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natashax1997's review against another edition
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Having suffered from depression and working a corporate job this book was so relatable to me. It really captured a lot of my own feelings about working a job in a city and how bleak our capitalist society is. Definitely not one to read if you're currently depressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury
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
sugaralmond's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Abortion
saraaai's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Abortion
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
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
murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I didn’t enjoy reading this book because it was so emotionally heavy, but Etter’s writing is exquisite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion