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gracer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The downsides to this book are basically the MFA-writing and the dramatic last 15% or so. The MFA-writing was mostly beareable, aside from the overuse of the word slick:
"the world spun in slow, dark, slick circuits." (p. 20)
"There was something slick in the water" (p. 29)
"some inner surface goes slick and hot" (p. 84)
"he peels back [the apple slices'] slick skins" (p.173)
"slick with sweat" (acceptable. p. 259)
"the slick, cool countertop" (p. 291)
"slick with sweat" (p. 298)
"the smooth, slick concrete stairs" (p. 316)
There's only 8 mentions in the whole book but wow I found it distracting. Mr Taylor, please, retire this word from your vocabulary.
Sorry to dwell on that. I really had to get that off my chest.
More importantly: this is a book about a weekend when everything and nothing happens. It is about a very strong internal life and feeling completely ostracized and alone. It's also about racism and homophobia. (side note: as a white person... damn. This is why we need to read more books by Black authors.) The writing (aside from the previously mentioned) was really engaging; scenes were strong and visual as well as atmospheric. There were almost too many characters, but the way they were introduced, mostly as groups in scene-like situations, made it work - I was only confused a couple times, and only about minor characters (and then the kindle x-ray feature solved any lingering questions).
Gotta love that the token racist, homphobic, manipulative, coddled b**** is a Pacific Northwesterner.
This book was full of really reflective and interesting musings on the nature of being in grad school, how consuming it can be and how hard it is to be part of the "real world" when you are consumed by the world of grad school.
But be warned, it's not for the faint of heart. There's a lot of intense stuff that happens at the end, and a lot of characters unpacking lots of issues throughout. A fast read, but not at all a light one.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Cursing, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, and Violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
kwarnimont's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
isobel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Animal death
placebogirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Racism, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
nikki_readsss's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, and Sexual violence
tesshersh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Child abuse, Blood, and Alcohol
yavin_iv's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Vomit
Minor: Violence
pkc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, and Vomit
peachani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
mitu89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Eating disorder