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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
gringolet'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
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
tailwhip'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
1.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia
_egg_wash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, and Alcohol
anger566's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping
booksinthefreezersteph'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
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder