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deathmetalheron's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ziggymusic's review against another edition
4.0
Holy abrupt ending, Batman! Though blame it on the edition, not the story. The ARC edition (thanks Baker & Taylor) is 200 pages, so I assumed that was all 'The Beauty'. Then I turn to p. 104 expecting the next chapter and I see the Acknowledgements instead. Well then. The rest of the ARC is another short story, 'Home'.
It's a solid 3.5 for me but I rounded up to 4 (rather than down to 3) because I always favor books that get weird. It gets weird. I could smartass-hashtag the hell out of this book but I don't want to spoil any plot developments. Anyway, more seriously, this is definitely a book that would've made for some great discussions about gender roles, agency, humanity, & legacy in my college English classes. While it's a strong short story, I wish this had been novel-length. The story is rife for a more thorough telling.
If this ever does get adapted into a movie, Guillermo del Toro has to direct.
It's a solid 3.5 for me but I rounded up to 4 (rather than down to 3) because I always favor books that get weird. It gets weird. I could smartass-hashtag the hell out of this book but I don't want to spoil any plot developments. Anyway, more seriously, this is definitely a book that would've made for some great discussions about gender roles, agency, humanity, & legacy in my college English classes. While it's a strong short story, I wish this had been novel-length. The story is rife for a more thorough telling.
If this ever does get adapted into a movie, Guillermo del Toro has to direct.
grimdreadful's review against another edition
3.0
This book actually has two stories by Aliya which I did not realize until I was reading The Beauty and it abruptly ended. I have yet to read the 2nd story so I will update my review later as I will review each individually.
The Beauty: I loved the concept. Super weird horror novella that explores gender roles and norms. However, this ended really abruptly in my opinion, I wish there was more to it.
-read this is you enjoy: novellas, sporror, post apocalyptic society, dystopian, body horror.
Peace, Pipe: review to come.
The Beauty: I loved the concept. Super weird horror novella that explores gender roles and norms. However, this ended really abruptly in my opinion, I wish there was more to it.
-read this is you enjoy: novellas, sporror, post apocalyptic society, dystopian, body horror.
Peace, Pipe: review to come.
redredrum13's review against another edition
2.0
Incredibly unsure how I feel about this book. It starts out really interesting and have a creative narrative style. It seems very much like you’re hearing a story being recounted directly from the main character as he retells it. Considering he is the story teller of their group it makes sense. As you get further and further into the story though the style gets annoying. You don’t get any real straight answers from anyone.
Overall it felt like there was supposed to be some sort of grand idea overarching the plot. I spent have my time reading feeling as though I was missing something. Having read other reviews that were glowing I felt as though there was something to “get” when it came to the feminization of the male characters but they only thing I actually got was that it sucks to be treated how many women are treated in society by men as objects for their desires. I didn’t need to read a novel where these situations happen to men to understand that they suck, living as a female for 23 years has done that for me.
The last 25 pages were a struggle to get through for me as the main narrator’s mental state starts to deteriorate and the novel goes with it.
Overall it felt like there was supposed to be some sort of grand idea overarching the plot. I spent have my time reading feeling as though I was missing something. Having read other reviews that were glowing I felt as though there was something to “get” when it came to the feminization of the male characters but they only thing I actually got was that it sucks to be treated how many women are treated in society by men as objects for their desires. I didn’t need to read a novel where these situations happen to men to understand that they suck, living as a female for 23 years has done that for me.
The last 25 pages were a struggle to get through for me as the main narrator’s mental state starts to deteriorate and the novel goes with it.
cassiecollins's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Don't get me wrong, I love me some weird shit. These stories, however, weren't really my flavor of weird. I also could not, for the life of me, figure out the theses of either short story. They both definitely had something to say, it was just going straight over my head. I will admit, I was sick when I read this, so that may be why I wasn't getting it.
spaghetti_noodle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
There were some parts of the book that some people were really disgusted and horrified by that I didn't really have a strong emotional reaction to it. For example, I didn't really feel disgusted by the characters having sex with sentient mushrooms shaped like women (I've read weirder fics on AO3) . I also didn't really care about the mpreg or changing of biological characteristics or social roles (I'm transgender) .
This book is very centered around gender, and some people have called it "feminist," but I'm not sure if that's an accurate labelling. To be honest, I have no clue what kind of message this book is trying to say about men, women, and gender.
I feel like this book would create the strongest feelings of horror and disgust by people who are homophobic and transphobic, since a lot of this book involves portraying gender and sexuality in weird and strange ways that homophobes and transphobes would find horrifying. To be clear - I'm not saying that everyone who read and felt horrified by this book is anti-queer. However, I can't help but wonder if this book was written for an anti-queer audience as a way of challenging them and turning the "sacred" into the "degenerate" and "alien".
Some reviewers accuse the author of being a TERF or bioessentialist. White I understand where they're coming from, I don't feel like there's enough evidence to prove that the author is transphobic or homophobic. Even if she is writing for an anti-queer audience in mind, as I've theorized, I don't think she is anti-queer herself.
I might be wrong though. I don't fully understand the book, and I'm just kind of throwing ideas out lol. One day I will reread this and give it a deeper analysis. Reading other reviews and how people interpret the story is interesting.
This book is very centered around gender, and some people have called it "feminist," but I'm not sure if that's an accurate labelling. To be honest, I have no clue what kind of message this book is trying to say about men, women, and gender.
I feel like this book would create the strongest feelings of horror and disgust by people who are homophobic and transphobic, since a lot of this book involves portraying gender and sexuality in weird and strange ways that homophobes and transphobes would find horrifying. To be clear - I'm not saying that everyone who read and felt horrified by this book is anti-queer. However, I can't help but wonder if this book was written for an anti-queer audience as a way of challenging them and turning the "sacred" into the "degenerate" and "alien".
Some reviewers accuse the author of being a TERF or bioessentialist. White I understand where they're coming from, I don't feel like there's enough evidence to prove that the author is transphobic or homophobic. Even if she is writing for an anti-queer audience in mind, as I've theorized, I don't think she is anti-queer herself.
I might be wrong though. I don't fully understand the book, and I'm just kind of throwing ideas out lol. One day I will reread this and give it a deeper analysis. Reading other reviews and how people interpret the story is interesting.
britttobegorey94's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brennandube's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
savshelfinger's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
These two stories are quite different.
I really enjoyed The Beauty and the way it plays with gender roles. I think the story could have been fuller but it’s still a fun body horror.
Peace, Pipe was less of a winner for me; feels reminiscent of a PKD story but more slice-of-life. I prefer a more built-out story. Plus the narrator is entirely unsympathetic to me.
I really enjoyed The Beauty and the way it plays with gender roles. I think the story could have been fuller but it’s still a fun body horror.
Peace, Pipe was less of a winner for me; feels reminiscent of a PKD story but more slice-of-life. I prefer a more built-out story. Plus the narrator is entirely unsympathetic to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pregnancy, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Vomit
elisascrive's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A very metaphorical read. I don’t know if the metaphor needed more pages than these, but what I do know is that it didn’t get to me completely. I felt I needed more “Beauty”, more of their POV, and less about describing se*sul acts. They really were anti-climatic.
The prose is beautiful, and the themes are interesting, it’s just I’m not sure this book explored them at the best of its potential.
The prose is beautiful, and the themes are interesting, it’s just I’m not sure this book explored them at the best of its potential.