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kutreen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Damn! I'm really impressed by Moshfegh. She reeled me into the drunken stupor/brain damaged/denial-stage-of-grief cloudiness of McGlue's mind without getting too abstract or confusing. McGlue is in and out of consciousness as memories from his time spent with the man he allegedly killed (but had a quite vulnerable brother-like bond--which you can guess what that means when it's between two sailors in the 1850s) intermix with memories from his poor and emotionally neglected childhood, intermix with him currently trying to process his situation as he awaits trial while withdrawing from alcoholism and having a huge untreated gash in his head. We can empathize with McGlue's pain much more than he could allow himself to at that time.
The most unpalatable parts for me were the ways McGlue referred to gay men, women, and black people, but I suppose it's true to how a man like that at that time would have referred to them.
Looking back not sure I could get through this if I was more emotionally vulnerable right now, but luckily it was a quick read.
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Homophobia, Biphobia, Confinement, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Murder, Child death, and Sexual harassment
lilrainbow's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Racism, and Homophobia
teaselkie'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Racial slurs
alexandrabelze'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
2.25
Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Cursing, Racism, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Vomit, Blood, Confinement, Homophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Body horror
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Child death, Rape, Murder, and Slavery
anpaul98's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
youngluteplayer's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Homophobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Addiction
sel_reads's review
1.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Homophobia and Physical abuse
Use of the N-word on page 144.readerette's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I'm glad it is a novella; a whole novel of this writing style and this level of darkness would have been too much.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Misogyny
emsxrenee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Racial slurs and Homophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
professorbake's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia