Scan barcode
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
The Exhibitionist is the story of a dysfunctional family, whose patriarch Ray is an artist preparing for the opening of his first exhibition in a decade. Ray is overbearing, narcissistic, controlling, self-important, and entitled, clearly threatened by his wife’s superior artistic talents, utterly vile and emotionally abusive when he feels slighted in any way…and, well I’m sure you get the idea. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed by this book. The plot felt like it had been done before, the characters all felt very one dimensional and lacking any nuance, and the writing, while fine, wasn’t exceptional. In other words there was nothing in it that captured my attention - except for Ray’s awfulness. The audio is narrated by Juliet Stevenson and I did enjoy the listening experience. In addition, lest I sound too negative, the cancer and mental health storylines were sensitively handled and by the end of the book many characters seemed to be taking steps to improve their well-being and happiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Violence
nompilo's review
reflective
tense
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
3.5
The sense of anticipation of disaster in this book kept me gripped and I enjoyed the switches to each characters perspective. Ray is so unredeemable, so toxic and solipsistic and revolting that it’s a mystery how he remains the center of all their life’s. It’s similarly frustrating how self sabotaging and trapped Lucia is as a consequence but I think showing the effects of years of emotional abuse is accurate. - for her and everyone else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer
More...