A review by gloomyheart
Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75



God. I am scarred from reading this book. Although, I must admit I am not completely sure if it is in a good or bad way.

I would like to begin this review by discussing what the book is actually about. "Tell me I'm Worthless" is an in-depth, dark, and punk book. This is a very radical work of fiction that deals with the subject of fascism in the United Kingdom. The book depicts the current state of British society and the fascist mindset that dominates many citizens. 

From the very first chapter of "tell me I am worthless," we learn that Alice is the primary viewpoint. As a character, Alice comes across as a very paranoid, mentally ill person. The poster of a famous singer is affixed to her wall and she feels that it haunts her. It is a poster of a man who is considered to be racist and hated by many. When analysing this situation, one is led to the conclusion that Alice isn't actually being haunted by a ghost. Instead, she is being haunted by the current mindset of British society. It is as if racist fascists have taken the form of a poster in Alice's mind and she is being terrorised by it. We are introduced to a new character shortly afterwards, Ila. Ila is later revealed to be a TERF involved in politics. She can already be seen in the first scene walking through a protest in order to enter a building as people insult her from all sides. We discover that there was a time when Ila and Alice were best friends. We even learned that Ila used to be Alice's lover but shortly after this we learn what led to their breakup during a meeting taking place in the building she was walking to. 

In just the first chapter, the reader is kept informed of the occurrence of a mysterious dark house. This house plays an extremely significant role in the story, influencing the thoughts of both women.
The house and all the evilness the book portrays it as takes a surprising turn when it is discovered that the house calls itself Albion. The house asserts that it has its own unique opinions, it even describes its viewpoints concerning many issues in the UK. Reading this absolutely shocked me in ways I cannot explain. For many who aren’t aware, the original name of Great Britain was Albion. 

And in the story, it appears that all of Ila's and Alice's problems stem from the House, Albion. All their fears, all their struggles, they all seem to lead back to a creaky old house situated in an unknown location.
It is only once Alice and Ila enter The House, that they become paranoid dangerous people. It is only once they enter The House that their lives turn completely wrong in every way. Albion has this effect on people. Britain has this effect on people.


As a writer, Rumfitt excels at making her readers feel uncomfortable when they see her descriptions and scenes about the house. Her ominous and sinister writing style leaves an impact. 
It is important to note that "Tell me I'm Worthless" is not just a political novel, it is a disquieting and shocking novel that will leave readers' hair standing on end.
Rumfitt does a marvellous job at both showing the horrors of fiction and the horrors of modern day Britain. At times, I could not believe what I was reading. 

I am in awe of this book and it has definitely left a lasting impression on me. While I am not capable of recommending this book to anyone due to the number of triggers it contains, I do believe that this dark, horrifying book is most appropriate for a specific type of reader. 

Those who enjoy the tension and terror of a thriller as well as those who are upset by a country's state of politics will find this book completely captivating, just as I did.
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