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brattyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mulders's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-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
2.75
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
5.0
It's a question that has preyed on a lot of people's minds over the years - why do women fall for, and stay with, the worst possible men? What author Laura Elizabeth Woollett has done is imagine her author's pen into the minds and lives of some of these women in her series of short stories - THE LOVE OF A BAD MAN. Which ends up presenting the reader with an interesting series of fictional looks inside real women's minds that feel very real.
The range of women is historically and geographically varied, and the style of storytelling beguiling enough to have reader's guessing some identities to start. For something with such a dark subject at heart, it's an interesting style, almost light at points. Which makes the idea that you're inside the minds of women like Eva Braun, a disciple of Charles Manson, Myra Hindley and Marceline Jones (wife of Jim Jones of Jonestown massacre infamy), for example, particularly chilling.
Chilling is the word for this entire collection. It's not a heavy-handed message, it's more subtle than that. It's in the way that this author has rendered these women so real, so believable, sympathetic and even likeable in some cases, despite the dreadful things they condone or participate in. All in the name of love.
There are twelve stories in total in THE LOVE OF A BAD MAN, and whilst each one can be read reasonably quickly, you will undoubtedly find yourself going back to re-read. Which is well worth the effort as each re-read reveals different layers and even more questions than you might have started out with.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-love-bad-man-laura-elizabeth-woollett
The range of women is historically and geographically varied, and the style of storytelling beguiling enough to have reader's guessing some identities to start. For something with such a dark subject at heart, it's an interesting style, almost light at points. Which makes the idea that you're inside the minds of women like Eva Braun, a disciple of Charles Manson, Myra Hindley and Marceline Jones (wife of Jim Jones of Jonestown massacre infamy), for example, particularly chilling.
Chilling is the word for this entire collection. It's not a heavy-handed message, it's more subtle than that. It's in the way that this author has rendered these women so real, so believable, sympathetic and even likeable in some cases, despite the dreadful things they condone or participate in. All in the name of love.
There are twelve stories in total in THE LOVE OF A BAD MAN, and whilst each one can be read reasonably quickly, you will undoubtedly find yourself going back to re-read. Which is well worth the effort as each re-read reveals different layers and even more questions than you might have started out with.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-love-bad-man-laura-elizabeth-woollett
lilly71490's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
freyaeiou's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this, every story had a different voice and I had to stop and research different women during reading it because I am weird. Loved it.
tochmarcetaine's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Murder
haywirep's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
elnechnntt's review against another edition
4.0
“The night is big and dirty and my legs too short to carry me far, but it’s the least I can do to make him chase after me.” - The Love of a Bad Man
We have an inherent interest in women who do bad things in our society. It seems horrific - that women could be a part of terrible crimes against other women, younger women and children. But our collective history is riddled with such stories and the media latches onto their details tightly, and we as an audience listen intently, looking for meaning and reason in their actions.
I saw Woollett speak as part of Perth Writers Festival earlier this year and her collection immediately grabbed my attention (probably the same part of my attention that insisted I study criminology at university). One of the things I love about this collection is that all the characters are based on real people. Real crimes, real actions. What Woollett does with great success is delve deeply into empathy for the characters - she offers her own fictional meaning and reason behind their actions - and she delivers. Her characters get under your skin (I found myself googling for more details of their lives and crimes) but in her telling she offers a piece of humanness to them that is entirely relatable.
All linked with male counterparts, she explores how the idea of love, the dark side of love, compelled them to do the bidding of those her female protagonists find themselves attached to. The interesting thing is she does this without offering excuse or justification for their actions. She highlights clearly the fact that the characters knew what they doing, knew what their lovers were doing, and still played their role. Woollett depicts the voices of these women with care, they are well thought out and she does well to ensure their individualism is also brought out. Her characters scan the globe, time and notoriety, and she does an excellent job of ensuring this is captured in each of her stories.
The Love of a Bad Man offers a compelling and engrossing collection of fascinating and flawed women. Woollett is a refreshing author and I’m already looking forward to her next piece of work.
We have an inherent interest in women who do bad things in our society. It seems horrific - that women could be a part of terrible crimes against other women, younger women and children. But our collective history is riddled with such stories and the media latches onto their details tightly, and we as an audience listen intently, looking for meaning and reason in their actions.
I saw Woollett speak as part of Perth Writers Festival earlier this year and her collection immediately grabbed my attention (probably the same part of my attention that insisted I study criminology at university). One of the things I love about this collection is that all the characters are based on real people. Real crimes, real actions. What Woollett does with great success is delve deeply into empathy for the characters - she offers her own fictional meaning and reason behind their actions - and she delivers. Her characters get under your skin (I found myself googling for more details of their lives and crimes) but in her telling she offers a piece of humanness to them that is entirely relatable.
All linked with male counterparts, she explores how the idea of love, the dark side of love, compelled them to do the bidding of those her female protagonists find themselves attached to. The interesting thing is she does this without offering excuse or justification for their actions. She highlights clearly the fact that the characters knew what they doing, knew what their lovers were doing, and still played their role. Woollett depicts the voices of these women with care, they are well thought out and she does well to ensure their individualism is also brought out. Her characters scan the globe, time and notoriety, and she does an excellent job of ensuring this is captured in each of her stories.
The Love of a Bad Man offers a compelling and engrossing collection of fascinating and flawed women. Woollett is a refreshing author and I’m already looking forward to her next piece of work.
daisygunner's review against another edition
3.0
Whilst I did enjoy the concept, fictional stories about real people just didn't do it for me here. I most enjoyed the little factual snippets at the end which gave some real information about the women. I think I'd have just preferred some small biographies or something instead of these imaginings which don't really educate me on these women's lives.