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astridrv's review against another edition
Every year I read a John Irving novel as a treat for myself. I usually gobble them up, and this one felt right up my alley, centering on queer characters. Yet it took me an agonizingly long time to get through, mainly because I had a hard time with the narrator. I loved Grandpa Harry, I loved Mrs Frost, I loved Elaine (and her mother!), I even loved Kittredge, but Billy remained unsympathetic to me the whole way through. chiefly, his interest in trans woman lead to routinely fetishizing and objectifying them, which was alienating to read. Soon, about twenty breast focused mentions into the book, everything that was meant to feel accepting and warm felt just as alienating. I didn't connect emotionally with the novel at all (aside from the AIDS-period), which is what I usually love with Irving. Too bad, better luck next year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Incest, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Abortion
thesoftestcowboy's review
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Transphobia
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