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nathanielcrossinggum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The characters are not very likeable. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. You don't need likeable characters for a good story. But I just feel that I needed to find someone likeable. Or at least interesting. But they truly do just represent the worst of western politics. Apathetic or entirely radicalised in the wrong direction (the fascist direction).
Maybe in its original language this is a much better, more craftfully told story but as the translation, I just think the writing was not doing its job. Short stories like this need to be much more interesting and I'm sick of short novellas like this where the vibe is "bleh, humanity is horrible and here are some horrible humans" and the writer doesn't even bother to make the writing good.
Again, perhaps the original language version is better but this just left me feeling... Bleh.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racism, Self harm, and Antisemitism
elderwoodreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Self harm and Antisemitism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking
Minor: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
ootoom's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
I liked the story a lot for most of it. Took a turn right at the end that made the ending fall flat, in my opinion.
That said, I think the characters facing intense personal and psychological consequences of being subjected to horrendous media day-in day-out is a type of realistic horror that I typically love.
Couldn't bring myself to rate it higher, couldn't bring myself to rate it lower.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Self harm and Violence
ewwa18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence
theprinceofdenmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
woodiefrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
At various points in reading I started to wonder if we are perhaps taking on the role of the voyeur like in-story interlopers, so eager to hear the gruesome bits of somebody’s life revealed to us (and disappointed when it’s not how we think it’s going, as many other readers here echo in their reviews). And if we are perhaps supposed to be aware of this fact. If the writer was intentional on this point, I applaud her. Clearly it worked. On the other hand, however, the story does feel derailed by the problematic relationship (which I enjoyed; let there be more portrayals of all relationships, toxicity is not exclusive to heteronormativity and we need more affirmation on that in our media), and the premise that starts the intrigue went absolutely nowhere. Overall, a good quick read with unexplored potential.
Did you know some 14% Americans reportedly have sex in their workplace? I did not. But thanks to some stuff in this book I did a very quick and inconclusive research on Google, and now you know too 🙃
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
will0wh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Self harm and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse
This book has basically every content warning, not particularly graphic but upsetting scenarios are spoken about frequentlytottles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bibbletje's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
stellahadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Self harm and Antisemitism
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Stalking, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship