Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - The Girl in the Road

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne

5 reviews

michaelmarshall's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

frog_appreciator's review against another edition

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1.0

Wow. I have a lot to say about this. Firstly, this book is not what it’s summary seems to suggest. Instead of a grand adventure it’s an exploration of trauma, sexuality and culture. Chock fucking full of triggering content. I was very excited for the concept. I haven’t read enough sci fi that isn’t eurocentric, so having Africa and India as these global superpowers was exciting. I was also excited for queer representation, and after starting the book, mad representation (mc is bipolar). My issues with this book are not with its technical construction, I found it’s language quite beautiful. I also really enjoyed the futuristic technology, especially the trail itself. However, our two narrators are incredibly unreliable, which has potential for a great read but it wasn’t executed well in this book. I am still a bit confused but I think I understand enough of what happened to discuss it. I’d have to re-read it to fully understand, which I will definitely not be doing. There is so much sexual content in this book, which is fine, but a lot of it is violence. Multiple instances of rape, and assault including towards a child, which was treated in a neutral light. There is no symbolism in the world that could make that necessary. There was a trans character in this story but everything we learn about her is from the unreliable mc, she doesn’t have her own voice. And SPOILER, she suffers from domestic violence from the mc and it’s implied that she dies. Very unfortunate direction taken. Also there were comparisons between being transgender and the phenomenon of trans nationalism where in this futuristic world people have the genetics to change race, which made me uncomfortable. Another thing, which I didn’t realize until after I was finished reading, but the author is white. This made the whole experience even more uncomfortable than it already was. Considering the importance of culture to the worldbuilding and character identities, and the heavy trauma they have , it doesn’t feel right to have it come from a white woman. Raises eyebrows in regards to how the mcs sexuality, which are women of colour, are written. I think if you are a part of the marginalized identities discussed in the novel, and have experienced the trauma it covers, and you take something from this book, all the more power to you. In regards to mental illness, the bipolar main character is violent and SPOILER potentially a demon? if my understanding of the book is correct. I could be wrong and it could have been a metaphor I misread but regardless it is a negative portrayal of a mad person. My experience reading was highly uncomfortable, and I do not recommend it, despite how intriguing it may sound from the book blurb.

Content Warnings