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witchintherain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
There are other books that write unlikeable characters struggling with mental health issues that subvert their reality so much better and not offensively. In my opinion, this is not one of them.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Police brutality
noahoha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Classism
mindespair's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Excrement, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Classism
_jaybee_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The first 60-70% read like a dark satire on the power of the stories we tell ourselves. The last bit documented the unraveling of a mind from within that very mind. By the end, any clarity you thought you had between reality and imagination is very fuzzy.
I've seen other reviews that interpreted the book as a bleak meditation on loneliness, and that is definitely a theme, just not the one that jumped out at me the most. It's incredibly well-written and thought provoking, but I can see how it would annoy readers if it's not their thing or if they expected something different.
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, and Classism
oliviah1111's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Alcohol
lycaenide's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Full breakdown under spoilers:
Characters: 5/10
The narrator was both likeable and unlikeable, and really well crafted. It felt like you were inside someone's head. I liked the fact that the narrator was elderly.
Atmosphere: 6/10
Really atmospheric descriptions of the woods, and by the end I was on edge just from the setting.
Writing style: 6/10
The writing itself was wonderful. It felt like this character had just unloaded her unconscious mind onto the page in a way that was engaging, if wildly confusing.
Plot: 1/10
Absolutely what the f*. What was that ending. I had to skim it because that is my most hated trope and I'm so bitter that that's how this story ended and I wasn't forewarned. I'm not a stranger to endings that aren't neatly wrapped up, and this reminded me of Earthlings, how you didn't know what was real or not. But I must be missing something because I have no clue what happened.
Intrigue: 5/10
The first half was relatively boring but then it really picked up in intrigue.
Logic: 1/10
I think we can all agree that there was no logic here.
Enjoyment: 1/10
The little spark of enjoyment I felt once the story picked up was squashed by the ending. This is obviously not the book for me. Honestly I wish I could throw it across the room but my copy is from the library.
Overall rating: 3.57/10
I'm ignoring the balanced CAWPILE rating for this one and going off vibes. Basically, out of 5, it gets a point to acknowledge the writing ability and a half point for having an elderly protagonist and that's it.
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Excrement, Vomit, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Abortion
robi_locksley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Classism
alisonfaith426's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Excrement, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide attempt