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circesophelia's reviews
161 reviews
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
3.0
liked the unreliable narrator, and the flawed characters - but I personally don't think you can drown out the trope of spousal murder with more layers of spousal murder.
That isn't a spoiler - practically everybody in this book is defined by the fact that they have a spouse (or ex-spouse) that they could potentially murder. Underwhelming.
That isn't a spoiler - practically everybody in this book is defined by the fact that they have a spouse (or ex-spouse) that they could potentially murder. Underwhelming.
Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings
1.0
This is just objectively bad, even if you ignore the rampant misogyny, fetishization of gay women and the dash of transphobia. It felt like I was reading a mans ultimate fantasy. It was disgusting and frankly homophobic. I cannot take anymore of this treatment of lesbians and bi women in the media, like they exist to satisfy what men want to see.
That aside, the writing is also plain bad, the plot is mediocre at best (the best scenes being the kill scenes) the perspective is confusing even to the writer and the characters are totally one dimensional (Villanelles only trait is the fact she sleeps with/kills anybody and Eves is that she is having problems in her marriage (though we never see this) and that shes 'plain and not like other girls'). The only literary description Jennings seemed to have tried with, is when he was describing womens breasts.
phoebe waller-bridge would have been a genius for making a decent show out of this, nevermind one of the best shows on TV.
That aside, the writing is also plain bad, the plot is mediocre at best (the best scenes being the kill scenes) the perspective is confusing even to the writer and the characters are totally one dimensional (Villanelles only trait is the fact she sleeps with/kills anybody and Eves is that she is having problems in her marriage (though we never see this) and that shes 'plain and not like other girls'). The only literary description Jennings seemed to have tried with, is when he was describing womens breasts.
phoebe waller-bridge would have been a genius for making a decent show out of this, nevermind one of the best shows on TV.
Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman
4.0
the cutest thing and perfect for quarantine struggles,, (also that mini comic about the teachers?? i-)
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
a book impossible to put down, dark, disturbing and dreamlike.
edit: not rating anymore due to anti-semetism. at the time I looked over this as a 'product of its time' but on reflection that does not make it acceptable. this is a revolutionary book but due to this, it cannot be judged as a whole.
edit: not rating anymore due to anti-semetism. at the time I looked over this as a 'product of its time' but on reflection that does not make it acceptable. this is a revolutionary book but due to this, it cannot be judged as a whole.
What's a Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne
1.0
trash. utter trash. this isn't feminism - this is just disgusting. It's repeatedly ableist, equates gender to genitals, its horribly offensive to a survivor of hinted sexual abuse, shames anyone who dares care about their appearance, Lottie is controlling and manipulative and lastly it reminds us that its ok to be misogynistic if you're hot. There is no actual feminism here - just a bunch of privileged straight, white girls complaining about the colour of razors, and I'm just going to point out two of the quotes that deeply offended me.
"Too thin to menstruate" - this is revolting because many sufferers of eating disorders don't menstruate and its something that can be unbelievably hard on the person mentally, while having lasting impacts on that individual's health. To call this anti-feminist, is just, so so wrong and I had to put the book down because I genuinely thought I was going to throw up.
"thinking I was wrong or messed-up or lonely or mentally ill or bitter or a slut or a prude or a killjoy or a whinge-bag or a bra-burner or a yeller or a lesbian" - please don't equate being messed up or wrong to being gay or mentally ill. Just a touch of homophobia with the classic ableism there, please don't read this.
"Too thin to menstruate" - this is revolting because many sufferers of eating disorders don't menstruate and its something that can be unbelievably hard on the person mentally, while having lasting impacts on that individual's health. To call this anti-feminist, is just, so so wrong and I had to put the book down because I genuinely thought I was going to throw up.
"thinking I was wrong or messed-up or lonely or mentally ill or bitter or a slut or a prude or a killjoy or a whinge-bag or a bra-burner or a yeller or a lesbian" - please don't equate being messed up or wrong to being gay or mentally ill. Just a touch of homophobia with the classic ableism there, please don't read this.