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gavinsko's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Child death, Child abuse, and Torture
gryd's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
chuckyinspace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Stalking, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Gore, Mental illness, Medical content, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Death, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Slavery, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Misogyny, and Ableism
cinderrunner's review against another edition
- 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
The only reason it isn't 5☆ is that the flow and pacing does feel really confusing when you start and that makes it hard to get into the real flow things and understand the plot. I also take issue with the author choosing to make her sadistic and extremel sexually driven (and perverted) serial killer a gay man (when the stereotype has always been that they are predators). Especially given that this novel was written/published on close to the end of the aids epidemic when gay men were being treated even more vilified than normal. Even if Oates did not intentionally mean to create such a dangerous stereotype I cannot believe that she wasn't at least subconsciously biased by homophobia when writing.
Definitely worth checking trigger warnings.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Child death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Stalking, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gore, and Sexual content
gringolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Torture, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
annihilatrix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Hate crime, Stalking, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Vomit, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Ableism, Vomit, Body shaming, Slavery, and Animal cruelty