Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - This is Pleasure

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

This is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill

50 reviews

elisee's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-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

1.0

I hated everything about this book. I can see how this would be an exploration of how a man, being raised in a society that allowed him to do things, ended up assaulted women without realizing it. I also get that the topic of what happens afterward, for the people and especially the women friends of an assaulter, can be an interesting topic. But everything about this felt wrong, and not properly questioned. If you're at all sensitive to this topic, please do yourself a favour and don't read this book.

1 stars

Content Warnings

a_reader_of_book's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.5

"This Is Pleasure" is a fictional analysis of the #MeToo movement and its impact on those accused and those who are friends with the accused. Mary Gaitskill's work was originally a piece for The New Yorker and is available, for free, to read online. This was a complicated read for me. I think it was incredibly thoughtful for Gaitskill to write from the perspective of sympathizers of the accused and how they deal with the conflicting emotions they feel in response to accusations and fallout surrounding their friend's transgressions. Specifically, Gaitskill highlights the internal struggle of a woman who is very close to the offending man. As with anything else in womanhood, it's really tough. I applaud Gaitskill for taking the time to consider the ramifications for all of us when anyone crosses a line. "This Is Pleasure" is a very quick read, and I think worth checking out.

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shelljar's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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rpoppen's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-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

3.5

Content Warnings

mothball's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

Content Warnings

noamorris's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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_malia_pt's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

marrrk's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad fast-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

4.0

Content Warnings

tryingmilo's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book made me so uncomfortable, but it also made me stop and think about my own moral quandaries with cancel culture. What kind of justice are we seeking when we 'cancel' people? I personally feel some form of rehabilitative justice should take place instead of merely public shaming and dragging. But then again, I also think it's important for the #metoo movement to gain this much traction and shed light on the seemingly mundane and subtle forms of harassment that women face all the time, and holding these perpetrators accountable for their actions. No easy answers, just a lot to think about.

I also enjoyed how Gaitskill further explores the 'friendship' between Margot and Quinn, as well as Carolina and Quinn. It's easy to assume a moral high ground when viewing these cases from a third person perspective, but I really wouldn't know how I would react if something happened to someone close to me that I trust. Would it be right to view Margot and Carolina as enablers? Again, no easy answers for this, which tbh frustrates me so much.

Content Warnings

femme_en_feu's review against another edition

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challenging reflective fast-paced

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

Content Warnings

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