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phantomgecko'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
3.0
Franklin sucks in general, but in regards to a child, he sucked hardcore. A great way to ruin your marriage is to put your kids first. And like, yeah postpartum depression and even postpartum psychosis make Eva a little rough, but dang dude. He didn't need to gaslight her like that. If you legit take the word of your child over your spouse, you're proving the trust in your relationship isn't there. And if you don't trust each other, what is the point?
Is Eva an unreliable narrator? Probably? Should she have had kids? With her motivations, probably not. Did she try her damnedest? Looks like it. Should she have gotten her entire family counseling? Yeah, baby! She also should have stood up for herself more? But these things aren't what makes her suck. It's the stuck up, hypocritical attitude that Kevin rightly points out. (This side of her doesn't come out super often throughout, so she sucks the least.)
And obviously Kevin sucks because that's the point of the book.
There's a lot of philosophizing and social commentary and introspection in this book. Like it's 66% that. Interesting monologue, but it does make everything drag so
Also don't think the nasty mess with the drama teacher was necessary. It was overtly obscene.
Graphic: Sexual content and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
triangular_pascal'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
2.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Classism
melissahawco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Death of parent
boundforinfinity'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
4.5
In regards to the Nature vs. Nurture debate, which surrounds this novels primary focus (Kevin), I would argue more than ever that the majority swings to the nurture side. I, as a reader, find that whilst Eva's actions weren't necessarily harsh or unloving - her tone and attitude towards her son breed the hostile nature that he harbours. Yes - parenting is hard - and especially when the child is not what you were expecting. Franklin's character, whilst also repulsive and pretentious, held a fair stance on parenting.
Why was it that Kevin left Eva? Not necessarily to torture her, I don't think, but because he craved attention and love from the person who put up a façade of a doting mother. A mother who would look after him but would scream about him being a monster and evil when she thought he couldn't hear. In response, he grabbed her attention in the way she'd alluded to in different parts throughout his childhood. Her "favourite" things.
I realise this is just my view on the book coupled with my own opinion on parenting - but I stand by it.
A great read for the opinionated and interested in psychologies of killers.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Freud would love it.kstericker'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
jessbrownette'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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
techigeekchic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
shangchunsong'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
do not read if you can't stomach violencegizley0420'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
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
pockymonster_'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail