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A review by madmantha
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
For being released in 2005, it feels so relevant to the uneasy feelings people are feeling years into a pandemic with the climate crisis already at our door.
The pretty slang was much harder to bare than I remembered; but it was only truly cringey in the very beginning in my opinion.
I will say, the two times that the r-slur was dropped dated this book tremendously more than anything else that was put to page.
Those two instances were the only time that made me think, “wow, this really WAS written a while ago. I hope THOSE bits don’t make it to screen…”; but besides those two large asterix, I was constantly floored at how relevant the story feels to modern day.
Maybe it’s just because it’s Pride Month… but I will also loop back and insist the screen adaption’s quality will sky rocket if they take these love triangle dynamics and make them queer.
A queer undertone would also make Shay’s behavior and jealously make much more sense narratively. Her internalized homophobia could result in her outburst with Tally and could also explain why Shay so often resorts to slut shaming Tally.
Overall, I still love this book. It’s very interesting getting an inside view of the culture of New Pretty Town.
The cliques also feels very natural; enough fraternal/sorority energy to grasp the want for a sense of community, without falling into too much of the more toxic hazing or initiation sort of rituals. <(At least in the beginning… *cough cough* Shay).>
You really empathize with Tally and her journey. She’s quite literally just a child, trying to live her life the way she wants, but keeps getting tangled in nets of coercion and gaslighting.
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Self harm, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail