A review by catmilkremedies
Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

3.0

a novel that tries to blend a lot of online discourse with narrative. in a lot of ways its rough. the book doesn’t mince words and doesn’t pull punches. i found myself shocked jolted and disgusted many times. never did i feel like the tension was 100p there. i think i didn’t vibe 100 w the prose style itself most of the time—or i may have not felt rly generous as a reader [maybe i read too fast?]. transness is gloriously foregrounded and unapologetic which i loved. the fascism angle….. rly not sure if it worked all the way. many parts of the book feel like the synopsis or treatment for a book rather than the actual narrative. i think there’s something to be said for the postmodern move of exposing the construction of the book. im giving a long winded way of saying those aspects of the book felt forced. I think the best integration of was the 2 columns each depicting the different ways Alice and Ila experienced the red room: fascism imagines victimhood and dominance together despite the contradiction: “they are an unbeatable threat, but they are also weak vermin who will be crushed by our might”.
MIxed feelings overall. It’s good though! I think it’s well written for what it is tho a bit clunky.