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komiification's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
kibiiiariii'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
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
fujo_cat'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
Full review here: https://fujoreads.tumblr.com/post/744584555725488128/boy-parts-by-eliza-clark
This book gave me a lot to talk about, but if I had to summarise it: this is a deep dive into an exasperated woman’s mind and how trauma can shape your whole thinking. The writing is crude and realistic but jaded and there’s a lot of themes to make us reflect on various issues.
Personally, I love flawed protagonists and cast, so this was a great read for me, even if heavy at times. It’s one of those reads that made me stay a bit too late reading, so definitely a page-turner!
If you don’t enjoy unlikeable characters or crude ways of showing heavy issues, I wouldn’t recommend this. You’ll just have a bad time.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Homophobia
alicerowano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Gaslighting
haricots's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Gore and Vomit
Moderate: Homophobia
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.
I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.
I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bl41's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was deranged and hypnotic
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
alyssasolo'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
evaorbit'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
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Transphobia
penelopereads'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? Yes
I’m trying not to give spoilers but I suppose there are MILD SPOILERS below. These are more notes for myself to help me work through how I feel about this book.
Eddie 💔
Bit Dolly/Emma Jane esque. Didn’t like that. Don’t appreciate that lifestyle. Main character is intolerable (but that’s the point.)
Did appreciate the flip of the usual predatory/violent/dangerous/ruthless and detached narrative.
Trauma? Mental health?
Enjoyed the did she/didn’t she?
Was impressed by what seemed like a very sudden/surprising shift about 2/3 through, which in retrospect was actually hinted at.
The use of the name, the cat and the bell (Schrödinger, much?) were clever and subtle but not too subtle.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, and Murder