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dizzzybrook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thought this book was absolutely phenomenal. Rijneveld is such an incredibly unique author that without a doubt is certainly not for everyone. Much like his previous work, The Discomfort of Evening, this book is extremely polarizing in that the topics it tackles are not for the faint of heart. I am obsessed with Rijneveld’s writing style and would at this point consider him one of my favorite authors. For those who enjoy transgressive literature, I would highly recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Mental illness, Vomit, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Blood, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Self harm
erin99's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
Ik ben echt niet het doelpubliek van dit boek dus ga ik het ook geen rating geven
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Death
_charliesbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-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
4.5
Incredibly disturbing but beautifully written
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Toxic friendship
clara_mai's review against another edition
5.0
Ein unfassbar aufwühlendes Leseerlebnis, das dazu zwingt dorthinzuschauen, wo es am meisten wehtut. Ein Tierarzt berichtet von seiner romantischen und sexuellen Obsession mit dem vierzehnjährigen Kind eines Farmers. Und während der Erzähler seine Taten romantisiert tut Rijneveld eben dies nicht, vielmehr eignet er sich diesen Blick, der noch immer in den Knochen unserer Gesellschaft steckt, an und entlarvt so die manipulative Art und die perfiden Mechanismen von Grooming. Trotz des heftigen Themas zeichnet der Autor seine Figuren in einer schillernden Komplexität. Ich bin selten (möglicherweise noch nie) einer Sprache begegnet, die so poetisch ist und gleichzeitig so wirkungsvoll. Es sind die langen Sätze, die eine wie die Geschichte selbst in ihren gefährlichen Bann ziehen; erbarmunglos führt Rijneveld die Leser*innen mit jedem Wort tiefer hinein. Die Atmosphäre wickelt eine ein, die Sommerhitze und das was darunter brodelt. Die schmutzige, düstere Wirklichkeit der Kuhfarm, die den Ekel spiegelt, der beim Eintauchen in die Gedankenwelt des Tierarztes hochkommt. Trotz der Erzählperspektive schafft es dieser Text auch die Realität der Vierzehnjährigen durchklingen zu lassen, zeigt wie ein junger Mensch mit der eigenen Geschlechtsidentität und zu frühen Verlusten hadert. Jedes Element des Romans spielt seine Rolle: viele aber wohl kalkulierte Popkultur Referenzen beispielsweise weisen immer wieder zusätzlich auf den Altersunterschied und das Machtgefälle hin. "Mein kleines Prachttier" ist einer der besondersten und besten Romane, die ich je lesen durfte und ich bin gespannt darauf, mich weiter in Rijnevelds Werk zu vertiefen (obwohl es mir auch jetzt schon davor graust).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Grief, and Eating disorder
razmatesz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
seaoftranquility's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read "The discomfort of evening" in 2021 and absolutely loved it from its very first page. Having this in mind, I started this book immediately after it was gifted to me. With this one, however, it took me much more time to get into the story. I reached the point of DNFing twice, my main problem being the writing style. Although I am a huge fan of stream of consciousness and I don't mind feverish, nightmarish prose, I found that this book exhausted my brain, mainly in the first half. The sentences were way too long (I was longing for a full stop many times while reading) and the lack of paragraphs tired my eyes. I kept forgetting where the narrator started from and I caught myself wondering what this (incoherent mumbling of the narrator) had anything to do with the story. Maybe it was intentional by the writer, so as to drag the reader in this incoherent, fragmented, unreliable, sick mind. Well, they most definitely succeeded; the book was disgusting and exhausting and I know I will never touch it again. The main character of the book is not the sick pervert that holds the narration; it is the victim, this nameless girl who, already suffering from grief, abandonment and neglect, is failed by every single adult in their life. I was furious about how she was treated, the names she was called, how she was blamed for what happened to her, how she was the one to hold the blame, the innocent, broken, underage child for f*** sake. I was so angry that so many people eventually knew about what she was going through and no-one, and I mean that, NO-ONE picked up the f***ing phone to call the police. The writer did a pretty good job portraying the child's pain of loneliness and neglect, the longing for love and freedom from pain, as well as the child rapist's petting methods and the devastating effects the sexual abuse had on the girl. It was also interesting and thought-provoking that the writer chose this age for the child and not a younger one as in Nabokov's Lolita. Overall 4/5 stars; in spite of the book's difficulty (theme and writing style), I loved and empathized with this little bird- I wish her wings will be healed and take her away from pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Stalking, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Animal death, Self harm, Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, and Eating disorder
readingthething's review against another edition
Had not checked the themes, and I can't deal with a pedoohilia plot at the moment, especially not as an audiobook read aloud by a male voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Pedophilia
judythedreamer's review against another edition
So glad the course changed up which book we have to read. The fact that there's no paragraphs at all, made it hard to read. The subject matter itself was quite tough and I disliked all the veterinary terminology being used to explain his pedophilic interests.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual content, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Excrement, Death, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
simoneliesbeth's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
carolinevs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Pedophilia