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semporina's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Addiction, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Dementia, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
cassiefowler'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault and Self harm
shann32'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
3.25
Some of the prose in the emails between the two characters is reflexive and relatable.
I wasn't a fan of some of the writing style of lists and run-on sentences.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
pasteli's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Sally Rooney is Taylor Swift for readers.
Blah, boring, overhyped, need I say more?
She seems to feel the need to comment about communism in each of her books that I've read, but in a way that makes me suspect she learned about it through instagram accounts instead of reading political theory. She keeps saying 'communism would work but we're all too busy trying to fuck each other for it to be realistic' (not a direct quote, what she implies in her writing). Suffice to say its a very white privilege, first world, white feminism understanding of a political ideology. Plus, her characters that claim to be communist never engage in politics! They claim membership for moral superiority and to appear like a good person. Barf.
I also need to address her "queer" characters. Yes, I put it in quotes. Because her queer characters are written like the straightest cishets I've ever encountered. Maybe they're suffering from internalized homophobia, maybe Sally is writing characters with these traits to gain social justice points. I suspect it's the latter, and her point of discussing communism falling under the same reasoning.
Also, the sexual dynamics in this book...big oof. *CW SEXUAL ASSAULT*
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At one point a female character moves a male character's hand to her throat and asks him to choke and hit her, and then when the male character is disturbed by it says she doesn't even know why she did that? Like bro, WHAT. There's also this female character's obsession about being his wife and how she would take care of him and clean the house and fuck him good when he comes home... it's all veeeery patriarchal and there's no exploration as to why she may feel that way/feel inclined to serve the patriarchy. She says she feels comforted when he takes control and wishes that he would control her whole life because it makes her feel safe. Needless to say this girl has a lot of problems and it's written in a way that doesn't really present it as problematic.
If I had to give Sally a complement, I'd say this: Sally Rooney is excellent at writing unlikeable, dare I say hateable characters. So if hate reading is your thing, this author may appeal to you. But personally I'm going to return to reading things that have literary value.
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
abmochapman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
What I appreciate most about Beautiful World, though, is the tension it allows between the contemporary novel and the impending collapse of civilization (at least as we know it). The conversations between these friends are so insightful as they give space to some of our generation’s most pressing thoughts from morality and aesthetics to climate change and global capitalism.
I’m not sure if I can say that I’m completely satisfied with its ending, but this book definitely feels like a one to which I will have to return.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Chronic illness
haleyscomet_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
katieamelia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship