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icarusandthesun's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
i picked this up because i saw a youtube short that basically said something along the lines of "i'm halfway through this book and i feel sick" backdropped by a picture of the first page, adorned with the very eye-catching first sentence:
i liked hurting girls.
i was intrigued, because i'm a fan of all things dark, disgusting, disturbing, mental.
and the first third was quite good, actually - funny (the narrator taking the "pith" out of someone's "lithsp" was probably the funniest thing i've read in a book ever) and cynical; the reader absolutely appalled by the narrator and yet being met with smart and relatable quotes, self-aware, realistic observations about life and the relationships we choose to fill it with.
but all of that sort of got lost as the story progressed: the narrator becoming an emblem in AA (alcoholics anonymous), getting a good job, fretting about the future, describing his boring and mid-life-crisis way of living, and tiring everyday life.
halfway through, this turned into some sort of self-pitying self-help book written by a touch-deprived middle-aged man.
and the thing with aisling, right...
the thing we've been waiting for since page one.
it was nothing.
infuriating, considering i read 140 slow and excruciating pages to get to this point just to be disappointed like every girl the narrator fooled back in his prime time. (ironic, if you think about it.)
yeah, i just expected something a little different. i wanted disgusting, unhinged. i wanted another humbert humbert (shame on whoever it was who compared this book to lolita in the synopsis).
i wanted so much more than this.
but alas.
Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
jinx_mars'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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Infidelity
laurhhhhn's review against another edition
Graphic: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
peterockshakur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Addiction, Rape, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
nicoleanthony'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
2.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
literally_mint'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
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
real_vivi'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
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Addiction
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts
honeybunchesofoats06'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
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Cursing, Grief, and Sexism
ghromidko'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
3.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
niclore'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
1.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Misogyny