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Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
174 reviews
octagon's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
jiobiee's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
OVERALL: 7.8/10, or 3.9/5
A deeply disturbing short story. I'm not sure if I should've been the person to read this, knowing now where this goes, but Eric LaRocca's intricate, repugnant prose makes my stomach churn and has embedded itself into the darkest corners of my mind. This is not a work for everyone.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, told through emails and instant messages in early 2000's chatrooms, follows two lesbians who enter a romantic and sexual... arrangement.Agnes posts on an LGBT forum trying to sell her antique apple peeler, which may or may not have been touched by some famous old composer, when Zoe reaches out to her with the intent of buying. After learning about her financial and personal troubles, Zoe sends Agnes enough money to cover a couple months' of rent, and suggests that they should enter a slave/master relationship. She agrees, and Agnes is at the behest of Zoe's every whim- even when they become exponentially more depraved. She reaches a breaking point, once, but soon realizes she craves Zoe's approval more than she feels shame about her actions.
I need to address some points mentioned by other reviewers, because as a queer person myself, who has been in queer relationships and despite all appearances continues to be queer, I am deeply uncomfortable by the casual transphobia that runs rampant on this page. The author is, in some way that they are comfortable with defining, nonbinary. Perhaps LaRocca has no issue presenting themselves as masculine- that's fine! But to assume and double down that the author is a cis man when it isn't difficult to see that they aren't, is despicable. Or, perhaps it's only convenient to recognize nonbinary folk when you can infantilize them or use them to further your own narrative. Whatever the case may be, a lot of people have proven to me that they are not the pillars of LGBT+ community or allyship that they claim to be.
I also take issue with the blatant dismissal of the themes and content of the story by labeling it as "offensive trauma porn" and nothing more. We should not limit our community to only indulging in spineless, gutless fluff. Not that the fluff doesn't have it's own value, but queer people are not here to be precious perfect little babies. I am sick and so, very tired, of people trying to sanitize queer content; we are not allowed to bare our souls, tell meaningful stories, or present in any way that shows any ugly bits of humanity. And beyond any of the actual disturbing content- yes, fictional lesbians are allowed to jump into abusive relationships- many real lesbians do!
Which, isn't to say that this work doesn't deserve criticism. It does. Any criticism Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke has gotten, from a narrative, literary standpoint does not bother me in the slightest.
My biggest gripe is that Zoe and Agnes do not have their own distinct voices. I can get past these two texting in the most flowery prose I've ever seen come up in casual conversation (mainly because I have been known to talk like an asshole at times, lol), but unfortunately these two characters feel like they're the same person. I don't think the inclusion of the police report as a means to transition into the story was necessary; it would read just fine without it.You wouldn't need to tell us that Agnes is dead to know that she is. Some people take issue with the BDSM themes, viewing it under a critical queer eye, and frankly, to an extent I do agree. It isn't representative of kink. Where I differ, though, is that I don't think the intent was to be representative of kink.I just think Zoe's kind of a freak. Agnes, too, by the end of the story. I don't take issue with the Agnes' wish to carry a child as a queer person, personally. I am someone who is utterly disgusted, repulsed, and terrified of motherhood and the thought of carrying life within me makes me want to vomit. I hate it. It's the reason why I say that I'm not sure I am the right person to read something like this. But, I'm not every queer person, and I'm certainly not every lesbian- lesbians who want children and want to carry their children do exist. I don't think it's that wild or crazy of an idea, and I didn't pick up on any notion that LaRocca feels like all women feel a pull to motherhood.
Some people said that Agnes and Zoe follow a logic that doesn't make any sense. I disagree. Just because you or I would never jump to any of those same conclusions, does not mean that no one does. Fiction would be boring if people acted purely logically all the time.
There's a sickening sense of impending doom in every word on these pages. There was never a moment where this story didn't feel tense. I think the most chilling part about it, to me, was how wholeheartedly devoted Agnes was to Zoe,to the point of obsession. It is a painfully obvious metaphor, to me, that their relationship is supposed to represent this sort of fucked-up progression of toxic relationships. Agnes, broken by her parent's decision to disown her two years ago, broke, and with an almost non-existent support system, becomes susceptible to Zoe's manipulation. Zoe is a sick individual. She realizes this. Her need to get off on having power over Agnes outweighs her desire not to hurt people. Agnes begins to change every aspect of herself to serve Zoe, and obsesses over her, her relationship with her, and her parasite- her "child"- even when Zoe decides that they both have gone too far. Agnes' obsession has grown to such a point that no semblance of identity is left- just the corpse of the parasite remains. I know people that act like either Zoe or Agnes. They are just as vile. And that is deeply, deeply disturbing.
