A review by katokaitlyn
Two Girls, Fat and Thin by Mary Gaitskill

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I started out liking this book. I’m a critic of Ayn Rand’s so seeing Ayn Rand in a funhouse mirror was initially enjoyable. I also did find moments of profundity throughout the book—specifically in relation to Justine’s motivations. However the book is unnecessarily horrific at parts (particularly in later sections), grisly, and malicious. I empathized deeply with Justine Shade and Dorothy Never but the author would cauterize any empathy with startling violence and vileness that made me deeply uncomfortable. I imagine that was some of the intention and sexual violence is never comfortable to be sure, but it felt at times gratuitous and as exploitative as the men it seeks to eviscerate in its pages.