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itsameh's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Toxic friendship
yanaorwhatever's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
christrep1dation'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
4.25
I think comparing this to Ottessa Moshfegh’s My Year of Rest and Relaxation makes me like this book even more (because I wasn’t the biggest fan of that depiction of an unlikeable woman).
I found Irina to be genuinely insane, yet I had moments when I was really rooting for her. But she’s unhinged for sure.
I don’t know if this was supposed to be a book exploring misogyny or analyze gender dynamics too deeply, but I still thought some of the scenes and Irina’s inner thoughts had me thinking about that stuff and like the power dynamics between men and women specifically. (and having it centered around the art world added a layer of that exploration too).
Overall - kinda funny, kinda crazy, love female rage, hated everyone at least a little bit but still enjoyable.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, and Murder
buffalo666'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia
danielakromero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
elliebunnbunn31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
florenceassetto'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, and Murder
g_arty'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
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Irina is a truly unhinged protagonist, through whose perspective we explore themes of power, sexuality, gender and art. She is a character entirely detached from her own emotions and the impact she has on other people. We watch her slowly becoming more and more detached from reality as she takes increasingly drastic measures to provoke a response from others to prove that she has an impact.
It shared similarities with My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but for me it felt more deliberately crafted and with more to say. I'd recommend this (with caution around triggers) to anyone wanting a gritty story that looks into power, potency and the perverted art world: a psychodynamic fever dream.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail