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cinderrunner'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
4.0
The only reason it isn't 5☆ is that the flow and pacing does feel really confusing when you start and that makes it hard to get into the real flow things and understand the plot. I also take issue with the author choosing to make her sadistic and extremel sexually driven (and perverted) serial killer a gay man (when the stereotype has always been that they are predators). Especially given that this novel was written/published on close to the end of the aids epidemic when gay men were being treated even more vilified than normal. Even if Oates did not intentionally mean to create such a dangerous stereotype I cannot believe that she wasn't at least subconsciously biased by homophobia when writing.
Definitely worth checking trigger warnings.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
rachelunabridged'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
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
lior34'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
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Violence
matilda_oops's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder