Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

53 reviews

owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious fast-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

3.75

"I have a photo of each leg, each arm, and his torso: all these boy parts, which I can arrange on my living room floor like a jigsaw."

Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.

I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.

I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence

lovefromhannah's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

if you like your unreliable narrator/morally grey protag actually morally grey then oh boy this might just be your next favourite read

this is my second time reading this: I needed to read it again to truly have an opinion and I needed some time to collect my thoughts after finishing the second read. and yet i'm still not sure what I want to rate it: I feel 4 stars is slightly too high and 3 doesn't seem enough. this is not an enjoyable reading experience, but it is a very well crafted book nonetheless. 

towards the final third of the novel, clark's writing seemed to become disjointed. and yes irina

was definitely in the middle of a full on mental breakdown/manic episode because the consequences of her actions (being raped/sexually assaulted and being haunted by the men she killed) were finally catching up to her.

but it didn't seem like that was the reason why. yes, an interpretation of this may suggest that the writing style reflects irina's mental (in)stability, but she continues to spiral after this stylistic blip and the writing resumes its usual style until it finishes. 

with that being said, I was a huge fan of the ending.

after seeing the anticipated art show, the one night stand where she cuts off someone's nipple and then goes on a date with that person's dad and on said date when she confesses to everything she's done, he simply doesn't even bat an eyelid?!?!?! and then afterwards she lies down in a water fountain and just floats there!! then the novel finishes. irina floating in the fountain is her metaphorical death because this art show was the only thing keeping her going in this manic episode of a novel and now that it is all done, what does she really have to live for?

in summary: you will not enjoy reading this, but you will love it anyways.

boy parts is an aggressive, tender and shocking read and I enjoyed the thrilling ride. i'm hoping to read penance(clark's next novel) later in the year and I think I'll like that more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Classism, Eating disorder, Blood, Torture, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship

nialiversuch's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Dysphoria, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Cancer, Torture, and Terminal illness

aquaria127's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body horror, Blood, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

sarahjxde's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Alcoholism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, and Eating disorder

wilmawillis's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Body shaming, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Misogyny

conflictheory's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Biphobia, Addiction, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism

Minor: Classism

szpetot's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Vomit, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Self harm, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Eating disorder, Drug use, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Blood

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Biphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Misogyny

loxeletters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Sexual content, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Self harm, Murder, Child abuse, and Eating disorder

Minor: Pregnancy, Outing, Vomit, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Pedophilia, Excrement, Classism, Racism, and Abortion

alexandraemjly's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A dark and gritty read which at parts is genuinely horrifying but is equally painfully honest and raw. This book tackles uncomfortable, disturbing, and explicit topics that aren't for everyone, and makes it something you can't read to enjoy. But just because it isn't a friendly book, doesn't mean it shouldn't be read. It makes you think, and makes you angry, and makes you more willing to criticise.

 

The protagonist, Irina, whose perspective narrates this story is deeply unlikeable and is not redeemable in any capacity. She is the epitome of a female manipulator, exploitative, narcissistic, violent, and completely incapable of feeling or exhibiting remorse for her actions. And yet the way in which her struggles and reactions engage with the issues of consent, gender norms, and traditional power imbalances mean that the dissection of the social discourse around such topics is that much more brutally tangible. The reader is uncomfortable throughout reading this but it is one of those books that proceeds to nag at you for ages after you finish it.

However, the ending was very frustrating. it feels like everything in the book sort of slots into place and you begin to, in a warped way, understand why Irina is the way she is. and you start to resonate with her pain more while being even more disgusted with her actions. and then it just...ends?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Blood, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Stalking, Fatphobia, Grief, Sexual violence, Gore, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Cursing, Cancer, Car accident, and Classism