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A review by xcinnamonsugar
Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
[Audiobook] This book discusses feminism, sexual autonomy and socialism in the Victorian era. While sex is mentioned frequently, it is almost always alluded to in amusingly polite Victorian slang rather than described explicitly.
Bella's origin story initially reads like a misogynistic rewrite of Frankenstein. The narrator (Candless) discovers that his doctor friend (Baxter) has resurrected a beautiful 25-year-old woman (Bella) and given her the mental faculties of a literal child.Candless meets childlike Bella and is instantly smitten, asking her to marry him. Big yuck. Bella also meets playboy/lawyer Wedderburn, who convinces her to let him sneak into her bedroom at night and they eventually elope. Extra big yuck. It's an uncomfortable narrative for many reasons, not least because there is no shortage of predatory male characters.
As the story progresses, Bella assumes the role of a young child trying to understand the ways of the world, and why its rules promote inequality and exploitation. She routinely calls out instances of misogyny and colonialism.One poignant example is when Bella observes that women working in a brothel are healthy when they are first hired and it is the male clientele that brings in diseases. She suggests that male clients should therefore be the ones subject to the inconvenience and invasiveness of health screenings before being allowed access, instead of the women. Predictably, Bella's suggestion was shot down because upholding the patriarchy is ~profitable~.
I felt slightly dissatisfied by the conclusion. There were still too many gaps and unanswered questions, even after accounting for the fact that we are reading conflicting accounts by two unreliable narrators. Perhaps weaving in so many complex topics came at the expense of a watertight storyline. The narrative did get boring at times, and I wish Bella's POV had been fleshed out more.
Bella's origin story initially reads like a misogynistic rewrite of Frankenstein. The narrator (Candless) discovers that his doctor friend (Baxter) has resurrected a beautiful 25-year-old woman (Bella) and given her the mental faculties of a literal child.
As the story progresses, Bella assumes the role of a young child trying to understand the ways of the world, and why its rules promote inequality and exploitation. She routinely calls out instances of misogyny and colonialism.
I felt slightly dissatisfied by the conclusion. There were still too many gaps and unanswered questions, even after accounting for the fact that we are reading conflicting accounts by two unreliable narrators. Perhaps weaving in so many complex topics came at the expense of a watertight storyline. The narrative did get boring at times, and I wish Bella's POV had been fleshed out more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual content