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beccamarriner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
At the beginning the author mentions a fictional calculator that could help us determine whether or not it is acceptable to consume the art of monsterous people. I was looking for this book to give me the answer instead as it’s a discussion I’ve been involved with since I was a music student. I loved the way it was written, sharing personal experience helped me feel less alone in the emotional conflict I feel, especially with artists I’ve grown up with. I think some chapters were misplaced, primarily about abandoning mothers, purely because I think the space could’ve been dedicated to female monsters with more harmful natures. It didn’t give me a definite answer as to how to approach the artworks but it made me feel like there was a safe space to share any feelings of guilt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic relationship
siobhanward's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
NYT Notable Books 2023: 17/100
I think my challenge with this book is that Dederer wasn't sure where she was going with it. Part of it reads like a series of critical essays around how we address art created by artists who are, at their core, bad people. Can we still love their art? Where do we draw the line? Other parts of it read as a memoir from Dederer about her own connections to media and the #MeToo movement. Unfortunately, I wasn't super interested in Dederer's personal experiences, and the parts where she focused on herself really just didn't work for me. This book had a lot of potential but ended up falling flat in a lot of parts.
I think my challenge with this book is that Dederer wasn't sure where she was going with it. Part of it reads like a series of critical essays around how we address art created by artists who are, at their core, bad people. Can we still love their art? Where do we draw the line? Other parts of it read as a memoir from Dederer about her own connections to media and the #MeToo movement. Unfortunately, I wasn't super interested in Dederer's personal experiences, and the parts where she focused on herself really just didn't work for me. This book had a lot of potential but ended up falling flat in a lot of parts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
lindsaylhunter's review against another edition
Not invested enough to be honest! Non-fiction can be hit or miss for me and this one didn't hit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
bookmarked_by_kate's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Suicide
grunbean's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I don’t read non-fiction, this was an exception for a book club. After reading this, I definitely want to try reading more memoirs!
I feel it is important to read this as a memoir as opposed to an essay. While there is analysis and plenty of examples referred to, this reads as a reflection of the author’s own experience with engaging with art created by bad people. Not all the artists are talked about at the same length, and you’ll find that there’s a lot of kinds of monster in here.
I did find some of the examples of female artists confusing. They don’t generally equate to the literal crimes written about for male artists. It does add some balance, though, if this is in here for balance it may have been interesting to explore queer examples too.
I really enjoyed this, and I liked the conclusion it came too. It definitely encouraged me to think more about the parasocial relationships with artists, and how we can reconcile this when they’re revealed to be bad people.
I feel it is important to read this as a memoir as opposed to an essay. While there is analysis and plenty of examples referred to, this reads as a reflection of the author’s own experience with engaging with art created by bad people. Not all the artists are talked about at the same length, and you’ll find that there’s a lot of kinds of monster in here.
I did find some of the examples of female artists confusing. They don’t generally equate to the literal crimes written about for male artists. It does add some balance, though, if this is in here for balance it may have been interesting to explore queer examples too.
I really enjoyed this, and I liked the conclusion it came too. It definitely encouraged me to think more about the parasocial relationships with artists, and how we can reconcile this when they’re revealed to be bad people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, and Alcohol
candlewaster's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
maia_papaya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism
cryptidskunk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Particularly loved the section on Lolita and female "art monsters"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Violence
genstrong's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A very interesting critique of “cancelled” celebrities and of “cancel culture” itself. The author takes a subjective, feminist approach to writing on the topic that doesn’t shy away from addressing her personal emotions. While I think the book could have delved more deeply into each celebrity, each chapter offers interesting and well-informed perspectives… new ways to look at things.
I really enjoyed the chapter on JK Rowling, however the author doesn’t really address the reason of her cancellation. Rather, the author focussed on the fans’ response which was unexpected and not unwelcome.
I do however have to disagree with the claim later in the book that “The worst thing a man can do is rape, while the worst thing a woman can do is not love her children” (paraphrased). It is definitely a legitimate statement to argue for older generations, however the author shied away from addressing J K Rowling’s transphobia which could arguably be seen as worse than not loving her own children to today’s generations. Of course, this is all subjective. But I do feel there was a missed opportunity to really explore the changing narrative around womanhood in the 21st century. How “woke” Gen-Zers may respond very differently to these narratives than earlier generations. The author instead chose to stick to traditional notions of womanhood.
I really enjoyed the chapter on JK Rowling, however the author doesn’t really address the reason of her cancellation. Rather, the author focussed on the fans’ response which was unexpected and not unwelcome.
I do however have to disagree with the claim later in the book that “The worst thing a man can do is rape, while the worst thing a woman can do is not love her children” (paraphrased). It is definitely a legitimate statement to argue for older generations, however the author shied away from addressing J K Rowling’s transphobia which could arguably be seen as worse than not loving her own children to today’s generations. Of course, this is all subjective. But I do feel there was a missed opportunity to really explore the changing narrative around womanhood in the 21st century. How “woke” Gen-Zers may respond very differently to these narratives than earlier generations. The author instead chose to stick to traditional notions of womanhood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
In some chapters what the celebrity was accused of doing is explained in detail while in others it is glossed over. This includes rape, etc.raisinreads's review against another edition
3.25
I enjoyed the idea behind this book & found the authors narrative voice interesting and easy to read for the most part. But, there were parts that seemed repetitive & circular, sometimes dancing around a point and never getting to it. I also found the range of perspectives lacking & some of the comparisons/conflations within were uh interesting choices.
Also a content note: there is a lot of mention of sexual assault, including that of a child. There is not an overly descriptive element, but it is talked about a decent amount, so I decided to put those warnings in the moderate category.
Also a content note: there is a lot of mention of sexual assault, including that of a child. There is not an overly descriptive element, but it is talked about a decent amount, so I decided to put those warnings in the moderate category.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault