Scan barcode
A review by softstarrynights
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well this is a bit of a wild ride, isn’t it?
Boy Parts is a black-comedy contemporary book which plunges us into the perspective of fetish-photographer, Irina. We follow her in her day-to-day life in the run up to her being featured in a big show in London.
As a character Irina was an absolutely fascinating perspective to be immersed in. The book is told from a first person perspective and it’s a very internal story with a great sense of interiority. She has big main character energy, which towards the end of the book is especially interesting. Clark is also very through in painting Irina as a fully fleshed out character. She is not a nice person, and it’s difficult to say that, as a reader, you support her decisions or actions. And I’m not sure I would even stretch to say that she’s a sympathetic character. However, we spend so much time in her head wrapped up in her perspective on the world, in past and present, that she does feel very real. The narrative could’ve taken her in a very pantomime villain direction but Clark’s writing deftly takes you in a different direction. I’m not sure you can endorse Irina but I think you are able to understand her.
The book does a brilliant job of exploring themes of gender, dominance, and the female gaze. I wouldn’t say it goes so far as to discuss these themes, because the writing isn’t heavy handed in that way. However Clark sprinkles enough subtle signposts and implications that I can imagine. The book lending exceptionally well to discussions and essays. It’s definitely the sort of book I would’ve loved to have written an essay on during my academic years. It’s excessively fertile ground for ploughing, and I imagine that there are already excellent analyses on it.
Only two books into the year and I have found my first five-star read. The fact that this is a debut novel is baffling. How can a debut author be this good. Unsurprisingly I want to read Clark’s second novel, Penance, asap. Will that be my second five-star read? Stay tuned to find out!
Boy Parts is a black-comedy contemporary book which plunges us into the perspective of fetish-photographer, Irina. We follow her in her day-to-day life in the run up to her being featured in a big show in London.
As a character Irina was an absolutely fascinating perspective to be immersed in. The book is told from a first person perspective and it’s a very internal story with a great sense of interiority. She has big main character energy, which towards the end of the book is especially interesting. Clark is also very through in painting Irina as a fully fleshed out character. She is not a nice person, and it’s difficult to say that, as a reader, you support her decisions or actions. And I’m not sure I would even stretch to say that she’s a sympathetic character. However, we spend so much time in her head wrapped up in her perspective on the world, in past and present, that she does feel very real. The narrative could’ve taken her in a very pantomime villain direction but Clark’s writing deftly takes you in a different direction. I’m not sure you can endorse Irina but I think you are able to understand her.
The book does a brilliant job of exploring themes of gender, dominance, and the female gaze. I wouldn’t say it goes so far as to discuss these themes, because the writing isn’t heavy handed in that way. However Clark sprinkles enough subtle signposts and implications that I can imagine. The book lending exceptionally well to discussions and essays. It’s definitely the sort of book I would’ve loved to have written an essay on during my academic years. It’s excessively fertile ground for ploughing, and I imagine that there are already excellent analyses on it.
Only two books into the year and I have found my first five-star read. The fact that this is a debut novel is baffling. How can a debut author be this good. Unsurprisingly I want to read Clark’s second novel, Penance, asap. Will that be my second five-star read? Stay tuned to find out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder and Vomit
Minor: Suicide attempt