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Addiction, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Abortion, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
attackrat's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
I’m so mad. I spent this entire book hating Cassie because she is genuinely a repulsive person. I finished it despite everything bc I thought the end would explain everything about why she’s Like That but it didn’t, so I’m going to let my rant out.
Cassie constantly looks down on everyone else and acts as if she has to be this “fake person” to survive but there is no one else for her to be. She never actually does better, she’s just like everyone else she’s just more delusional about it. The only bit of personality she has is liking black holes and it’s barely even a real interest, it’s basically metaphor research lmao. She keeps acting like she’s stuck and has no choice but to be an amoral hypocrite when there is NOTHING keeping her at this job. SHES CONVINCED THAT SHE’S PREGNANT BUT REFUSES TO TEST AND KEEPS DOING DRUGS AND DRINKING REGULARLY. My favorite part was Nicole’s insane rant to Maria and Cassie and she wasn’t even taken seriously!! SHE’S RIGHT!!! AND CASSIE NEVER REFLECTED ON IT AT ALL!!
There is very good descriptive and metaphorical language in this book, thank god, but I don’t think the main character was compelling or interesting enough for the message to really hit. Cassie never once tried to be a good person or even function as an adult and she suffered for it. That’s the message I got, and I can tell it’s not the one the story was trying to tell.
Cassie constantly looks down on everyone else and acts as if she has to be this “fake person” to survive but there is no one else for her to be. She never actually does better, she’s just like everyone else she’s just more delusional about it. The only bit of personality she has is liking black holes and it’s barely even a real interest, it’s basically metaphor research lmao. She keeps acting like she’s stuck and has no choice but to be an amoral hypocrite when there is NOTHING keeping her at this job.
There is very good descriptive and metaphorical language in this book, thank god, but I don’t think the main character was compelling or interesting enough for the message to really hit. Cassie never once tried to be a good person or even function as an adult and she suffered for it. That’s the message I got, and I can tell it’s not the one the story was trying to tell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Suicide
brennasjohnson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My god, will someone please check on this author? Incredibly written and unique story but I don't think there was a single event in that book that wasn't devastating. (I was low-key into it)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abortion
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
tytrack99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5
I loved the way this book was set up with definitions and parts of her lives used to explain the words defined. I loved the separation of parts with black hole facts. I loved the small science sprinkled in here and there. I did not love the plot. I enjoyed the story, but it too until the last 50-100 pages for anything to truly happen. It took me way too long to finish this book bc of that. Overall, I did enjoy it tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Abortion, and Emotional abuse
errie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Abortion, Medical content, and Police brutality
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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