Reviews with content warning for Stalking - Boy Parts

"I have a photo of each leg, each arm, and his torso: all these boy parts, which I can arrange on my living room floor like a jigsaw."

Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.

I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.

I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.

Content Warnings

nialiversuch's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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savannahrb's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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iheartm4m's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Clark has written a dark and twisted character, one in which you get lost in her psyche. She lives in a rampant self destructive world and has never lived any differently. An unreliable narrator only told different through photographs, is the story shes telling us true?
An excellently written dark mystery, funny in places too. Will need to read again with a different perspective.

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alexandraemjly's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A dark and gritty read which at parts is genuinely horrifying but is equally painfully honest and raw. This book tackles uncomfortable, disturbing, and explicit topics that aren't for everyone, and makes it something you can't read to enjoy. But just because it isn't a friendly book, doesn't mean it shouldn't be read. It makes you think, and makes you angry, and makes you more willing to criticise.

The protagonist, Irina, whose perspective narrates this story is deeply unlikeable and is not redeemable in any capacity. She is the epitome of a female manipulator, exploitative, narcissistic, violent, and completely incapable of feeling or exhibiting remorse for her actions. And yet the way in which her struggles and reactions engage with the issues of consent, gender norms, and traditional power imbalances mean that the dissection of the social discourse around such topics is that much more brutally tangible. The reader is uncomfortable throughout reading this but it is one of those books that proceeds to nag at you for ages after you finish it.

However, the ending was very frustrating. it feels like everything in the book sort of slots into place and you begin to, in a warped way, understand why Irina is the way she is. and you start to resonate with her pain more while being even more disgusted with her actions. and then it just...ends?

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