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kellyung'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
samdalefox'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
3.75
There are clear influences (in some cases direct lifting) from American Psycho and includes a great many other contemporary references to pop culture which I don't think will age well. I think it's interesting to view the themes through both the artist (Irina) and her art. Irina is a menacing unreliable narrator who embodies some really interesting themes also expressed in her art: rape culture, consent, boundaries, self hatred [diet culture, disordered eating], control, the male gaze and social hypersexulisation of girls and women, the 'female gaze', the impact of trauma to a person, narcissism, biphobia, women's anger and wanting to be seen, cruelty to others, manipulation (of others, of the truth), attachment issues, and some pretty interesting commentary on the British class system within the arts world. Her art comments on many of these things in the subject matter, Irina's process of how she makes the art, and how it is recevied by others.
There were many subplots (or redherrings, or mental dillusions, who knows!) that I was quite interested in but disappointingly never went any further e.g.
Favourite quotes:
"I look at the photos again, the ones I didn't delete. I look at his purple face, his bloody chin and nipple, his swollen cheek. I wonder what the fuck I have to do for people to recognise me as a threat, you know?"
"Do I have to smash a glass over the head of every single man I come into contact with, just so I leave a fucking mark?
I like this review from the following Reddit thread:
I love this review because it thoroughly examines the flaws of the book. I see what you are saying, however I loved the book for exactly those reasons. Irina is insufferable and a horrible person. She’s not that great at much, except for being shocking and vile in acceptable ways. She gets lucky and abuses any of her power. I don’t think we’re supposed to fully grasp everything in the book. I admit the plot could be better, but her deliriousness really disillusions our hopes for her to change her ways. I wish there was maybe a clear point about gender dynamics or power, but I think there doesn’t need to be. I found it wildly entertaining to hate Irina and be excited by her reckless behaviors at the same time. Anyways, i just really like the points you made!
https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/vetecw/boy_parts_by_eliza_clark_is_an_utterly_terrible/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Moderate: Biphobia, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism
boookerlover33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
britrcup'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
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
hngisreading'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
lunimoony'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
- Irina just perfectly contains all three “U”s
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
pippakendrickk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
sophieennis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jaelynna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Parts I liked -
- how unhinged it was. I’ve never read a book with such an insane narrator. I liked how by the end I was also trying to figure out what was actually happening and what wasn’t. Irina was so chaotic, but also tried so hard to get peoples attention. It almost didn’t come naturally for her. She was trying too hard and it consumed her to the point where she was just bat shit crazy.
- The writing was great. Eliza Clark didnt try to make us sympathize or care for Irina. We all knew she was psychotic, toxic and a narcissist.
I didn’t dislike any parts necessarily, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was very artsy - which isn’t a bad thing. But for me it was meh. I didn’t even mind the gore and liked how unhinged it was. I didn’t finish the book feeling like I just read a WOW story. I just read a book about an unreliable and chaotic character and it was a good read. Nothing to really complain about but also nothing too memorable? Besides her literally murdering someone, abusing her subjects, killing a cat, and imagining glass in everyone’s eyes. I have a feeling I’ll forget about this book in the next year. Maybe it’s because I was so focused on starting other books. Maybe.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying
noelle1121005's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship