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hal_stelzle's review against another edition
2.0
Some stories in this I really liked (first 2, Something that Needs Nothing, This Person) but many were not for me and went too off the rails too often (and usually in a similar way). Was expecting this to be funnier all the way through as well, but truly most of the stories are quite sad, strange, and uncomfortable. Sad and strange isn't always a bad thing but not what I was expecting and not my favorite. Definitely check content warnings before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
merebear87's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape
briannasam's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
maekay's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
Short story collections tend to have a few great stories, a few bad ones, and a lot of meh ones. This collection has two good ones and the rest was a flaming pile of uncomfortable sh*t. The few gems in this collection can't save it from the blatant attempt at provocation/edgy-ness that relies on borderline incest, ephebophilia, exclusively abusive queer relationships, and Asian racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Animal death
marrrk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
sofilduarte's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
geneebee's review against another edition
This book was extremely unsettling. I don’t understand the hype around it. It was disturbing and I read a lot of disturbing books. I actually dreaded reading the book at times and had to put it down several times. I almost made it to the end too but couldn’t do it anymore. I would suggest checking content warnings before you read the book if you have certain triggers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Pedophilia
zahraa_aj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
"They wordlessly excused each other for not loving each other as much as they had planned to. "
This was bizarre, to say the least. I found the themes behind some of the stories quite disturbing and would recommend checking TheStoryGraph TW for this one.
The writing style was very interesting and I wanted to read more of her works, the topics are unexpected and told in a peculiar manner but are extremely realistic in nature, which I think is what made me enjoy it.
This was bizarre, to say the least. I found the themes behind some of the stories quite disturbing and would recommend checking TheStoryGraph TW for this one.
The writing style was very interesting and I wanted to read more of her works, the topics are unexpected and told in a peculiar manner but are extremely realistic in nature, which I think is what made me enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
whittaker's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I am determined to finish this book at some point but for now it's a DNF. I picked it up used on eBay thru a recommendation on booktube - but I really just couldn't get through it. Some of the stories were good - admittedly they were so good that they make me want to finish it, but there were several that just tarnished the whole collection. And this is because they painted taboo topics in a normal light - which is difficult for me to read, to be quite frank (and by taboo, I mean explicitly incest and pedophilia). I think perhaps it's due to the perception of the book that I saw in reviews, on how wonderful it was. Several of the stories just really were gross, and I'm sure I'm in a minority for thinking that way, after all it has a 3.5 star rating. I don't believe that no one should read this book, but I think myself personally struggled with the topics mentioned, and I think the book rating would've increased tenfold had this small percentage of stories been cut in the edit. Unfortunately a 2 star for me, although no hate to Miranda July and her writing style, some of the stories are the reason why its not a 1 star. I just cannot reconcile the fantastic stories with the triggering stories for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Pedophilia