Reviews

The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter

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sfletcher26's review against another edition

1.0

Having finished this book I feel I now need to go away and somehow wash my mind clean to erase any memory of its psychedelic, drug fueled, debauched imagery.
By far my worst read of the year.

subdue_provide75's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated

3.5

Wild! An fantastical and perverse Odyssey as only Carter can draw. Maybe my second-favorite of hers so far, after The Night Circus? As wild and delicious as Wise Children.

Content Warnings

whatsatajahism's review against another edition

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2.0

I've noticed that the more Carter I read, the more its just the same old story wrapped up in fancy new wrapping paper. Same themes of sadism, same use of rape (which doubly annoys me because whenever she writes about women getting raped she never deals with the after-effects, its just 'Hey she got raped? Well im sure she's fine now.' It's extremely disheartening to see.
At one point I would have said Carter was an amazing writer, now I feel like, though she is inventive and her vocab is top notch, its just the same thing over and over.
ALSO I bloody well HATE how she refers to black people. The stereotypes she uses!!! Constantly refers to the Brute stereotype, and whenever there is a black person, they are referred to as 'a black' - no gender, no features (unless they are particularly scary looking.) just defined solely by their skin.
But because it's Carter no-one talks about it, putting what i view as her complicity with a racist system into her books.

heavyballoon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A

4.0

amaliaiaia's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

marina_sin_barco's review against another edition

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2.0

I couldn't see through the violence in almost every page what the point was. I am kinda disappointed, don't know yet if with myself or the book. Oh well.