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hannahfitz's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Violence
shlynnnn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
Despite the first third being my favorite part of this book it did not draw me in enough to be excited about reading it. I found the relationships between characters, and consequential actions, quite hard to follow especially near the end.
I can appreciate the authors writing style and there were some really nice passages but all in all it wasn’t for me.
I can appreciate the authors writing style and there were some really nice passages but all in all it wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
foe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
brodeheim's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Murder
erinelainey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape
isabellediggle's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Carter is deliciously descriptive, flirting between tender romance and the seductive grotesque. As with her other works, I want to read criticisms that could further my understanding of its messaging. This book was immersive and dark, an absolute pleasure of a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Rape
abigail_spencer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Violence
Minor: Child death
n_t_sh_'s review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A dystopia of a post apocalyptic nation.
Angela Carter's writing continues to be sumptuous and delectable.
I simply found the stagnation of this world too laborious. I was constantly waiting for "something" to happen. An argument could be made the protagonist was feeling the same. I personally feel this would have been better as a short story (it's not even particularly long but to me, was too long).
Angela Carter's writing continues to be sumptuous and delectable.
I simply found the stagnation of this world too laborious. I was constantly waiting for "something" to happen. An argument could be made the protagonist was feeling the same. I personally feel this would have been better as a short story (it's not even particularly long but to me, was too long).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: War
Minor: Child death
laurarosessupposes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
In Carter's 'Bloody Chamber', I felt that she balanced narrative and metaphor perfectly to create a compelling series of short stories, hiding layer upon layer of more complex, psychoanalytical meaning.
Here, I found that the narrative simply did not deliver. This is not to say that this is a badly written novella as, once again, Carter has demonstrated strong writing skills in her use of allusion (for instance, to Shakespeare's 'The Tempest') and psychoanalytical metaphors (which explore concepts of gender and duality).
Whilst some may revel in the dream-like (more like nightmarish!) tale and find meaning alone to be enough, I found it to drag (despite the short length). This is mainly due to a lack of connection with utterly unpleasant and intolerable characters as well as a nonsensical (although, as previously mentioned, highly metaphorical) plot in which character motivations are inconsistent as well as repulsive.
Once again, I do understand WHY Carter decided to write in this way as it contributes to the metaphorical depth but that alone does not make this an enjoyable read. In fact, the multitude of rape scenes and excessively hateful attitudes of characters (but without the written word communicating tension or horror in these moments) make this a thoroughly unpleasant book to read.
Here, I found that the narrative simply did not deliver. This is not to say that this is a badly written novella as, once again, Carter has demonstrated strong writing skills in her use of allusion (for instance, to Shakespeare's 'The Tempest') and psychoanalytical metaphors (which explore concepts of gender and duality).
Whilst some may revel in the dream-like (more like nightmarish!) tale and find meaning alone to be enough, I found it to drag (despite the short length). This is mainly due to a lack of connection with utterly unpleasant and intolerable characters as well as a nonsensical (although, as previously mentioned, highly metaphorical) plot in which character motivations are inconsistent as well as repulsive.
Once again, I do understand WHY Carter decided to write in this way as it contributes to the metaphorical depth but that alone does not make this an enjoyable read. In fact, the multitude of rape scenes and excessively hateful attitudes of characters (but without the written word communicating tension or horror in these moments) make this a thoroughly unpleasant book to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
traceymc's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt