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mariaminthebooks'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
3.5
Stating the obvious, the book flows like a river. The writing's great, descriptions' great yada yada yada...
Finished the book in 3 days. That says enough.
Now, the interesting stuff...
I found the main character insufferable, which is absolutely fine, characters do NOT have to be likeable, but Mellors tried SO hard to make her likeable by mentioning just how likeable she is (how convenient) which made me dislike her even more.
TW//
The book also features PRETTY heavy themes like alcoholism, drug abuse, animal cruelty, su!cide, self-h@rm, and the list goes on....without ever really diving into the complexity and complications of each struggle, thereby making the character's problems seem shallow (they are not!!!)
Along with having like a bazillion unnecessary characters, this, too, was unnecessary. Towards the end of the book, it felt as if Mellors was just throwing in as much trauma as she possibly can for that shocker effect. Unfortunately, that had a counter effect. It made me desensitised to much of the events in the novel.
traumatised characters ≠ unconditional sympathy
I've read books with way fewer events going on but had a much deeper attachment to the characters.
Frustratingly, this could have been such a good book....
Graphic: Infidelity, Chronic illness, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Blood, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Self harm, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt
jamieholton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Terminal illness, Infidelity, and Death of parent
philippmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Self harm
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal death
ashblersch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual assault and Terminal illness
culown's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Terminal illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death of parent, and Self harm
charliewarliee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Cleopatra and Frankenstein is a book whose narrative changes as the story goes on. LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD FOR STRUCTURE -
For people who would like to read this, be warned that there is a lot of drug use and sex throughout this book, and some topics that some people may dislike or be triggered by!
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Terminal illness, Dementia, Infidelity, Sexism, Drug abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
addie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Fatphobia, Abandonment, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Cleo and Frank have had a shit childhood and although they’ve 20 years difference their darkness pulls them together to try to make light. Green card or not Cleo loves Frank and a few months after they met they get married.
This is really a story about the group of people surrounding the recent couple and Cleo and Frank themselves, a story where the characters move the plot, which is a picture of addiction, pain, broken childhoods, depression and to be an adult filled with grief and confusion, to still be finding yourself, to realise sometimes it takes forever, the journey is it, sometimes it’s laugh, friends, finding a support system.
I did saw myself in the details of many of them and none.
It’s weird, it moved me but it didn’t fill me, maybe my own grief and depression made a barrier between me and this grief stricken story so I wouldn’t hurt - it’s been a rough year.
Still, loved it just not immensely.
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, Suicide, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Forced institutionalization
juleg'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
4.0
It was intense, it was overwhelming at times, it was coming of age. Your twenties. Deep Unhappiness. Finding yourself. Loosing others. I really enjoyed it (though the ending felt less “whole” than the rest of the book somehow. but i can live with that. i have learned to value the experience of enjoying the book more than the ending anyways).
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
helloodrea'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
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Terminal illness