harrers11's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
nina7schmidt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lil1inblue's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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
3.5
kalisaur's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Despite all the sexy quotes covering the outside, I'd say there wasn't anything too crazy. It's actually a lot psycho babble and a personal growth trip for the narrator. Is it frank about sex and shows female sexuality, yes, but otherwise the sex isn't really described or anything more scandalous than swinging. I imagine it was much more radical at date of publication. I will say as a modern reader the author comes off as racist against both Germans and Middle Eastern people, using her jewishness as a shield/valid excuse.
bookishwendy's review against another edition
4.0
It's dated and over the top, yet only about halfway what I expected it be (another Eat Pray Love?). For all the ridiculousness, it was a pretty good, err, romp. Plus, I can act all highbrow about reading it as one of the vaunted 1001 list books, so, haha.
jacquelinepon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
teffin's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this, some parts I lied a lot but it general I think it's probably better read in context rather than as just a book. Worth a read but I'm unlikely to reread it
hyebitshines's review against another edition
3.0
Reading this felt a lot like reading [b: The Scarlett Letter|7633167|The Scarlett Letter; And, the Blithedale Romance|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355086443s/7633167.jpg|21418509]- Beautiful writing (jealousy feels on full blast here) and thought-provoking themes about societal norms. As a story though, it was... mind-numbingly slow. All Isadora seems to do is reflect, reflect, and reflect which ended up being chapter-long musings that reiterated her unhappiness.
Isadora is supposed to be especially special from all her child-bearing, frazzled female counterparts who have embraced the roles that are expected of them. At face-value, it's easy to be repulsed by Isadora who has the most horrifying history of ex-lovers (the composer with shit-streaked sheets almost kicked up my gagging reflex) and has what comes across as a crudely prominent sex-drive that she doesn't shy away from, coining terms like the zipless fuck. For some reason though, I could never fully hate Isadora. I think it was because she was so wholly familiar in her struggles and thoughts, and also because of the very fact that she embodied this crudeness as a taboo sort of woman who stands in opposition of all that womanhood is supposed to be to society. One of the most striking, if not ambivalent conflicts that Isadora struggles with is something that I feel like inherently comes with being a woman, finally put into words:
"Oh I talk a good game, and I even think I believe it, but secretly, I'm like the girl in Story of O . I want to submit to some big brute. 'Every woman adores a fascist,' as Sylvia Plath says. I feel guilty for writing poems when I should be cooking. I feel guilty or everything. You don't have to beat a woman if you can make her feel guilty. That's Isadora Wing's first principle of the war between the sexes. Women are their own worst enemies. And guilt is the main weapon of self-torture."
This book broached on scandalous, even taboo topics beautifully... but I founds its tone of realism to be flat and at times, one pointless spewl that had no end. There wasn't a balance of plot and theme... it was one philosophical rambling that started in the middle and faded off with a question mark. While I concede that it is a book worth reading, I left the book feeling relieved. The world of Isadora Wing is bitter and servers but lacks that something, that allure to leave me flabbergasted with awe and yearning to fall back into its intoxicating hold. I'm just left scratching my head, with some quirky and enlightening life advice, and still trying to figure out if this book was genius or pretentiousness o3o
Fin.
Isadora is supposed to be especially special from all her child-bearing, frazzled female counterparts who have embraced the roles that are expected of them. At face-value, it's easy to be repulsed by Isadora who has the most horrifying history of ex-lovers (the composer with shit-streaked sheets almost kicked up my gagging reflex) and has what comes across as a crudely prominent sex-drive that she doesn't shy away from, coining terms like the zipless fuck. For some reason though, I could never fully hate Isadora. I think it was because she was so wholly familiar in her struggles and thoughts, and also because of the very fact that she embodied this crudeness as a taboo sort of woman who stands in opposition of all that womanhood is supposed to be to society. One of the most striking, if not ambivalent conflicts that Isadora struggles with is something that I feel like inherently comes with being a woman, finally put into words:
"Oh I talk a good game, and I even think I believe it, but secretly, I'm like the girl in Story of O . I want to submit to some big brute. 'Every woman adores a fascist,' as Sylvia Plath says. I feel guilty for writing poems when I should be cooking. I feel guilty or everything. You don't have to beat a woman if you can make her feel guilty. That's Isadora Wing's first principle of the war between the sexes. Women are their own worst enemies. And guilt is the main weapon of self-torture."
This book broached on scandalous, even taboo topics beautifully... but I founds its tone of realism to be flat and at times, one pointless spewl that had no end. There wasn't a balance of plot and theme... it was one philosophical rambling that started in the middle and faded off with a question mark. While I concede that it is a book worth reading, I left the book feeling relieved. The world of Isadora Wing is bitter and servers but lacks that something, that allure to leave me flabbergasted with awe and yearning to fall back into its intoxicating hold. I'm just left scratching my head, with some quirky and enlightening life advice, and still trying to figure out if this book was genius or pretentiousness o3o
Fin.