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rey_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
darkly funny. often horrible and repulsive. consistently absurd.
if you need to be able to like characters in the books you read, or believe that they are morally redeemable to enjoy a piece of writing, this isn’t for you.
you can make an argument for all of these characters being “bad people”. they aren’t nice. but they all contain this kernel of real, raw and horrible human nature. sometimes it reflects back at you. it’s brilliant. it’s funny!
sure, i can see the argument that a lot of this book hangs on character stereotypes. i don’t think this necessarily detracts from it. if you don’t like them - congrats! isn’t that part of the point?
before reading i saw a review that said it negatively impacted their own mental health - and yeah, i probably should have paid more attention to that.
potential detrimental effects on my own wellbeing aside i really did love it. i appreciated the looming spectre of 9/11. and i really do think that the final chapters - the end of ch 7 & 8 - were beautiful. i think Moshfegh just managed to tip the ending away from trite, but it was walking a bit of a tightrope and some really slight changes to any of it - the writing, the characters, the “emotional journey” would have absolutely upset that balance for me.
Graphic: Drug abuse and Eating disorder
Moderate: Abortion and Death of parent
thychronicreader'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: Addiction, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
jeninthebooks08'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
2.0
While I like the idea of depression metaphorically explored in prose, this book almost made ME depressed with the repetitions in plot. And, whether or not the intention was to prove how unlikeable the MC was, the use of the r-slur (about someone autistic) could've been left out.
Graphic: Drug abuse and Eating disorder
Moderate: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
faephoenix'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
jackiestbr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Death and Death of parent
cheyison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Abortion
teaqueen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I liked the character development from the cave saga to rejoining the world.
The last line would have worked better if she wasn't "diving into the unknown", because she wasn't. She knew what she was heading towards.
Apart from the boredom and subpar attempt at depth, the character's backstory didn't really grip me, there was nothing relatable and all the talk about medicines in American brands made me lose interest so fast. I don't care what youre taking hun, I have no idea wtf you're talking about. Also, doing a bit much with all the meds and shit.
I would have liked to have known what happened next, for..... Whatever her name is. Lol I thought I blocked it out but just realised her name was never given, that's a nice touch but the story needed more to back up the impact of it.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder
marissanbullis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion
todrick_the_tree's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, and Suicide
ams5x9's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol