emilyp_33's review
The book, although a good concept was too slow for me and I found it a chore to pick up.
kat0013's review against another edition
3.0
Reviewing this book is quite a difficult task, because while the contents were extremely (extremely!) disgusting to the point of triggering visceral reactions, one must admire the skilful way in which the depictions were made... The theme of the book was also fresh and different, the character interesting and her evolution something that kept you reading (the end felt a little bit forced though)
Overall, maybe, a well-written book to take you out of your comfort zone
Overall, maybe, a well-written book to take you out of your comfort zone
hgrimston's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this is a reflective read on our culture of wellness and productivity. It is also gross, but in the best possible way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
chramies's review
No longer interested. It starts with an interesting premise of how much we are controlled by social media but spiralled away from that. For some reason also I thought the author was female and the protagonist was male, apparently it's the other way around.
It is presumably influenced by "Thanatomorphose" and by the recent trend for "Goblin mode," but I've already written something influenced by that (it's called "Infected," not that it's published anywhere) so the position is taken. I'm not reading much fiction these days anyhow, and close to none that originated in the English language. If it wasn't the language where I'm living I wouldn't bother with it.
It is presumably influenced by "Thanatomorphose" and by the recent trend for "Goblin mode," but I've already written something influenced by that (it's called "Infected," not that it's published anywhere) so the position is taken. I'm not reading much fiction these days anyhow, and close to none that originated in the English language. If it wasn't the language where I'm living I wouldn't bother with it.
grudgemental's review against another edition
1.0
Interesting concept but a DNF for me after the 3rd time the book spent 7-10 pages describing literal shit.
condimentsqueen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
This book is not for the faint hearted. It is the definition of disgusting but when you look past the intense imagery and see the story for what it is, it is a work of art.
To me, this book is about navigating the world as a neurodivergent person and how, particularly in a capitalist society, the world is often incompatible with neurodivergence. It is about the extreme consequences of the pressures our modern day world can place on us. It is about mental health and the darkest depths of depression and how it can decay your body and soul.
This book peels back the bullshit (pardon the pun) and makes you question your existence and the very mechanisms we are told are required to maintain the status quo.
If you can get past the disgust and see the true meaning of this book, it is one of the best fictional works of our generation.
To me, this book is about navigating the world as a neurodivergent person and how, particularly in a capitalist society, the world is often incompatible with neurodivergence. It is about the extreme consequences of the pressures our modern day world can place on us. It is about mental health and the darkest depths of depression and how it can decay your body and soul.
This book peels back the bullshit (pardon the pun) and makes you question your existence and the very mechanisms we are told are required to maintain the status quo.
If you can get past the disgust and see the true meaning of this book, it is one of the best fictional works of our generation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Mental illness, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, and Medical content
Moderate: Police brutality, Vomit, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Deportation, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Violence
hannahmcbeer's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rosiegjay's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
theleftistbabereads's review
I can stomach certain levels of disgusting but this book supercedes those boundaries. It's straight up filth.
apotofhoney's review against another edition
4.0
"This is what happens when you begin to concentrate on what's happening in your head: you stop understanding it. You can no longer tell a true thought from a reflex feeling, or a thought that stems deeply and honestly from your inner being from a thought that has been planted there and encouraged to grow by someone else."
I haven't seen trigger warnings for this book so I will write some. This book is definitely NOT for people with weak stomachs because I have actually never gagged so much while reading a book before. There are also some graphic descriptions of bodily waste and things of similar sorts.
My emotional state while reading this book went a bit like this: intrigued -> disturbed -> disgusted -> intrigued + disturbed + disgusted
In terms of narration, some people might find the book a bit dull. The book is written from the main character's point of view, however, there are not a lot of dialogues. 95% of it is the main character's internal monologue.
It's a great book, don't get me wrong. The plot challenges your thinking of how life works, how society succumbs to social pressure, how people are consumed by 'societal rules' they try to abide by and how people who don't 'fit in' are seen as outcasts. This book was published in 2021 which I think is really timely with the state of our world at the moment (how great is the title??).
I haven't seen trigger warnings for this book so I will write some. This book is definitely NOT for people with weak stomachs because I have actually never gagged so much while reading a book before. There are also some graphic descriptions of bodily waste and things of similar sorts.
My emotional state while reading this book went a bit like this: intrigued -> disturbed -> disgusted -> intrigued + disturbed + disgusted
In terms of narration, some people might find the book a bit dull. The book is written from the main character's point of view, however, there are not a lot of dialogues. 95% of it is the main character's internal monologue.
It's a great book, don't get me wrong. The plot challenges your thinking of how life works, how society succumbs to social pressure, how people are consumed by 'societal rules' they try to abide by and how people who don't 'fit in' are seen as outcasts. This book was published in 2021 which I think is really timely with the state of our world at the moment (how great is the title??).