Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer

4 reviews

bookmindedmag's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

For those who sensitive to certain subjects, I included content warnings. The writer discusses some of the terrible things done by the men/women she discusses in the book so take care. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

 In Monsters:A Fan’s Dilemma the author attempts to interrogate how fans should/could/might react to art produced by monstrous men. I have very mixed feelings about this book. The topic is certainly a timely one and the fact that the author didn’t reach a firm conclusion did not bother me at all. I’d much rather read information and the musings of others and reach my own conclusion than be told that there is only one correct response and that I must follow it. One of the main problems for me came in the second half of the book when the author shifted her focus from monstrous men (not a term I’m personally fond of; men who have done monstrous things is more nuanced and accurate, certainly less inflammatory) and starts looking at women. The crimes of the male artists included paedophilia; the crimes of the women she considered involved prioritising their art over motherhood and she explored her own feelings of mother guilt. Mothers who do not devote the entirety of their lives (or even their children’s childhoods) to their children are not monsters, although those who expect them to do so and judge them if they dare do something for themself might possibly be. I wish I’d DNF’d at this point. Things went meandering and issues got more than a little muddied in the second half, although the book did finish on a strong note. Overall the author raised some good points to consider, but for my money the worthwhile content (and my interest) ran to an essay or two rather than an entire book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, and Pedophilia

badmom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Dederer tackles a seemingly impossible question - How do we separate art from artist? - with layers of other questions that made me think deeper than I ever have on this topic. She explores all of the ways she (and most of us) has tried to make sense of loving art created by monstrous people; she shares her own experiences along with research of how scholars and laypeople alike have approached this dilemma. The result is this compilation of painful truths & personal revelations kindly blended with psychology and brief portions of politics & economics. 
Despite its rich breadth & depth, this study flows beautifully and offers valuable insights in its trek to answers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Rape

Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Pedophilia, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Transphobia

brunonadamas's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense

4.0

An excellent book, very well written. I can’t agree with the concept that it doesn’t make a difference if I still support an artist that has done terrible things. It makes a difference in my life. 

The fact is that there are so many great artist that have made the choice to not do things as a result of their torment. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide