chantingsteam1985's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
leah__reads's review against another edition
dark
fast-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
rimbluebooks's review against another edition
This topic is triggering. All those years i wated to read this but i couldn't do it
imrogers's review against another edition
5.0
The mark of a powerful novel is its ability to move you in some way, whether to tears, laughter, or utter revulsion. In this last respect, Tampa succeeds swimmingly, in that I felt like I needed a hot shower after reading it, so utterly was its subject matter unsettling and evoke the basest levels of human cruelty.
Many reviews compare this novel (understandably) to Lolita. Though similar in subject matter, the biggest difference is that Lolita takes the form of Humbert Humbert's confessions of undying love, while Tampa's Celeste Price is under no such delusions, at one point calling love a childish term, and thinking only of her own personal gratification. Her drive is about sex: raw, emotionless, pleasure-gratifying sex at any cost of human relationships. In completely disregarding the feelings of her victims (the nervous, conflicted Jack and the more adventurous but naive Boyd) Celeste Price and author Nutting bring to life the limits of human cruelty, made raw on the page in excruciating detail. In a similar vein, the character's manipulations and lies clearly portray the power imbalance in adult-minor relationships, and why these relationships are incredibly dangerous for the victims.
Celeste Price is, by technical definition, a sociopath in that she cannot empathize with others, and acts always for self-preservation and gain (obtaining sex, avoiding capture, getting money, etc.). One aspect of the novel that drew me was the way she strings on her clueless husband Ford, the materialistic cop with money who married her as a trophy wife but feels hurt by her emotional and sexual distance in a way he can't describe to her or to himself. Ford tries several times throughout the novel to remedy the emptiness of his marriage (often while drunk), but cannot seem to understand why his life is unsatisfying, and is certainly unable to convey these feelings to his wife. Instead he continually represses his feelings of emptiness, at one point by buying extra premium channels on the television, with this emptiness serving as a commentary for far too many marriages that are based on appearances.
Tampa makes many smaller statements about society and the way we view feminine beauty, sex, and obsession with youth, but in a bigger sense its overarching theme is the heartlessness and utter cruelty that comes from self-gratification at the expense of others.
Many reviews compare this novel (understandably) to Lolita. Though similar in subject matter, the biggest difference is that Lolita takes the form of Humbert Humbert's confessions of undying love, while Tampa's Celeste Price is under no such delusions, at one point calling love a childish term, and thinking only of her own personal gratification. Her drive is about sex: raw, emotionless, pleasure-gratifying sex at any cost of human relationships. In completely disregarding the feelings of her victims (the nervous, conflicted Jack and the more adventurous but naive Boyd) Celeste Price and author Nutting bring to life the limits of human cruelty, made raw on the page in excruciating detail. In a similar vein, the character's manipulations and lies clearly portray the power imbalance in adult-minor relationships, and why these relationships are incredibly dangerous for the victims.
Celeste Price is, by technical definition, a sociopath in that she cannot empathize with others, and acts always for self-preservation and gain (obtaining sex, avoiding capture, getting money, etc.). One aspect of the novel that drew me was the way she strings on her clueless husband Ford, the materialistic cop with money who married her as a trophy wife but feels hurt by her emotional and sexual distance in a way he can't describe to her or to himself. Ford tries several times throughout the novel to remedy the emptiness of his marriage (often while drunk), but cannot seem to understand why his life is unsatisfying, and is certainly unable to convey these feelings to his wife. Instead he continually represses his feelings of emptiness, at one point by buying extra premium channels on the television, with this emptiness serving as a commentary for far too many marriages that are based on appearances.
Tampa makes many smaller statements about society and the way we view feminine beauty, sex, and obsession with youth, but in a bigger sense its overarching theme is the heartlessness and utter cruelty that comes from self-gratification at the expense of others.
wivtch's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
moonshake's review against another edition
2.0
ugh! this book had the potential to be so so good. two dimensional characters abound. the main character has none of the qualities that make humbert humbert a great character, she is not dynamic, not even what i consider very smart; just cunning in a single direction. not my thang.
chels718's review against another edition
Chapters didn't provide much movement forward in the story, seemed to drag on for length
wheresminnie's review against another edition
2.0
I have to admit I am disappointed upon finishing this book. I was looking forward to a risky, controversial commentary on society and I just don't feel that Tampa delivered.
The two (very significant) downfalls, in my opinion, were the plot, and the character development. And by that I mean lack thereof. As Shannon's review explains - much more articulately than mine - Celeste's character doesn't develop at all. She starts awful and just continues that way throughout. Similarly, neither Jack nor Boyd really develops at all.
As for the plot, I found it to be over the top and repetitive. It is believable in the beginning, but the death of Jack's father and subsequent cover up, and the dramatic way in which Celeste is caught - naked and chasing Jack with a kitchen knife - are just so far from realistic. The story seemed to focus primarily on the sex, which was very graphic, almost to the point of pornography. I understand the need to be explicit in this context, but there came a point where it just seemed excessive. It felt more like erotica (twisted, twisted erotica) than a commentary on society, gender roles, etc.
That said... I didn't hate it.
Although lacking in depth, I found Nutting did an excellent job of portraying the boys. So many reviewers have touched on how this would have been received had the teacher been male preying on female students - with the consensus being that it would be much less acceptable. I didn't find myself seeing the boys, Jack in particular, as hormone driven, sex-crazed teenagers. To me, they were clearly victims just as any girl would have been. I think Nutting was able to portray then as victims only because she painted Celeste as such an effective villain.
Overall, a very unique take on a delicate but so real and relevant issue. Props to Nutting for taking the challenge on, even if I didn't feel it was properly executed. Worth a read anyway!
The two (very significant) downfalls, in my opinion, were the plot, and the character development. And by that I mean lack thereof. As Shannon's review explains - much more articulately than mine - Celeste's character doesn't develop at all. She starts awful and just continues that way throughout. Similarly, neither Jack nor Boyd really develops at all.
As for the plot, I found it to be over the top and repetitive. It is believable in the beginning, but the death of Jack's father and subsequent cover up, and the dramatic way in which Celeste is caught - naked and chasing Jack with a kitchen knife - are just so far from realistic. The story seemed to focus primarily on the sex, which was very graphic, almost to the point of pornography. I understand the need to be explicit in this context, but there came a point where it just seemed excessive. It felt more like erotica (twisted, twisted erotica) than a commentary on society, gender roles, etc.
That said... I didn't hate it.
Although lacking in depth, I found Nutting did an excellent job of portraying the boys. So many reviewers have touched on how this would have been received had the teacher been male preying on female students - with the consensus being that it would be much less acceptable. I didn't find myself seeing the boys, Jack in particular, as hormone driven, sex-crazed teenagers. To me, they were clearly victims just as any girl would have been. I think Nutting was able to portray then as victims only because she painted Celeste as such an effective villain.
Overall, a very unique take on a delicate but so real and relevant issue. Props to Nutting for taking the challenge on, even if I didn't feel it was properly executed. Worth a read anyway!
thewritebooks's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was unhinged from page 1, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone - except people who thought Lolita was fascinating as well as horrifying, rather than just horrifying.
Absolutely have to read whatever else Alissa Nutting has written, because although it made me queasy, the writing was GENIUS!
Absolutely have to read whatever else Alissa Nutting has written, because although it made me queasy, the writing was GENIUS!