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
eglantinem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
_sawdust'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: Murder, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
hazelgirl21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Cannibalism, and Animal death
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
danielatheinkdrinker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
veelaughtland'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
Graphic: Body horror, Animal death, Cancer, Blood, Murder, Car accident, Death of parent, Cannibalism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Drug use and Rape
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
joshoonet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
- As a non native english speaker, I had too google quite a few words
- Incredibly delicious, colourful and visceral descriptions
- The sex was - at times - a bit much for me, but it fit the theme very well and I got used to it
- Timeless vibes for some reason
- The protagonist (and writer of the story in form of a memoir) is deadly smart and she knows it well, hence some uncommon turns of phrase, some unusual words, some very pretty poetic writing
- Feels strangely detached from the happenings of the story, readers will know why. It works.
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual content, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, Car accident, Rape, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
glowhoya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Violence, Animal death, Cannibalism, Rape, and Blood