blackcatkai's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
no. i get that it's supposed to be a satire overall and youre not meant to like the main character, but my biggest issue was how boring the entire novel is. and technically, it's only a satire in regards to the universe of food in real life, not the sexism or murder or sex or society as a whole or whatever. so maybe if it had JUST been about that, it would've been more successful for me. then the character of Dorothy would've read better with her vapid, self important, condescending, holier than thou bullshit. but not here, not when you throw in everything else.
pacing? all over the place, mainly slow. cannibalism and violence? well, its THERE, technically? but it takes forever to get to the gruesome bits and then theyre lackluster at best. this doesnt feel feminist or inclusive or a biting commentary on anything other than narcissists suck. there's also a ton of nuanced information presented in a non-nuanced way that feels like im reading an incomplete wikipedia page with no sources and missing key context. we get it, the author learned about a lot of things and wanted us to know about them, even if some info was left out, leading to what feels like misinformation, even in a fictional story.
this is more a book about gratuitous sex, fancy food, and trips to europe because its the best (except new york city, of course) than it is about cis-female empowerment, cannibalism, or violence. its repetitive use of simile, speaking down to the reader, and infodumps, left me disengaged, bored, and desperate for the end.
basically, this book was not for me, and im so glad its finally over. thank you.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Classism, Rape, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gore, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual assault, Outing, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Mental illness, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Cancer, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Drug use, Cannibalism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Transphobia
peachani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Body horror, and Car accident
Moderate: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Stalking
Minor: Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization
alleycatbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Summers offers readers a ghastly yet thrilling alternative to Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. The main character's predatory journey is filled with a psychological bounty of indulgence in lust and hunger. The juxtaposition of a colorful narrative is layered perfectly throughout by the black-and-white thought processes of the MC. I found myself lightheaded reading the obscure and bountiful adjectives that culminate into brilliant prose. I can't wait to reread this novel.
Graphic: Cannibalism and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Gore, and Mental illness
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Either way, I’m going to be thinking about this for a while.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Death, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Car accident, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Cancer, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
elizajstocks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Death, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Sexual violence
stephaniekrebs'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Cannibalism, Blood, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol and Infidelity
lqne'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
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Cancer, Cannibalism, Car accident, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Sexism
antimony's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Murder, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, and Infidelity
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Car accident
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
kibiiiariii'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
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Mental illness, Police brutality, Gore, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Acephobia/Arophobia, Body horror, Blood, Confinement, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, Cannibalism, and Infidelity
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Gore, Ableism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Animal death, Confinement, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Cannibalism, and Cancer
Moderate: Excrement, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Vomit
Minor: Chronic illness