The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
zreadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
m00dreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Of the three, the first is my favorite and the second would be the least. Not for any reason other than the stylistic, if I’m being honest. It was a struggle to read through The Monologue’s violently amorphous structure—which I know, objectively speaking, is part of the point. The persona’s pain and fury burned like wildfire; it leapt from the pages and spared no one, not even the reader. Depending on personal liking, it can either be a merit or a headache. For me it was both—I understand the literary purpose and think it brilliant, but I also had to pick up a middle-grade fantasy and take a full day’s break just to unscramble my brain after that whirlwind.
The titular story, in my opinion, lacked the sense of satisfaction and closure that the The Age of Discretion had. But then again, also purely a matter of preference. Angry little gremlin that I am wanted blood to be drawn so I was lowkey disappointed when I didn’t get any.
Loved The Age of Discretion from the very first line. Length was perfect and I somehow found myself relating to the persona’s grievances?? (I’m at least 40 years younger; but society to this day hasn’t stopped making women of all ages feel like they’re supposed to be outrunning the clock… I blame late-stage capitalism and all its corollaries).
Individual ratings:
The Age of Discretion: 5⭐
The Monologue: 3.75⭐
The Woman Destroyed: 4⭐
Moderate: Infidelity
_rowan_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Slavery, Drug use, Death, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Grief
williamgideon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Infidelity
jcapati's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
rooney_shay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It was deeply saddening and really hurt my heart. I began to empathize with the main character and only wanted to see her happy.
<small spoiler>The only reason I’m not giving this a 5/5 is because of the ambiguous ending. I’m not a huge a fan of unresolved conflict, so just a small warning to those of you like me.
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Classism, and Drug use
mayabelang4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
rami_reads'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: Infidelity
Moderate: Drug abuse and Suicidal thoughts
kavarnistka's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
nabila99's review against another edition
- 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
this book is absolutely heart-wrenching, so much so that i had to start reading another book in the middle of it, even though i was really enjoying it, because it is so heavy....i've read novels with much darker and sadder subject material, but the way de Beauvoir writes about pain, loss of identity, desperation, resentment, hope, and despair is so visceral i cried multiple times, especially in the last eponymous short story. she captures women's suffering like no other.
i only took off a half star because the writing style in the second short story, the monologue, is so difficult to follow (even though it's genius and i admire the technique and contrast in narrative voices), and some of the side characters could have been more fleshed out.
cannot wait to read more of de Beauvoir's work!
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Drug abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Alcohol, Misogyny, Death, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicide, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Blood, Abortion, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Sexual content