Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Book Eaters

Stupendo. Di una profondità, delicatezza, emotività unica.

Fin da subito il romanzo è diviso in capitoli che riguardano il tempo presente e ciò che è venuto in passato; racconta in particolare di una ragazza che diventa donna; l'amore di una madre per i propri figli; la ricerca della forza di andare avanti e di trovare un nuovo futuro per sé stessi. Ciò che può potenzialmente portare verso la libertà o verso la dannazione; la possibile, non così probabile sopravvivenza.
Nel corso di tutto il libro abbiamo questa dualità: forse si intuisce il percorso generale, ma i dettagli sono tutti estremamente originali e difficilmente predicibili.

Si affrontano temi importanti come la famiglia, le pressioni sociali, quanto sia bello ma limitante vivere in una campana di vetro; il coraggio di fare scelte importanti, di lasciarsi dietro tutto ciò che si conosce per le persone che si ama; e come, per le persone che si ama, sia a volte necessario fare grossi sacrifici.

Mi ha sorpreso e appassionato; ho letto il libro blindfolded, e sapere poco o niente sulla trama ha fatto sì che potessi sorprendermi a mano a mano che la narrazione andava avanti.
Non avevo idea di quale fosse l'elemento "Fantasy" della storia, ossia chi sono i "divoratori di libri", ed è stata una sorpresa che mi ha incuriosito molto e invogliato a leggere. Mi piacerebbe che qualcun altro avesse la mia stessa esperienza. Magari si possono leggere i Trigger Warning, ma a parte quello consiglio di andare blindfolded.

(Continua su IG)

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grassygale's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious

4.5

Very cool vampirific type of story. Might be difficult for some readers. I think if I had read this (instead of the audiobook), I would probably classify it more as a horror book, and probably would have had a more difficult time with different scenes.

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blacksphinx's review

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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batesbarb's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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hazel_oat's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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musicalpopcorn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Devon will do anything to save her son, even if it means facing both of their monstrous personas.

This book was quite gripping and action packed. The characters were gritty and unapologetically imperfect. I appreciated it as a stark metaphor for patriarchy and what breaking a patriarchal society would entail.

Quite enjoyable!

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msgslibrary's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was a marvelous piece of writing, able to carry a story in a non-linear style chapter by chapter to slowly peel back the layers of the main character's life. I was worried I wouldn't like it at first because the opening chapter makes it seem like the main character's primary personality trait is being an alcoholic, but that thankfully isn't focused on with the same intensity for the rest of the book. If that's of concern, get past the first chapter and the story will get better from there. The worldbuilding that Dean is able to weave throughout the story is masterful, even though there are holes. In fact, the holes that are left make it all the more interesting. Our own history as a species is full of mystery and unanswered questions the further back in time we try to study, and the Book Eaters of this book are no different. This, paired with the rigidity of the social structures the Book Eaters live under, makes for a wholly enjoyable read with enough lore to not get bogged down. And if you love a feral woman/lesbian main character, Devon, this book's lead, is for you! There is also an underlying metaphor of disability rights and how to navigate the world as an autistic/neurodivergent person, at least through my reading, that Dean works in so subtly and fluidly that is moves but doesn't overstate itself. Wile extremely gory and dark at points, by the end this book was a breath of fresh air for a sci-fi/fantasy lover like me who loves seeing unique ideas in the genre executed well!

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