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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It started off great, I enjoyed Plum’s journey! I love the concept of women righting the wrongs of the judicial system and patriarchy but it was semi exclusionary in its feminism because they were pretty anti sex work and “women have vaginas and that’s what makes us women” TERF-y vibes.
Pacing felt off, it would slow down and honestly it felt like two different books at times. The first half was much more interesting and the terrorism plot line as well but the two never fully meshed which led to me not enjoying the second half.
Sometimes too much telling over showing with overly descriptive writing of minute details but then important events would be rushed. I wanted to just get the book over with by the last 100 pages and think it should’ve been so much shorter. I never felt fully engaged and would set it aside after only 1 chapter to scroll on my phone instead and was rushing to finish it.
Sometimes too much telling over showing with overly descriptive writing of minute details but then important events would be rushed. I wanted to just get the book over with by the last 100 pages and think it should’ve been so much shorter. I never felt fully engaged and would set it aside after only 1 chapter to scroll on my phone instead and was rushing to finish it.
The guerrilla girl group mentioned in the synopsis felt more like an afterthought and I truly thought Plum would be more involved but then she wasn’t?! Missed opportunities everywhere.
It’s very feminist, the beauty industry is BS, most of the time but then it still continues to feed into it. For example, it’s all about how everybody is beautiful and dieting fails and your size shouldn’t stop you from living your life. But then it talks about “fckability” and how important waist trainers are/they're a must have and how you should wax off all your body hair? Like I’m afraid we’ve lost the plot, Walker.
It’s very feminist, the beauty industry is BS, most of the time but then it still continues to feed into it. For example, it’s all about how everybody is beautiful and dieting fails and your size shouldn’t stop you from living your life. But then it talks about “fckability” and how important waist trainers are/they're a must have and how you should wax off all your body hair? Like I’m afraid we’ve lost the plot, Walker.
Also very western/white feminist moment implying women who wear burkas or hijabs are inherently oppressed. There’s so much more nuance to that and some women wear hijabs/burkas for religious reasons, not because men force them to, so it felt a little lacking in intersectionality.
Despite the deep topics and addressing issues within society it lacked the nuance and depth desperately needed to make this kind of social commentary. I think it does make some important points on body acceptance and fighting the beauty/diet industries but it’s not anything new for me. All the things brought up are basic white woman feminism 101 and things I’ve learned from body positive non-fiction (Just Eat It by Laura Thomas, PhD- highly recommend). I think that made it less enjoyable because I wanted more of the guerrilla group action and we were only told about it after the fact, in bare minimum details, and I wanted more of that storyline.
Also not sure Satire is my thing? This is the second one I’ve read and I really didn’t like either one😭
Also not sure Satire is my thing? This is the second one I’ve read and I really didn’t like either one😭
I loooved Walker’s sophomore novel but if we’re going for a book on social commentary then I’m going to be extra critical about how it’s lack of intersectionality and it’s own issues of internalized misogyny.
I’d say if you want to read a book from Walker, read The Cherry Robbers instead, if I had read her debut first I probably never would’ve read TCR 🫠 It’s much better paced, has more complex well developed characters, and overall more entertaining/engaging.
I’d say if you want to read a book from Walker, read The Cherry Robbers instead, if I had read her debut first I probably never would’ve read TCR 🫠 It’s much better paced, has more complex well developed characters, and overall more entertaining/engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Transphobia, and Murder
Minor: Antisemitism and Islamophobia
nbonarski's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a journey! We follow Alicia as she recounts weight trauma and then unpacks her internalized fatphobia. Too bad the world can go off the rails while she's working on herself! Self improvement waits for no one. If you are mentally able to handle the things mentioned in the content warnings pick up this book. It's a wild ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Murder, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Islamophobia, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Additional warnings: Accidental casual transphobia by implying womanhood is based on genitals and anti sex work sentiment.erikawynn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Racism and Islamophobia
brenna2themax's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. But be aware, major trigger warnings (rape, gang rape, rape of a child - 12 years old, sexual assault, fat phobia, misogyny, violence toward women, rape culture, eating disorders, diet culture -obviously, etc).
It was a little on the intense side for a book to help me unwind and fall asleep at night (which was a little more of what i was looking for), but I still really enjoyed it. A solid feminist story that feels like a fairytale at times as Plum, the main character must go on emotional and spiritual "quests" in order to awaken, she'd her self hatred and internalized fat phobia, and finally find community in other women.
A truly amazing debut novel, I'm really excited to read Sarai Walker's next book. (And see what comes next!) I would be very pleased if there was a sequel to this book (a bit of a spoiler *at the end explaining what I would like to see).
I also really enjoyed the show and wish it had not been canceled.
I would have LOVED to have read this one in a book group.
----*----*-----*-----*----*
*SPOILER*
---*----*-----*------*------*
*I would love to see in the sequel what Plum finds on the thumb drive, learn more about Julia's sisters, see Plum write her book, and perhaps become a mentor herself and help someone else through her own version of the New Baptist Plan. Honestly, I would enjoy a Calliope House series, before Plum and after Plum, exploring more of the characters, meeting some new ones, maybe seeing a different kind of revolution (from Jennifer).
It was a little on the intense side for a book to help me unwind and fall asleep at night (which was a little more of what i was looking for), but I still really enjoyed it. A solid feminist story that feels like a fairytale at times as Plum, the main character must go on emotional and spiritual "quests" in order to awaken, she'd her self hatred and internalized fat phobia, and finally find community in other women.
A truly amazing debut novel, I'm really excited to read Sarai Walker's next book. (And see what comes next!) I would be very pleased if there was a sequel to this book (a bit of a spoiler *at the end explaining what I would like to see).
I also really enjoyed the show and wish it had not been canceled.
I would have LOVED to have read this one in a book group.
----*----*-----*-----*----*
*SPOILER*
---*----*-----*------*------*
*I would love to see in the sequel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Self harm, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Bullying, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
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