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suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the book follows an unnamed narrator in her journey to “rebirth” herself. she does this by turning to cosmetic psychopharmacology with the help of a pretty sus psychiatrist. in this book, we only ever see her focus on three people: dr tuttle, trevor, and reva. there are others in the story who become more prominent, but the majority of the novel revolves around those three. all in all, i have a love hate relationship with the book— but i certainly liked it more than not. the message of the book isn’t clouded in a sea of metaphors (good thing!) and it’s funny at some moments, disturbing at others. the amount of times the narrator speaks on being skinny i could see as triggering for some, and the casual racism and stereotyping was 1000% not needed to show that the characters are bad people (it’s always unnecessary, i promise you). is it revolutionary? no. is it interesting? yeah, if you can get through it. will i read it again? most likely no. i hate to compare books, but is this book the “modern The Bell Jar”? not at all. so….yeah 4/5.
Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
areadingjo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
lauren176's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Vomit, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Cursing, Sexual content, Vomit, and Abortion
Minor: Rape, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
burnyayhayley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A consistent piece of feedback I am seeing in reviews of this book is about how the middle of it dragged, and I totally agree. Though it is easily arguable— given the focus of this book— that a human attempting to hibernate would eventually become a bit of a repetitive and tedious narrative to recount. It was bound to drag a little; what do you say about someone sleeping all the time?
Another thing I have seen in reviews is a statement that the ending is too rushed, but I beg to differ. The ending is differently paced, yes, and faster than the middle, for sure, but this reminded me of the feeling of waking up from a nap and there is still a whole afternoon and evening ahead of you and you kind of feel like everything is moving too fast. That head-rush of the waking world I think was mirrored in this last bit of the book, and to great effect. It fits, for me, that after this long spent drugging herself and sleeping on a couch (or wherever she was), everything would seem fast and bright and weird.
Ok but also how did I only just realize that the protagonist doesn't have a name? That is usually something I would notice—makes it all the more unsettling, as it easily pulls the reader into her position.
Anyway, this book is darkly funny but also mildly upsetting, so please check the content warnings before venturing in.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War
achung02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racism, and Xenophobia
amelreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, and Abortion
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
kaizw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent