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A review by bookishpip
All Men Want to Know by Nina Bouraoui
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is a short book that I picked up on account of its interesting premise. It’s semi-autobiographical and moves between different points in time; very short chapters titled ‘Remembering’ (recollecting childhood), ‘Knowing’ (insights into characters) ‘Becoming’ (more recent past, focused around the gay bar she visits and the people she sees) and finally ‘Being’.
On paper, this book seemed exactly my kind of thing. But for some reason it just didn’t hit the mark with me. Characters didn’t seem very well developed, so even when major things happened to them, it didn’t seem shocking or important.
Moreover, even though the novel was mostly about the protagonist/author coming to terms with her homosexuality (which naturally involves some self-criticism), some of the ways in which important themes were tackled were a bit uncomfortable - in particular, the attack of the protagonist’s mother. It wasn’t necessarily the language or the content - just something about the way it was handled felt inauthentic in a way I’m struggling to verbalise.
Overall, I think I’m missing the point with this book, and I’m disappointed by it. Hopefully you enjoy it better if you read it!
On paper, this book seemed exactly my kind of thing. But for some reason it just didn’t hit the mark with me. Characters didn’t seem very well developed, so even when major things happened to them, it didn’t seem shocking or important.
Moreover, even though the novel was mostly about the protagonist/author coming to terms with her homosexuality (which naturally involves some self-criticism), some of the ways in which important themes were tackled were a bit uncomfortable - in particular, the attack of the protagonist’s mother. It wasn’t necessarily the language or the content - just something about the way it was handled felt inauthentic in a way I’m struggling to verbalise.
Overall, I think I’m missing the point with this book, and I’m disappointed by it. Hopefully you enjoy it better if you read it!
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide