mik43l4's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death, War, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
treestostars's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
Maybe this would be enjoyable enough if you just removed the racism, racial slurs, sexism, homophobia, pedophilia, domestic violence, entitlement, fatphobia, classism, and subpar plot of the book. The MC was annoying at best and down right horrible at worst. He casually fantasized about violence of the female interest Holly and said he loved her multiple times while also saying she was an idiot because she doesn’t enjoy reading? It’s all very bizarre. The writing style was fine but each character was a disappointment and not lovable. Still unsure why this was a classic unless all that was required was to be like wealth and be white. Cause that’s all that was offered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Classism, Homophobia, Sexism, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Body shaming
sydneybedell's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Death and Miscarriage
burnyayhayley's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I don't really know what I expected, though I was unfortunately not surprised by the problematic, outdated language.
This story is so odd, but I have to admit that the character of Holly is fascinating— in the way that compulsive liars who are friends with everyone are often fascinating.
I found the reveals to be quite effective, I was taken aback several times, which I should credit to the pace and tone of the book being so light and airy that when something surprising happens it falls like a ton of bricks. There is clearly skill in the writing, but for the first third of the book at least, I really was questioning why this was a beloved classic.
And why is it that SO MANY AUTHORS write from the perspective of a useless male narrator who doesn't even get a story that has any closure? What is the attraction to that perspective?
Anyway, it was okay, and I do like it when classics are weirder than I expect.
This story is so odd, but I have to admit that the character of Holly is fascinating— in the way that compulsive liars who are friends with everyone are often fascinating.
I found the reveals to be quite effective, I was taken aback several times, which I should credit to the pace and tone of the book being so light and airy that when something surprising happens it falls like a ton of bricks. There is clearly skill in the writing, but for the first third of the book at least, I really was questioning why this was a beloved classic.
And why is it that SO MANY AUTHORS write from the perspective of a useless male narrator who doesn't even get a story that has any closure? What is the attraction to that perspective?
Anyway, it was okay, and I do like it when classics are weirder than I expect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and War
marycurry's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Sexism
Moderate: Violence and Alcohol
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