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samiisteffenn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trin's review against another edition
1.0
This is trying so hard to be provocative, to be like, "There's two sides to the Me Too debate though, isn't there?" Not really, man. If you accept the argument that "women can just say no" (as if, in real life--and unlike in this book--there aren't consequences for that) then it should follow that you can accept the idea that MEN CAN JUST NOT DO THAT SHIT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
zannmato's review against another edition
1.0
I agree with Gaitskill's sentiment that stories like these need to be discussed and seen for the complex interactions that they are. However, in my opinion, this story did not achieve this in its most fundamental aspect and that is the portrayal of its characters Margot and Quin. They didn't come off as living breathing people, especially Quin (by the end I had no sympathy), and a majority of the so-called 'complexity' in their relationship and the context around it required heavy mental gymnastics on the parts of the characters, a genuine willingness to ignore the reality around them.
jtherockjohnson's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
carolinew's review against another edition
reflective
fast-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
4.0
peytondani's review against another edition
2.0
i don’t have to agree with the value of every book that i read in order to think it’s good, but this one rubbed me the wrong way
theo_honey's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
elocoel's review against another edition
4.0
A very nuanced short story, bringing on many questions and questioning many realities.
A great work on showing the divisions between the MeToo movement, This Is Pleasure tackles the issues we all know of in a different light. Many reviewers have said that Gaitskill was trying to show two sides of the same coin, and I honestly couldn't disagree more. Gaitskill showed a creep with his barest. But unlike the many versions of the said creep roaming around in our fictions, this time, we are looking from his -and his somewhat supporter's- perspective to see him try and justify his actions. Very poorly, in my opinion, which is what makes me question the reviewers. But I agree with people who said what you see in this story is what you go in believing; your own beliefs will be reflected back to you as you read this work of art.
Overall, I think everyone should pick this up as a challenge to their beliefs. The writing is fast-paced and intriguing, and the story it's telling has much more substance than the story written on the pages. I hated reading this book and loved it for that.
A great work on showing the divisions between the MeToo movement, This Is Pleasure tackles the issues we all know of in a different light. Many reviewers have said that Gaitskill was trying to show two sides of the same coin, and I honestly couldn't disagree more. Gaitskill showed a creep with his barest. But unlike the many versions of the said creep roaming around in our fictions, this time, we are looking from his -and his somewhat supporter's- perspective to see him try and justify his actions. Very poorly, in my opinion, which is what makes me question the reviewers. But I agree with people who said what you see in this story is what you go in believing; your own beliefs will be reflected back to you as you read this work of art.
Overall, I think everyone should pick this up as a challenge to their beliefs. The writing is fast-paced and intriguing, and the story it's telling has much more substance than the story written on the pages. I hated reading this book and loved it for that.
astriddle's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0