Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

41 reviews

lpdx's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

sgrifgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

fuguballoon's review against another edition

dark 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

1.5

I can sum up my opinion of this book in two words: "bloated" and "snoozy." For many more words, see below.

I'm happy for Rebecca Makkai that she's reached the level of success where she doesn't get edited anymore, but it massively sucks for her readers. This book was way too long, with nothing to show for it. There was so much navel-gazing that did not enhance the plot or characters. There were so many named characters who did not need to be named, it was hard to keep track of everyone (easily 25 with big speaking parts, where 10-15 is average).

With all of that extra material floating around, you'd think there'd be an interesting twist nestled in there somewhere, but there wasn't. The whole thing was predictable from the first time the murder was described in detail. I hoped that the choice to have Bodie talking to someone would ultimately lead to something compelling, but it didn't.

Bodie being a crummy person didn't bother me as much as other readers, but I was put off by Makkai's MeToo subplot. I am old enough to remember being extremely online in 2018, and the whole thing was unrealistic to me. I agree with the other reviewers who said her Makkai's engagement with the serious issues in this book (criminal justice, racism, etc) are superficial.

Lastly, and because I haven't seen it written about on here, I am getting tired of able-bodied authors writing about people cheating on their disabled spouses using language that makes it seem like it's okay because the spouse is sick, with no interrogation or examination of the characters' ableism. I don't care if it's supposed to make us dislike a character--it's lazy character building and gross.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism

jessieraeyo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, and Pregnancy

alyssaakdefusco's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This book! It somehow managed to be an extremely poignant commentary on misogyny and our culture's fetishization of violence against women, but also a true crime story about violence against women that I couldn't put down?! I think it's brilliant what this author has done with this genre. It also felt extremely nostalgic thinking about high school and college as a young woman. All of the excitement and giggling all while moving through a world that we didn't understand and baring the weight of womanhood while we were just girls. Ugh. So good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

maddysoup's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment

mmackay375's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.75

 Started strong and I couldn't put it down. It has a lot of specific themes its trying to explore and i think it really did explore it, without much settling. I don't think I mind that, because there doesn't seem to be a right answer, but the ending started getting a little muddled. The tension in the third part left, making the book flounder a little.

Overall, really enjoyed it, and it's time period, and a lot of the themes and conversations it brings up. The narration style was fun and inventive for a true crime/ thriller book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, and Death of parent

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and War

gondorgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

earthie's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Honestly, this book was better than I expected it to be.

I think some of that is because I stopped near the end and spent the time contemplating what I wanted for the book ending, I suppose. I didn't know what would make me feel satisfied, which was good.

The book also stuck with me more than I expected it to. I've found myself referencing some of the prose just in my day-to-day life and thinking about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Stalking, and Suicide attempt