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ivellon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
(German Version below)
Next time someone complains about the ethics standards of a university etc., I will recommend them this book.
The main topic of this book is not immortality or aging. It is research ethics. And what I gathered from reading reviews is that it may resonate more with researchers than with other people.
I feel like the often mentioned moral relativism is not really that strong. The book is quite clear about what is right and what is wrong. Instead, it shows what happens if someone does not know.
‐---------------------
Das nächste Mal, wenn sich jemand über die Ethikstandards einer Uni o.ä. aufregt empfehle ich dieses Buch.
Kleiner Spoiler: das Hauptthema dieses Buches ist nicht Unsterblichkeit oder Altern, es ist geht um research ethics. Und mein Eindruck nach dem Lesen mehrerer Rezensionen ist, dass das Buch Leute, die selbst Forschung betreiben, deutlich mehr anspricht als andere.
Ich fand auch den moralischen Relativismus in diesem Buch gar nicht so stark, wie manchmal behauptet wird. Das Buch ist schon recht klar darin, was richtig und falsch ist, es zeigt eher auf, was passiert, wenn man sich nicht darüber im Klaren ist.
Next time someone complains about the ethics standards of a university etc., I will recommend them this book.
The main topic of this book is not immortality or aging. It is research ethics. And what I gathered from reading reviews is that it may resonate more with researchers than with other people.
I feel like the often mentioned moral relativism is not really that strong. The book is quite clear about what is right and what is wrong. Instead, it shows what happens if someone does not know.
‐---------------------
Das nächste Mal, wenn sich jemand über die Ethikstandards einer Uni o.ä. aufregt empfehle ich dieses Buch.
Kleiner Spoiler: das Hauptthema dieses Buches ist nicht Unsterblichkeit oder Altern, es ist geht um research ethics. Und mein Eindruck nach dem Lesen mehrerer Rezensionen ist, dass das Buch Leute, die selbst Forschung betreiben, deutlich mehr anspricht als andere.
Ich fand auch den moralischen Relativismus in diesem Buch gar nicht so stark, wie manchmal behauptet wird. Das Buch ist schon recht klar darin, was richtig und falsch ist, es zeigt eher auf, was passiert, wenn man sich nicht darüber im Klaren ist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
swetha062's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It tells you how far and broken science remains at the hands of those who only intend to abuse. They abuse the nature of everyone around to seem intellectual. The time that people like Norton existed as captured by Hanya also remains as true outside the fictional world as well. I only wish those like Victor and our surrounding some peace and calm from everyone. The book itself remains interesting and veey hard to process as you travel through the eyes of an abuser. But I commend Hanya for the vulnerability showcased in her writing and structuring of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence
laurynkelly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Incest, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Adult/minor relationship
ciara_bone45's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
As all of Yanagihara's work, this is beautifully written composition about a terrible, stomach-turning series of events. This book was truly upsetting, and I will be digesting it for a long, long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, Abandonment, and Child abuse
rexpostfacto's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
If ever a content warning was needed for a book, it's this one. Beautiful writing paired with a haunting and vile faux memoir tragically based on some true events.
The epilogue and post script literally had me holding back gags and left me feeling nauseated.
I highly recommend the audiobook; being able to really hear Ronald's notes and emphasis on things makes all the difference imo.
The epilogue and post script literally had me holding back gags and left me feeling nauseated.
I highly recommend the audiobook; being able to really hear Ronald's notes and emphasis on things makes all the difference imo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Child abuse, Racism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Dementia, Death, Cultural appropriation, and Rape
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexism, Suicide, and Medical content
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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
This book saved itself with the ending. Most of it is tedious and frankly, not very good. What made it worth the four stars, though, were the themes, the narrator’s psyche, and the level of cringiness. It was highly evocative. So the words used didn’t matter to me in the end. The truth that’s finally revealed and the long and arduous, continued downward rollercoaster spiral that I had to ride the entire time is what makes this book worth my four stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Colonisation, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Medical content, Genocide, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Racism, Classism, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
tessakwebb's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
Honestly.... No notes. I thought the author did an incredible job of delving into a psyche so foreign (hopefully lol) from their own and painting an intriguing and shocking story. Also loved the format v good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
xshu1's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a wild ride. Full of thought provoking moments and a representation of how colonialism occurs, the dark side of science and the deep dive into the white superiority complex.
nah but for real the plot was okay. it was a good medium to talk about the effects of colonialism and how it happens. Hanya really seems to be good at writing things from the perspective of men. The twisted mind of the main character was well fleshed out. The setting was amazingly thought out.
However the writing and pace at times were painstakingly long, and the amount of unnecessary information had me itching to try not to skip paragraphs/pages ahead
The only saving grace here is Ms Yanagihara's beautiful, spectacular and amazing writing. The writing is absolutely CARRYING my rating. The diction is simply *chefs kiss*. I could get lost in this world any day.
Its so interesting how the editor of Norton's biography (Dr Kubodera) was so infatuated with him that he was willing to look past such a heinous crime (child sexual assault) and Norton's clear affinity towards touching children. Even more, he was willing to omit it to the reader in order to highlight Norton's "wit, his intelligence, his passion and compassion" so that it "will be the things the reader remembers from this account, will be the things that define him in history".
*pikachu face*
Norton is borderline a narcissist yall. He single handedly destroyed a native population, a species of animal, his children's lives and Victor's life. And they gave him 2 years in Jail.
Also Yanagihara's portrayal of women rub me the wrong way. But it could be a realistic portrayal of what men often think of women, which is with disdain.
nah but for real the plot was okay. it was a good medium to talk about the effects of colonialism and how it happens. Hanya really seems to be good at writing things from the perspective of men. The twisted mind of the main character was well fleshed out. The setting was amazingly thought out.
However the writing and pace at times were painstakingly long, and the amount of unnecessary information had me itching to try not to skip paragraphs/pages ahead
The only saving grace here is Ms Yanagihara's beautiful, spectacular and amazing writing. The writing is absolutely CARRYING my rating. The diction is simply *chefs kiss*. I could get lost in this world any day.
*pikachu face*
Norton is borderline a narcissist yall. He single handedly destroyed a native population, a species of animal, his children's lives and Victor's life. And they gave him 2 years in Jail.
Also Yanagihara's portrayal of women rub me the wrong way. But it could be a realistic portrayal of what men often think of women, which is with disdain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Child abuse
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexism
muccycloud's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hated this book but I also could not stop reading it. The main character is deplorable, horrific, I would not choose to read this again. I kind of want to scrub it from my brain. But it was well written and despite it being horrific felt the need to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Suicide, Medical trauma, Sexism, Trafficking, Child abuse, and Rape
luckyblackcat's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Deeply upsetting—left me physically nauseous and exhausted as Yanagihara often does. BUT the best writing about turtles you’ll ever find. If all Yanagihara did was write about turtles & tortoises she would be the greatest literary voice of our time, as it is, she may not be the writer we want, but she is the writer we deserve. Not not worth your time… but prepare yourself for some raging & ranging post-read, prepare your friends for the rants..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, and Sexual violence