sarahshaiman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leannep's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Two girls, fat Dorothy and thin Justine. They meet - one being interviewed by the other about the author Anna Granite and her philosophy. Then we go back to their childhoods and growing up. Alternating chapters for characters, first and third person. Their suburban childhoods, and betrayals by adults contribute to them become who they are - isolated from their own emotions and with no friends. The 'erotic' elements are disturbing.
earlyandalone's review
3.0
This was an impulse buy at the Strand and I'm disappointed because I rarely buy myself books anymore. I wanted to give Mary Gaitskill a try because I remember enjoying a few of her short stories, and have heard good things, but this novel was just too much for me. While the writing was good, it was a little too self-consciously literary, and I got to a point where the scenes were just too disturbing and there was no reward. I didn't like or feel connected to either of the main characters by almost halfway through the novel. I was sorry to quit, but I just need to move on.
lydiature_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
i read gaitskill’s short story “this is pleasure” in the beginning of the year and was completely blown away by it. so when i saw this book, i knew i had to give it a shot.
the writing style is unlike anything i have read this year. it’s nasty, biting, sharp & raw. and it makes sense- gaitskill explores the complexities of family and how it contributes to trauma. specifically child sexual abuse. she’s completely honest with the trauma that justine and dorothy undergo—so if child abuse and rape are sensitive topics to you, i don’t recommend this. the content is very graphic, and those detailed aspects remind me of “a little life.”
the chapters are told in alternating POVs and they (i think) were specifically designed that way. dorothy’s chapters are in first person POV and justine’s chapters are in third person POV. it makes sense. although both women have dealt with awful things in their childhood, they handle them differently. dorothy is of course traumatized but she is more transparent with her past and is willing to move forward. this is demonstrated in the end when she rescues justine from a particular (disgusting) sexual partner. the 3rd person POV choice in justine’s chapters reflect a distance. it’s not supposed to be personal. i can’t remember where but justine made a remark (to herself) about wearing a cloak in defense.
the parents in this book SUCK, full disclosure. firstly, dorothy’s father because he was an abusive creepy rapist—and a hypocrite on top of that. again—very descriptive. her mother was basically just ✨there✨ she had a feeling that her daughter was getting raped by her husband but didn’t want to say anything. women like her DISGUST me. justine’s parents were basically nonexistent and not supportive. her mother knew about the molestation because justine told her. her response made me livid.
the overall story was well-written, but extremely heavy. the only negative things i have to say: 1) the characters didn’t really feel personal to me but i can see why. they went through unbelievable pain growing up and the closed off behavior could be interpreted as a self-defense mechanism. 2) i wasn’t particularly interested in the philosophical component. i definitely see that dorothy used that to heal from her trauma but i just wasn’t interested. i did not find the ideals compelling. 3) since the book was largely about granite’s principles, i was expecting more. i thought gaitskill would delve more into granite as a person, but she didn’t. i was kinda disappointed.
i think you will like this if you loved “the lying life of adults” by elena ferrante and “a little life” by hanya yanagihara.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Bullying
caralikesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
xanadu_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ellyj's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
carrotchimera's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
irenealgi's review against another edition
I am not one to be overly sensitive with books or to shy away from difficult themes, but I suppose I'm going through a difficult time myself and reading this book every night before bed was not doing anything to improve my mood.
It's sad, it's so dark, and there are graphic depictions of emotional and sexual abuse on children. Not just once, but recurrently, as I suspect this is a key theme in the book and the thing the two main characters have in common. I'm all for books about hard topics, but I suppose this is not the right time for me to be reading this one. A real shame, because it is absolutely well written and engaging and very well done.
It's sad, it's so dark, and there are graphic depictions of emotional and sexual abuse on children. Not just once, but recurrently, as I suspect this is a key theme in the book and the thing the two main characters have in common. I'm all for books about hard topics, but I suppose this is not the right time for me to be reading this one. A real shame, because it is absolutely well written and engaging and very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence
Moderate: Bullying
settingshadow's review
3.0
Huh. I think I may have read this too close to [b:The Robber Bride|17650|The Robber Bride|Margaret Atwood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320478077s/17650.jpg|1119196] to properly appreciate it. Both books have women carefully selected to contrast each other. Both focus on their childhood, their adolescence and then their adulthood, starting with adulthood then going back to childhood and working their way forward. Both grapple with dark themes and child abuse.
In contrast, Two Girls, Fat and Thin has beautifully vivid writing, particularly in the chapters narrated by Dorothy where her imagination roams free, but less substantial characterization.
In contrast, Two Girls, Fat and Thin has beautifully vivid writing, particularly in the chapters narrated by Dorothy where her imagination roams free, but less substantial characterization.