If any of the subject matter sounds interesting to you, then I would say it is worth a read. Please come to your own conclusions. And again, this story is not for everyone.
A deeply disturbing short story. I'm not sure if I should've been the person to read this, knowing now where this goes, but Eric LaRocca's intricate, repugnant prose makes my stomach churn and has embedded itself into the darkest corners of my mind. This is not a work for everyone.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, told through emails and instant messages in early 2000's chatrooms, follows two lesbians who enter a romantic and sexual... arrangement.
I need to address some points mentioned by other reviewers, because as a queer person myself, who has been in queer relationships and despite all appearances continues to be queer, I am deeply uncomfortable by the casual transphobia that runs rampant on this page. The author is, in some way that they are comfortable with defining, nonbinary. Perhaps LaRocca has no issue presenting themselves as masculine- that's fine! But to assume and double down that the author is a cis man when it isn't difficult to see that they aren't, is despicable. Or, perhaps it's only convenient to recognize nonbinary folk when you can infantilize them or use them to further your own narrative. Whatever the case may be, a lot of people have proven to me that they are not the pillars of LGBT+ community or allyship that they claim to be.
I also take issue with the blatant dismissal of the themes and content of the story by labeling it as "offensive trauma porn" and nothing more. We should not limit our community to only indulging in spineless, gutless fluff. Not that the fluff doesn't have it's own value, but queer people are not here to be precious perfect little babies. I am sick and so, very tired, of people trying to sanitize queer content; we are not allowed to bare our souls, tell meaningful stories, or present in any way that shows any ugly bits of humanity. And beyond any of the actual disturbing content- yes, fictional lesbians are allowed to jump into abusive relationships- many real lesbians do!
Which, isn't to say that this work doesn't deserve criticism. It does. Any criticism Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke has gotten, from a narrative, literary standpoint does not bother me in the slightest.
My biggest gripe is that Zoe and Agnes do not have their own distinct voices. I can get past these two texting in the most flowery prose I've ever seen come up in casual conversation (mainly because I have been known to talk like an asshole at times, lol), but unfortunately these two characters feel like they're the same person. I don't think the inclusion of the police report as a means to transition into the story was necessary; it would read just fine without it.
Some people said that Agnes and Zoe follow a logic that doesn't make any sense. I disagree. Just because you or I would never jump to any of those same conclusions, does not mean that no one does. Fiction would be boring if people acted purely logically all the time.
There's a sickening sense of impending doom in every word on these pages. There was never a moment where this story didn't feel tense. I think the most chilling part about it, to me, was how wholeheartedly devoted Agnes was to Zoe,
If any of the subject matter sounds interesting to you, then I would say it is worth a read. Please come to your own conclusions. And again, this story is not for everyone.
"What have you done today to deserve your eyes?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
clovetra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
i’m sitting here cackling because what in the actual fuck did i just read. i’m crying from laughter right here. does that say something deeper about my psyche at the moment? probably. was this incredibly silly goofy? yes!!!!!
my only real gripe is this is solely related to one of my triggers. now i’m fine with gore in my horror. hell i’ll watch horror movies with gore. but you bring bugs into My Horror??????? ohh i lose my mind. bugs have always been an insane trigger for me. i am always afraid bugs are in my ears. i was told once that biting your nails gives you pinworms and as a girlie with dermatillomania i had a panic attack over that thought. once i woke up in my bed to an earwig next to me and now i am always paranoid ill wake up and an earwig is in my bed. needless to say, a bitch doesn’t like bugs!!!!! so i’ll say this book really did have me!!!!!
i don’t know what you’d call this book but it wasn’t really… horror? idk i’d say it’s more like psychological thriller. but also i realise im incredibly desensitised to weird shit so.
i wish there was more time to expand on the fucked up relationship between these two but also this is a novella so. i’m not mad.
the ending is lowkey kinda funny? not funny haha funny goofy. i liked the way the ending brought us all the way to the beginning as well. nice little tie in.
i feel like im going to be severely judged for actually saying i had a good time. i cant say i enjoyed myself but lowkey i don’t think that’s the point. i had a good time. i felt like agnes reading this — enjoying it but not really but kind of but hating it but loving it. yeah. this isn’t a book ur meant to love. it’s so fuckjng insane. but i liked it! i’m not mad at it! i can also understand why everyone i know of either thinks this is mediocre or horrible! i am in the minority! long live the apple peeler and finneas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia
joeywins's review against another edition
dark
fast-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
2.25
Well, its morbid and that is what I was looking for.
This felt like it needed another draft or some longer time to brew. The concept is very appealing to me- unconventional relationship that turns to horror done with early internet culture.
