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akirma's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Xenophobia
ciarag88's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Enjoyable short story, as are all Claire Keegans.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
sineaderoo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
More of a short story than a Novella, this was originally published in French as "Misogynie". It's an attempt to capture from the inside, the mindset of a man who is just replicating his own father, who doesn't reflect, who wouldn't think to thank a woman for cooking for him, who counts pennies, who ends up alone.
It lacks the light and hope that made Foster and Small Things Like These such glowing jewels. There's something grey about this. It's believable and beautifully crafted
... but like its protagonist, uncomfortable to be around.
It lacks the light and hope that made Foster and Small Things Like These such glowing jewels. There's something grey about this. It's believable and beautifully crafted
... but like its protagonist, uncomfortable to be around.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
jstilts's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Claire Keegan has a lovely writing style, but I'm thankful this is such a short story - a very depressing little tale about two cold people who decide to marry, then don't.
It's hard to believe in their relationship at all as the man has no redeeming features, not even anything excitingly awful - he's just casually cheap, blandly unappreciative, lazily misogynistic - but not in ways that fire the blood. Sabine is barely sketched - just a barely-there presence. They are both grey and blah, and you're left wondering why they ever bothered to pursue this non-relationship past the first day.
Regardless, there is something compelling about the writing - I'll be interested to try a longer novel by this author and hope it has a bit more substance to it.
It's hard to believe in their relationship at all as the man has no redeeming features, not even anything excitingly awful - he's just casually cheap, blandly unappreciative, lazily misogynistic - but not in ways that fire the blood. Sabine is barely sketched - just a barely-there presence. They are both grey and blah, and you're left wondering why they ever bothered to pursue this non-relationship past the first day.
Regardless, there is something compelling about the writing - I'll be interested to try a longer novel by this author and hope it has a bit more substance to it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
anenome's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I found this book bland, it only gave me a very surface level depiction of it's topics. I have no understanding of why Cathal was such a dick all the time.
It felt weird that so many brands were mentioned in such a short book and I didn't like it.
It felt weird that so many brands were mentioned in such a short book and I didn't like it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
typedtruths's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
black_flamed_candle_b00ks's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
I don’t understand the hype of this book.
Whilst yes, I did enjoy the enunciation and descriptions of the smaller things in life; which is how I see the world as an autistic person, I could relate to the long-winded explanations of such simple tasks in life as I do this myself. My inner monologue is exactly like this so it was refreshing to see such accurate depictions in a book. However, I do also agree with others that it was very monotonous and a little boring/agitating. Nothing really happens. There’s no real excitement. It’s just a short novella about a misogynistic man who takes advantage of his fiancés generosity and loses his wife and marriage due to his weaponised incompetence. A very short and simple book, that I unfortunately wasted an audible credit on to read for book club.
Whilst yes, I did enjoy the enunciation and descriptions of the smaller things in life; which is how I see the world as an autistic person, I could relate to the long-winded explanations of such simple tasks in life as I do this myself. My inner monologue is exactly like this so it was refreshing to see such accurate depictions in a book. However, I do also agree with others that it was very monotonous and a little boring/agitating. Nothing really happens. There’s no real excitement. It’s just a short novella about a misogynistic man who takes advantage of his fiancés generosity and loses his wife and marriage due to his weaponised incompetence. A very short and simple book, that I unfortunately wasted an audible credit on to read for book club.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
velvet_young's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'd call this a story of what it means to be a (good) man. Can also be described as a sucker punch in the form of Keegan's stunning understated writing.
My only complaint is that the publisher has somehow gotten away with publishing a 40-page short story as a hardcover book (!!!!!!!!!!!).
My only complaint is that the publisher has somehow gotten away with publishing a 40-page short story as a hardcover book (!!!!!!!!!!!).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
kathshiroma's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Fatphobia