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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
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