Nothing is built up though, I have no idea who these women are- if you told me it was the same woman talking to herself i would believe it because there is no character! I cannot describe them beyond their roles in the story.
It seems everything that happens serves to just give us some graphic imagery. Yes its done well, but that doesn't make a story. I just keep asking myself why do this if you're not going to commit? Don't give me unrelated stories that kind of thematically connect, give me what you said you would provide. Aughhhh!!!
I read it in less than a day, so I'm not too frustrated, but I wish this was better than it was. Thought this was going to be a 5 star, ended with me shrugging my shoulders.
This felt like it needed another draft or some longer time to brew. The concept is very appealing to me- unconventional relationship that turns to horror done with early internet culture.
Nothing is built up though, I have no idea who these women are- if you told me it was the same woman talking to herself i would believe it because there is no character! I cannot describe them beyond their roles in the story.
It seems everything that happens serves to just give us some graphic imagery. Yes its done well, but that doesn't make a story. I just keep asking myself why do this if you're not going to commit? Don't give me unrelated stories that kind of thematically connect, give me what you said you would provide. Aughhhh!!!
I read it in less than a day, so I'm not too frustrated, but I wish this was better than it was. Thought this was going to be a 5 star, ended with me shrugging my shoulders.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Self harm and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Lesbophobia
ominousspectre's review against another edition
3.0
D: they matched each other's freak
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia
lordofdisorder's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment
perth_is's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
3.0
it was okay but to be honest, I think this would be way better as a longer story. I like the idea of communicating through emails or chat logs, however was really confused when it ended. I think it really needed to have more because what I was reading was really good.
Fyi, I read this book in an hour 😭
Fyi, I read this book in an hour 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy
mallory_minerva's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well that was gross
I know this book is disliked, and I find the criticisms understandable. I do not dispute the realism issues; people don't really email like that. The texting to me seemed fine on the local level however. The progression of the relationship, as well as the relationship with the Tapeworm, seemed most unrealistic, but in some ways the psychological nuance of it was very interesting. I have mixed feelings on that front. I also am unsure about the claim of the author fetishizing lesbians. I didn't pick up on it much myself but I can see why others do.
I honestly found it mostly fun. I read it in one sitting which is rare for me. The characters are good and distinct, and the scenes conveyed through texts and emails are really vivid. I also liked Agnes's tendency to tell anecdotes; a lot of the literary merit is in those moments and I actually do buy that someone would just infodump anecdotes to make a point. I think the online take on an epistolary novel was well done all things considered; this is an epistolary novel and it will read like letters, not emails, and that's fine.
The horror is... The body horror is better than the psychological horror. I did not enjoy the BDSM aspects, and the animal cruelty really felt out of place for both characters and plot-necessitated. The Findom was underexplored but maybe that's a good thing. Zoe places enough emphasis on consent and caution that I didn't really perceive much manipulation. I didn't pick up on it until she self-discloses out of guilt and concern. There's moments where I feel things are getting worse and Agnes is blundering into a bad situation though, which is good psychological horror. The body horror is well-done.
I wanted to read trash after Foucault broke me, and I certainly got it. I get the low average but this book came to me at the right time I guess.
I know this book is disliked, and I find the criticisms understandable. I do not dispute the realism issues; people don't really email like that. The texting to me seemed fine on the local level however. The progression of the relationship, as well as the relationship with the Tapeworm, seemed most unrealistic, but in some ways the psychological nuance of it was very interesting. I have mixed feelings on that front. I also am unsure about the claim of the author fetishizing lesbians. I didn't pick up on it much myself but I can see why others do.
I honestly found it mostly fun. I read it in one sitting which is rare for me. The characters are good and distinct, and the scenes conveyed through texts and emails are really vivid. I also liked Agnes's tendency to tell anecdotes; a lot of the literary merit is in those moments and I actually do buy that someone would just infodump anecdotes to make a point. I think the online take on an epistolary novel was well done all things considered; this is an epistolary novel and it will read like letters, not emails, and that's fine.
The horror is... The body horror is better than the psychological horror. I did not enjoy the BDSM aspects, and the animal cruelty really felt out of place for both characters and plot-necessitated. The Findom was underexplored but maybe that's a good thing. Zoe places enough emphasis on consent and caution that I didn't really perceive much manipulation. I didn't pick up on it until she self-discloses out of guilt and concern. There's moments where I feel things are getting worse and Agnes is blundering into a bad situation though, which is good psychological horror. The body horror is well-done.
I wanted to read trash after Foucault broke me, and I certainly got it. I get the low average but this book came to me at the right time I guess.
PS: this is the most content warnings I've ever added for a review. I guess I don't do horror much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, and Lesbophobia
judah_g's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Gore
Minor: Homophobia
angstyweeaboo's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide