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aurora4847's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Violence, Islamophobia, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Deportation
chrishham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed the message it's putting out and the topics at hand but at the same time, none of the characters felt authentic or well-rounded enough for me as they're all filtered through the obviously deeply unlikeable and self-absorbed protagonist. But, I felt compelled to keep reading despite (or because of) June's fickleness and arrogance.
The raw emotion that comes across from the narrator really puts all the industry's problems and issues of the modern world in full focus. However, some of the plot points, narration, and June's inner thoughts occasionally felt a bit on-the-nose and I would have found it a more powerful read if they'd been expressed a bit more subtly. (But then again, racism isn't always so subtle, so !! point made !!)
Graphic: Racism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol
sxndaze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
i haven’t read any of rf kuang’s other works, so i could be off base, but everything feels personal on some level. as a result, i feel like im being preached to, and it’s uncomfortable in a way outside june’s racist thoughts and actions. it also just gets tiring.
the book is at its best when it explores june and athena’s relationship. it’s compelling and complex. outside of that, it feels like a commentary on social media and diversity in corporate settings that i could have gotten in a video essay.
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and War
dkamada's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Grief, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
frmvivian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
BUT fails to be deeper than the superficial, the question of class, privilege, and who gets to write about experiences of trauma and suffering
initial feel was that it was a bit ridiculous on how white people are - finding out after that this book incorporates all criticism for Kuang under Athena which is hilarious
But after some reflection and watchjng withcindy's video, the class critique withi publishing and in the Asian community are both valid. This isn't discounting Kuang's talent or ability as a strong writer but layering in the interaectional and nuanced conversation
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Classism
sinamile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
alegzac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Stalking
Minor: Grief, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
lethargicbat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Xenophobia, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War