Scan barcode
cait_henry56's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
Multiple adult/minor relationships.below_average_baker's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death, Alcohol, Suicide, Sexual violence, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
eeviee's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
This was advertised as a dark-academia book along the lines of The Secret History with Otessa Moshfegh's prose. The one thing about dark academia you need to know is that the main character, although the plot is written from their perspective, is almost always secondary to the plot. They serve merely as a lens and exposition to the Real Main Character whom they put on a pedestal to the point of deification. They are a spectator to the plot, so to speak. This True MC must lead a clique, and this clique must be mysterious and glorified enough to be sought after. You have to cultivate the feeling of FOMO and then give equal parts of belonging when they finally feel included. Note on included. Because soon enough you find out, in very few crumbs left by the author, that the mc was never considered an insider but only an obligatory member out of their usefulness, or, let’s say, innate ability to suck up. They rebel against this notion once they finally see the shadows in the cave a la Plato, but it’s a childish attempt. This is the catalyst for every high note in the book. The main character steps in and chooses to no longer be passive, which, I think, is the grip that chokes the collective windpipes of the dark academia community. This is what this book has done well, at least from my perspective.
What's disturbing is the ongoing theme of girls pining over older men twice their age, but I see it so often in women’s literature that it’s becoming neurotic. This is the part that I struggle to overlook in the book, although I do think it was done to point us toward the harm it can cause instead of romanticizing it. At one point the author cites the mother's favorite author "Harm is the norm. Doom should not jam." from Pnin by Nabokov, which we can consider as a nod to the author's famous work, and how that was received.
Overall a love-it-or-hate-it book, but definitely something I enjoyed, and at some point, worth revisiting.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Eating disorder, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Minor: Suicide
2kerrymehome's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The detachment from reality didn't immerse me in the world of this story, it removed me from it. The characters all talk in parables and have insane motivations that the people around them acquiesce to. Its not just that theres no world I can imagine where enough starvation would encourage you to
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
shel_conn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
Minor: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
whatellisreadnext's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Suicide, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Death, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
- 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
1.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and Eating disorder
stevie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Violence