josie_mcc 's review for:

I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

4.0

dark mysterious tense

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This book was gripping, it was well thought out and amazingly researched. I really enjoyed it, but it did have some problems that keep grating on me that made an amazing book- well not great.

Racism towards any non-americans 

And the way women are written….

It gives off the impression that the writer does not like women throughout the entire book. The mc only really comments on their appearance and if the are or are not annoying. They are treated as decoration and described as such. 

You could argue that both the male characters who had povs where both women hating, self-righteous assholes. 

But then 

• there where very few female characters and where more often than not an accompaniment to a male character 

I.e the friends kind and good wife

The bad or good mother (any respect or value is quickly diminished and overlooked)

• Of the few females they where minor characters and with little significance. 
• Most female characters introduced where there for sex appeal as temptation to the male, or to flirt with them. If not the above was used as a device to show sexism in the Middle East 
• Their characters where not well thought out and no effort into their personality other than their "role“ 

In a very meta moment- It was even called out in the MC’s book conference, when a female investigator noted "I don’t think the author likes women" to his reply giving a sexual comment- proving the point by not showing any respect towards them only sexualised interest. When he thinks of her after it was only regrets about not getting her number

I think the best showcase for the abundant sexism and misogyny throughout the book can be seen when comparing the introduction of ever female vs male characters. The males, when introduced get a history background and why their personality is the way it is, even a disgruntled guitarist gets motives, personality, history for a minor role. 

A female, gets a run down of how she looks, and if she is or isn’t beautiful. It then would be how she acts towards a man (flirting or not, and if she doesn’t flirt she is sour and unpleasant) and that is the end to her.

While a fantastic book, it is hard to over look that and for it not to get under my skin. What could have been an almost 5⭐️ as lost points for that