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amyvl93's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
f you watched and enjoyed Succession, but thought that Logan Roy just wasn't quite vile enough, The Exhibitionist may be for you!
This novel follows the gathering of the Hanrahan family at the family home ahead of the patriarch Ray, one-time famous artist, launches his first art show in many, many years. We are introduced to Lucia, his wife who has put her arguably more successful career on hold; Patrick, his stepson who longs for a life outside of the family home; Jess, his daughter who has fled from London to Scotland to avoid her family and Leah, his (strangely) devoted other daughter. Alongside the core family are Jess' wet blanket husband, Ray's brother and his family, his ex-wife amongst many others.
I was enjoying this to begin with, I liked the nuanced time we spend with Lucia and Jess in particular - the latter grappling with potential motherhood and the former with her sexuality were both interesting. However, it did start to become overly repetitive and noodley with little point. I also struggled to fully understand some of the character motivations here - especially Leah whose character I never felt we really got to understand. Ray's general vile personality also didn't appear to have any nuance - I don't mind unlikeable characters but I like to be able to at least understand their motivations and Ray was just...horrific. I didn't enjoy spending time with him at all.
Whilst an interesting character study, The Exhibitionist didn't quite give me the pay off I wanted it to.
This novel follows the gathering of the Hanrahan family at the family home ahead of the patriarch Ray, one-time famous artist, launches his first art show in many, many years. We are introduced to Lucia, his wife who has put her arguably more successful career on hold; Patrick, his stepson who longs for a life outside of the family home; Jess, his daughter who has fled from London to Scotland to avoid her family and Leah, his (strangely) devoted other daughter. Alongside the core family are Jess' wet blanket husband, Ray's brother and his family, his ex-wife amongst many others.
I was enjoying this to begin with, I liked the nuanced time we spend with Lucia and Jess in particular - the latter grappling with potential motherhood and the former with her sexuality were both interesting. However, it did start to become overly repetitive and noodley with little point. I also struggled to fully understand some of the character motivations here - especially Leah whose character I never felt we really got to understand. Ray's general vile personality also didn't appear to have any nuance - I don't mind unlikeable characters but I like to be able to at least understand their motivations and Ray was just...horrific. I didn't enjoy spending time with him at all.
Whilst an interesting character study, The Exhibitionist didn't quite give me the pay off I wanted it to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Cancer
Minor: Suicide
raspberrythriller's review
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
chenma's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
my_a's review
Found it really boring, & lots of sentences/the authors style were difficult to follow so required re-reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Medical content, and Medical trauma
hopeadinfinitum's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
I just don’t have words for this book right now. Exquisitely written but oh my god the tensest book I’ve ever read. Also a lot of the reviews on the cover say it’s funny? No. Heart wrenching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Cancer, and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Rape
nerdyprettythings's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is well-written, but it’s an absolutely infuriating read. Lucia is a well-regarded artist, but the biggest thing in her life, before her art, her well-being, or her children, is being a wife to her (unsuccessful) artist husband. She develops cancer, discovers her husband has been cheating, begins an affair with a female MP, but none of this leads anywhere. Lucia will always be berated by her husband (Ray) and turn down opportunities because of his professional jealousy.
All of Lucia’s children are also emotionally abused by their father in some way, and they carry this submissive dynamic into relationships with their partners.
The book sort of took a comical route, every character is so over the top. But I couldn’t lean into the hilarity of the situation (missing that your wife is cheating because you think she’s conspiring to ruin your non-existent career) because Ray is just so abusive constantly.
All of Lucia’s children are also emotionally abused by their father in some way, and they carry this submissive dynamic into relationships with their partners.
The book sort of took a comical route, every character is so over the top. But I couldn’t lean into the hilarity of the situation (missing that your wife is cheating because you think she’s conspiring to ruin your non-existent career) because Ray is just so abusive constantly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Cancer
madamelacy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A narcissistic ‘artist’ gaslights his wife, Lucia, an artist in her own right, and his children. I didn’t like the plethora of half-finished sentences in the dialogue because they spoilt the flow a bit for me. I found Lucia so frustrating because I just wanted her to strike out on her own. I think her reactions were credible though, after years of being demeaned and bullied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Violence, Cancer, and Abortion
annabella's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ray was really really infuriating which I guess means it was written well but it did get a bit much. Especially as an audiobook. Was cool to hear about art exhibition world stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
beriboo's review
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
This is a story about a dysfunctional family, Mum, Dad and three adult children (plus a boyfriend) over the course of one weekend. Ray (dad) is an artist and a horrible narcissist who is putting on an exhibition for the first time in years. His wife, Lucia, is timid and has been emotionally abused by Ray for decades, she is carrying some secrets with her though, hoping Ray won’t find out. Their eldest daughter Leah is obsessed with her father, the youngest Jess seems to hate everyone including her boyfriend Martin. And the brother Patrick is trying to recover from a nervous breakdown but is used by Ray and floats on the outskirts of the family.
This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?
Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end.
This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?
Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Abortion, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
katewhite77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
3.0
This is a tricky one.
For such a funny book it had such a depressing plot. None of the characters bar one are particularly likeable and he doesn't feature very much at all. The main character is a complete monster.
Like I say it was very funny in a dru sort of way and it did become gripping towards the end.
For such a funny book it had such a depressing plot. None of the characters bar one are particularly likeable and he doesn't feature very much at all. The main character is a complete monster.
Like I say it was very funny in a dru sort of way and it did become gripping towards the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Infidelity, and Mental illness