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bella_t_16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness and Suicide
rsinclair6536's review
4.0
Most of the story occurs at the boarding school where the girl experiences hurtful and vengeful cliques, loneliness, sexual and intellectual awakening, remorse for her behavior that resulted in the accident, loss of her high school friend, and anxiety about her parents' split. Into that comes a predator English professor who easily seduces the girl in a most unpleasant way. She is merely one of many. In spite of his threats to her if she reveals his misdeeds, she reports the crime to the headmaster who downplays the events and tells her to just accept it. His wife underscores that advice in a separate encounter.
The narration skips time frames without warning, and the description of events is usually incomplete -- just glimpses of events, characters, and themes. This technique has been criticized, but I liked it. It is first person narration, and the scattered narration fits with a young girl who is grieving, injured, confused, and angry.
The book is a great meditation on the history of abuse of young women by means of a great, resonate case study. Of particular value is the character of the professor who uses his intelligence and experience to intoxicate the senses and intellect of the girl as part of the seduction. Men put many kinds of power to use against women.
trashley_123's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
asmei's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying and Suicide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
kristianawithak's review
3.0
The narrator, Jo (so thankful she has a name), is telling what seems like three stories:
1. She accidentally killed her best friend as a teen.
2. Her charismatic teacher began an inappropriate relationship with her.
3. Cynthia, he first roommate at boarding school, doesn’t fit in at school and leaves.
Are these separate stories or all pieces of the same story of how item two is not her fault? Jo lays out the facts, in a stream of conscious manner jumping back and forth between each story. She understands the reader will be skeptical and likely blame her, because she is to blame for item one. It’s a timely novel, in the midst of a culture that sometimes blames victims. That is what makes reading it a little uncomfortable. How does the reader engage with this story? Which parts do you wish were not there?
maryanneross's review against another edition
3.0
itsdeenlee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault