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writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Poet by Louisa Reid 💣 ad/gifted by @doubledayukbooks
🌟🌟🌟✨
💣 The plot: This novel in verse follows promising poet Emma as she sinks into an abusive relationship with her former Oxford tutor, Tom. Handsome, successful and domineering, Tom gradually takes over Emma's thoughts, life, and even her research - until she and another student decide to get revenge.
I picked this up because after reading the university sections of Saltwater by Jessica Andrews I was itching for another feminist book set against an academic backdrop. In that sense, this book didn't disappoint - Oxford is a vivid setting for this novel and Reid captures how stifling the university environment can be. I loved that this was not a romantic Oxford, but a darker one.
This critical view of the university also supported the creation of Tom as a believable villain. The arguments he and Emma had were almost painful to read, and his particular brand of misogyny-veiled-in-academia was powerfully written.
That said, though, this book didn't quite hit the mark for me overall. In a verse novel, the language has to be razor sharp throughout to really succeed, and while there were some turns of phrase I liked - "I'm as easy to wipe clean as a table after lunch" - there were more moments where the writing felt a bit trite.
The unravelling of the plot also sacrificed depth for momentum: the final third of the novel is dedicated to Emma's revenge, and while the plot itself was clever, it's glossed over too quickly and the complexity of Emma's feelings towards Tom that was powerful in the beginning is totally flattened.
💣 Read it if you love a revenge plot, particularly against abusive and misogynistic men, want to read a book about women at Oxford, or if you're a fan of Charly Cox and Rupi Kaur as the themes tackled here are similar.
🚫 Avoid avoid avoid if abusive relationships are a difficult topic for you right now, or if you're only rarely interested in poetry.
🌟🌟🌟✨
💣 The plot: This novel in verse follows promising poet Emma as she sinks into an abusive relationship with her former Oxford tutor, Tom. Handsome, successful and domineering, Tom gradually takes over Emma's thoughts, life, and even her research - until she and another student decide to get revenge.
I picked this up because after reading the university sections of Saltwater by Jessica Andrews I was itching for another feminist book set against an academic backdrop. In that sense, this book didn't disappoint - Oxford is a vivid setting for this novel and Reid captures how stifling the university environment can be. I loved that this was not a romantic Oxford, but a darker one.
This critical view of the university also supported the creation of Tom as a believable villain. The arguments he and Emma had were almost painful to read, and his particular brand of misogyny-veiled-in-academia was powerfully written.
That said, though, this book didn't quite hit the mark for me overall. In a verse novel, the language has to be razor sharp throughout to really succeed, and while there were some turns of phrase I liked - "I'm as easy to wipe clean as a table after lunch" - there were more moments where the writing felt a bit trite.
The unravelling of the plot also sacrificed depth for momentum: the final third of the novel is dedicated to Emma's revenge, and while the plot itself was clever, it's glossed over too quickly and the complexity of Emma's feelings towards Tom that was powerful in the beginning is totally flattened.
💣 Read it if you love a revenge plot, particularly against abusive and misogynistic men, want to read a book about women at Oxford, or if you're a fan of Charly Cox and Rupi Kaur as the themes tackled here are similar.
🚫 Avoid avoid avoid if abusive relationships are a difficult topic for you right now, or if you're only rarely interested in poetry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
headinthepages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism