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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The memory associated with this book is palpable every time I see it on my shelf. A day spent alone, walking around the city, reading in between errands preparing me to move to Italy.
Somehow oscillated between gore straight out of my worst nightmares, and then absurdity that made me laugh out loud.
Definitely had to skip over some parts that were FAR too graphic and disturbing to read. If a trigger warning exists, it probably applies to this book
That’s all. I have to return some videotapes.
Definitely had to skip over some parts that were FAR too graphic and disturbing to read. If a trigger warning exists, it probably applies to this book
That’s all. I have to return some videotapes.
challenging
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
From start to finish, the narrative is thought provoking, at times hard to read (due to the extent of description Ellis goes into) and at times can you feel empathy for the main character. I recommend to read this book, not because of the shock value this novel and film adaptation has made throughout the years, but due to its depiction of mental health. On the surface, the narrative seems superficial, but there is flickers early on, depicting the main character is struggling with their mental health, and how other characters don’t seem to appear to care or notice. Overall, the narrative boils down to expectation and how society has dictated how we should/should not feel. Though the novel is set/written during the 1980’s - early 1990’s, the premise can still be seen in current society. The novel can be harmful and I did need to stop reading due to some of the graphic scenes, but it did make reflect on how we think society has changed, and how Ellis was able to capture this and allow the novel to be timeless.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
nope, uh-uh, i cant finish this
i dont have the stomach for it
(40%)
i dont have the stomach for it
(40%)
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writing is not bad at all, the rest however… I am nauseous, I really should just stick to non male authors.
What killed this book for me was that as it went on, the content became increasingly graphic and violent, and the non-violent scenes became too repetitive and slow-paced.
I will note that I believe this to be an intentional choice on the author's part: the contrast of the protagonist's mundane, superficial social life with his murderous, sexual deviancy, which he uses as an outlet for his frustrations.
In the end though, I found my interest slipping away as I skipped over more and more graphic rapes/murders and then snoozed through yet another dinner scene, the story far past the threshold of "making a point." It's a well-written book, but overall too slow and violent for me.
I will note that I believe this to be an intentional choice on the author's part: the contrast of the protagonist's mundane, superficial social life with his murderous, sexual deviancy, which he uses as an outlet for his frustrations.
In the end though, I found my interest slipping away as I skipped over more and more graphic rapes/murders and then snoozed through yet another dinner scene, the story far past the threshold of "making a point." It's a well-written book, but overall too slow and violent for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Abortion, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism