A review by lovefromhannah
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

if you like your unreliable narrator/morally grey protag actually morally grey then oh boy this might just be your next favourite read

this is my second time reading this: I needed to read it again to truly have an opinion and I needed some time to collect my thoughts after finishing the second read. and yet i'm still not sure what I want to rate it: I feel 4 stars is slightly too high and 3 doesn't seem enough. this is not an enjoyable reading experience, but it is a very well crafted book nonetheless. 

towards the final third of the novel, clark's writing seemed to become disjointed. and yes irina
was definitely in the middle of a full on mental breakdown/manic episode because the consequences of her actions (being raped/sexually assaulted and being haunted by the men she killed) were finally catching up to her.
but it didn't seem like that was the reason why. yes, an interpretation of this may suggest that the writing style reflects irina's mental (in)stability, but she continues to spiral after this stylistic blip and the writing resumes its usual style until it finishes. 

with that being said, I was a huge fan of the ending.
after seeing the anticipated art show, the one night stand where she cuts off someone's nipple and then goes on a date with that person's dad and on said date when she confesses to everything she's done, he simply doesn't even bat an eyelid?!?!?! and then afterwards she lies down in a water fountain and just floats there!! then the novel finishes. irina floating in the fountain is her metaphorical death because this art show was the only thing keeping her going in this manic episode of a novel and now that it is all done, what does she really have to live for?


in summary: you will not enjoy reading this, but you will love it anyways.

boy parts is an aggressive, tender and shocking read and I enjoyed the thrilling ride. i'm hoping to read penance(clark's next novel) later in the year and I think I'll like that more.
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