Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Különlegesek by Scott Westerfeld

3 reviews

applesaucecreachur's review against another edition

adventurous medium-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

2.0

Yet another dose of topical anesthetic to my aching brain, Specials was rife with action and drama, much of which was deliciously forgettable. Tally Youngblood is now a Special, which means that Young Adult's favorite narrator took an angry left onto the Dark Side. I'll allow that her character arc did hold my interest throughout the book. Westerfeld's decision to change the primary setting and narrator tone with each installment of the Uglies series is almost bold. But overall, it is difficult to maintain a connection to the main character when the supporting characters are constantly shifting.

Shay and David both, for example, seemed to hardly appear in the second book, while Zane was absent from this one while Shay took center stage and David swept in at the very end.

Adapting to a change in tone and setting is far more difficult without consistent characters. This was my second greatest gripe about the book, and it resulted in a lack of capacity to empathize with

Zane's death

. My greatest gripe?

The author's weird insistence on using self-mutilation and disordered eating as tools to get "bubbly" or "icy" or whatever the fuck.

Anyways. Extras, let's see what you've got. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Death, and Violence

Minor: Racism and Eating disorder

madmantha's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I’m so glad I decided to re-read this series. I’m so thankful for the experience of getting to share it with my partner. 

It’s such an inspiring read for 2022. I’m shocked at how timeless the story feels but yet at the same time so relevant to nearly everything going on today. 
Climate change, capitalism, bodily autonomy, gaslighting/abuse, mental illness (especially due to unstable political environment), prejudice, and so much more. 

I’m still convinced Westerfeld knew that Tally and Shay’s relationship leans very heavily in a queer direction. I really REALLY hope they make the screen adaptation more inclusive of queer and other marginalized identities. And thoughtfully, not just for “woke points”. 

Besides some ableist language throughout the first three books and those couple slur slip ups in the second book, this is definitely still one of my favorite series of all time. 

So much fun to read, can’t wait to re-read Extras and then to move on to the new material. 🤗

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria and Self harm

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Police brutality, Self harm, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Ableism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Xenophobia

booksthatburn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Specials by Scott Westerfeld is a satisfying conclusion to the original Uglies Trilogy. This version of Tally figures out what she wants, going for it through struggling and pain. The stakes ramped up appropriately and we have a better sense of the world. Stay Icy.

For me, this was the conclusion of the books as I originally read them in middle school. I'll move on to Extras, but I don't remember it very well so it'll pretty much be like reading it for the first time.

As for Specials itself, I love the conclusion, I think it's the best outcome for everyone involved, given the situations they find themselves in.

I really like the skintennas, the idea of everyone at a party dancing to the same music but it's not audible is something we can achieve now, kind of, but I like this sci-fi version of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Ableism and Self harm

Minor: Eating disorder

Book CWs for ableism, discussion of eating disorders, self-harm, major character death.