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A review by parisa0npluto
This Is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i only enjoyed this book because i believe that all art is intentional. i don't think mary gatskill is idealizing these characters, if she was this book wouldn't get the rating it has from me.
men really don't know what to do with the power society gives them over women. they're supposed to 'take the lead', but also not ask for consent. it's all fucked.the metaphor about the man on his knees begging and barking for a kiss was surprisingly well done. sexual assault/abuse is a systematic issue and giving it a human face helps us get a step or two closer to realizing that, quin was kind and funny and weird, and everyone thought the "weirdness" was just a part of him. they accepted him. everything the author did with his character was so intentional. he did weirdly kind stuff for people he barely knew, but he also didn't respect their boundaries. i also love that margot called her friend's accusers 'little bitches' and then when he in turn, made comments about her childhood abuse, she was deeply hurt. that's how white feminism works most of the time lmao.
most of the critique regarding this book is related to its main characters. these aren't characters you're supposed to be liking, and that's why a majority of people don't know how to read/interpret this book. i do believe she painted the MeToo movement in bad lighting in a lot of places. but she's a 70-year-old heterosexual white woman so i can't say i didn't go into it not expecting exactly that! men get away with a lot of shit, they need to be held accountable. saying that r@pe is the only bad thing a man can do to a woman? wrong, objectively. power dynamics ensue everywhere and if a man grabs a woman's nipples without asking, that too in a public space, she is expected to go along and laugh and blush. that's what the movement is about, these things are profoundly wrong & can spiral into much worse.
okay book overall, but i do hope men never find this book xx
men really don't know what to do with the power society gives them over women. they're supposed to 'take the lead', but also not ask for consent. it's all fucked.
most of the critique regarding this book is related to its main characters. these aren't characters you're supposed to be liking, and that's why a majority of people don't know how to read/interpret this book. i do believe she painted the MeToo movement in bad lighting in a lot of places. but she's a 70-year-old heterosexual white woman so i can't say i didn't go into it not expecting exactly that! men get away with a lot of shit, they need to be held accountable. saying that r@pe is the only bad thing a man can do to a woman? wrong, objectively. power dynamics ensue everywhere and if a man grabs a woman's nipples without asking, that too in a public space, she is expected to go along and laugh and blush. that's what the movement is about, these things are profoundly wrong & can spiral into much worse.
okay book overall, but i do hope men never find this book xx
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment