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readtilyoucroak 's review for:
If I Disappear
by Eliza Jane Brazier
Ok. This is a long one. My first stay-up-till-midnight-or-later-to-finish read of 2023. I wish I’d chosen better (possible spoilers?):
If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier
⭐️⭐️
So. Two things, and I won’t even get into the plot holes, inconsistencies, or unanswered questions. First, I think this is the only book I’ve read written in second person and it was very jarring to me. I wanted to enjoy the unique style of writing but it just kept pulling me out of the story because I didn’t really understand the purpose of it here.
More than anything else though, I didn’t love the conflicting messages that society views women as eccentric, not to be believed and made out to be crazy. But… then the main character definitely needed psychiatric help lol. (This is the main premise, so I feel like it’s not a spoiler, but read at your own risk) She really obsessed so hard over a woman she didn’t know that she went to investigate why she hadn’t posted a new podcast episode by just busting into her family home. I just think there’s a better way to portray that women are often wrongfully painted as overreacting or being dramatic. And if you want to write a story about a woman who’s half lost her mind, please do! I would love to read it! If you want to write a story about a woman who has been beaten down by the world and painted as silly or unhinged by the general public- when she’s actually in complete control of her faculties- write that too. But don’t try to convince me that any sane person should have listened to a stranger who came out of nowhere and starts shouting foul play- And then insinuate that the fact that they didn’t listen should be chalked up to misogyny and the patriarchy!! I love a good feminist tale but this book just perpetuated all of the things it complained about.
I just cringed through the majority of the dialogue and spent the rest of the time wondering if the plot holes from previous chapters were deliberate.
I’m usually very generous with my ratings, but I just couldn’t do it this time. I love strong women. I love thrillers. I did not love this book. Lol.
If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier
⭐️⭐️
So. Two things, and I won’t even get into the plot holes, inconsistencies, or unanswered questions. First, I think this is the only book I’ve read written in second person and it was very jarring to me. I wanted to enjoy the unique style of writing but it just kept pulling me out of the story because I didn’t really understand the purpose of it here.
More than anything else though, I didn’t love the conflicting messages that society views women as eccentric, not to be believed and made out to be crazy. But… then the main character definitely needed psychiatric help lol. (This is the main premise, so I feel like it’s not a spoiler, but read at your own risk) She really obsessed so hard over a woman she didn’t know that she went to investigate why she hadn’t posted a new podcast episode by just busting into her family home. I just think there’s a better way to portray that women are often wrongfully painted as overreacting or being dramatic. And if you want to write a story about a woman who’s half lost her mind, please do! I would love to read it! If you want to write a story about a woman who has been beaten down by the world and painted as silly or unhinged by the general public- when she’s actually in complete control of her faculties- write that too. But don’t try to convince me that any sane person should have listened to a stranger who came out of nowhere and starts shouting foul play- And then insinuate that the fact that they didn’t listen should be chalked up to misogyny and the patriarchy!! I love a good feminist tale but this book just perpetuated all of the things it complained about.
I just cringed through the majority of the dialogue and spent the rest of the time wondering if the plot holes from previous chapters were deliberate.
I’m usually very generous with my ratings, but I just couldn’t do it this time. I love strong women. I love thrillers. I did not love this book. Lol.