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rey_reads'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
darkly funny. often horrible and repulsive. consistently absurd.
if you need to be able to like characters in the books you read, or believe that they are morally redeemable to enjoy a piece of writing, this isn’t for you.
you can make an argument for all of these characters being “bad people”. they aren’t nice. but they all contain this kernel of real, raw and horrible human nature. sometimes it reflects back at you. it’s brilliant. it’s funny!
sure, i can see the argument that a lot of this book hangs on character stereotypes. i don’t think this necessarily detracts from it. if you don’t like them - congrats! isn’t that part of the point?
before reading i saw a review that said it negatively impacted their own mental health - and yeah, i probably should have paid more attention to that.
potential detrimental effects on my own wellbeing aside i really did love it. i appreciated the looming spectre of 9/11. and i really do think that the final chapters - the end of ch 7 & 8 - were beautiful. i think Moshfegh just managed to tip the ending away from trite, but it was walking a bit of a tightrope and some really slight changes to any of it - the writing, the characters, the “emotional journey” would have absolutely upset that balance for me.
Graphic: Drug abuse and Eating disorder
Moderate: Abortion and Death of parent
cheyison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Abortion
marissanbullis'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion
ams5x9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
listette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It is difficult to read a book where there are very few characters with redeeming qualities.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
refrejarator'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
1.5
I personally love dark and unhinged female characters, but this character lacked depth. Everything felt overdone and shallow, and the ending (which I saw coming from very early on) was so rushed, but it made me grateful because it meant it was the end.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
One mention of the slur "retard" referring to an autistic child.jessrussellthenerd'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Abortion, and Death of parent
rebekkamafia's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Vomit, Abortion, and Pregnancy
dmackreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
bitsysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy