A review by stickerjock
The Sluts by Dennis Cooper

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

Wading through a sea of escalating mystery, mistaken identity, deceit, broken up by scenes of gut wrenching torture, The Sluts had me hanging on every word. The revolving door of characters was dizzying at times, but I imagine it was intentional as it only added to the confusion around the truth of the matter. This was a fantastic read exploring the darkest sides of desire, anonymity of the internet and the blurred lines between truth in the real world vs the fiction published for clicks. The message board format was honestly nostalgic and enjoyable, as were the brief diversions into email, fax, and other forms of early internet communication. There were definitely challenging and potentially triggering themes, as well as some scenes that actually turned my stomach, so I would say this book isn’t for the faint of heart.
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