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ella1212's review
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
3.5
i understand that this is trying to take a nuanced "perspective" on the #metoo movement, but really all it does is humanize perpetrators and take away or undermine the victim's side of the story. also we as the reader still don't really understand what he did?? i truely get it! i get the point of this book but undermining victim's struggle is gross and i didn't like being in this gross sleazy man's head.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
librarymouse's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.25
This is Pleasure is very well written with a compelling narrative that switches between perspectives and with easily consumable sentence length and structure.
This is Pleasure gives an interesting perspective on sexual harassment in the workplace, and the idea that people can be grandfathered into respectability because they came from a different time. Quinn's lack of understanding of how his actions impact those around him doesn't show malice, exactly, but instead how he views himself to be a good person. He knows that he's different from the younger generation who are more attuned to the fact that women are people, but he doesn't understand the idea that he is in a position of power. Margo being from a similar generation and having the foundation of their relationships be her turning him down makes their relationship quite complicated in the face of the allegations against Quinn because she believes that if she was able to turn him down why weren't the other young women able to do the same. There is a lot of internalized misogyny in these characters. Aside from referencing the accusers as being like Shakespearean witches and calling one of them "a little bitch", Quinn views the women he interacts with as players in the game that is his life. He asked them on to play with him in the intimate and sometimes uncomfortably sexual space he creates in conversation. He's gregarious and powerful in his field, and he draws people in while simultaneously disgusting them. Margo's oscillation between anger at and love for Quinn makes her character particularly interesting to view through the lens of her interactions with other women. She decided that Quinn was better than her female friends because one of them didn't help her in a time of need. At the same time, she disregards the needs, fears, and heartache that plague Quinn's wife and daughter because of his "flirtations" and later the accusations against him. She admits to letting them fade into the background of her relationship with Quinn. For such a short read, this book was very interesting. Most of my friendships exist outside of this space, but every so often at work I'll have an interaction where an older man references me as doll or pretty, and asks me to bag up his book for him because "women always do it better", or one who always asks for help finding a specific variety of books in a specific section because he knows it means I'll have to kneel in front of him to get them. I'm glad to not have people like Quin as intimate friends, but I'm also glad to have read this to get a glimpse into their psyche.
This is Pleasure gives an interesting perspective on sexual harassment in the workplace, and the idea that people can be grandfathered into respectability because they came from a different time. Quinn's lack of understanding of how his actions impact those around him doesn't show malice, exactly, but instead how he views himself to be a good person. He knows that he's different from the younger generation who are more attuned to the fact that women are people, but he doesn't understand the idea that he is in a position of power. Margo being from a similar generation and having the foundation of their relationships be her turning him down makes their relationship quite complicated in the face of the allegations against Quinn because she believes that if she was able to turn him down why weren't the other young women able to do the same. There is a lot of internalized misogyny in these characters. Aside from referencing the accusers as being like Shakespearean witches and calling one of them "a little bitch", Quinn views the women he interacts with as players in the game that is his life. He asked them on to play with him in the intimate and sometimes uncomfortably sexual space he creates in conversation. He's gregarious and powerful in his field, and he draws people in while simultaneously disgusting them. Margo's oscillation between anger at and love for Quinn makes her character particularly interesting to view through the lens of her interactions with other women. She decided that Quinn was better than her female friends because one of them didn't help her in a time of need. At the same time, she disregards the needs, fears, and heartache that plague Quinn's wife and daughter because of his "flirtations" and later the accusations against him. She admits to letting them fade into the background of her relationship with Quinn. For such a short read, this book was very interesting. Most of my friendships exist outside of this space, but every so often at work I'll have an interaction where an older man references me as doll or pretty, and asks me to bag up his book for him because "women always do it better", or one who always asks for help finding a specific variety of books in a specific section because he knows it means I'll have to kneel in front of him to get them. I'm glad to not have people like Quin as intimate friends, but I'm also glad to have read this to get a glimpse into their psyche.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Child abuse
books_r_cool's review against another edition
dark
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
This was fucked up (on purpose obviously) and men suck. It was such an interesting concept of the point of view of 1) someone accused of sa and 2) someone who’s friends with that person. I think some of Margot’s revelations were really powerful because they had such a sad undertone. The writing was haunting and hypnotic and it was a really important read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
asbat's review
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
Well written interesting book. I’m left slightly confused at what the book attempts to convey. Is it that all stories have two sides? I understand how Margot and Quin discuss the blurring of boundaries and just having fun. But some of the discussions and actions Quin I see as unacceptable. But are they then suggesting that the women should have said so? Surely that is just victim blaming? Definitely a provocative read. Moral ambiguity as in the blurb describes this well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Sexual assault
rosegoldeva's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
cami7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
marcia__amelie's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
hannah9292's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
melmarques's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse