Scan barcode
yikesbmg's review
5.0
This is book is truly something. My initial thoughts:
-It is at once the most romantic and most violent book I have ever read. Gay juxtapositions scenes of extremely tender moments from Miri’s past with the most awful, awful moments of her present. The characters talk a lot about how the Haiti they see is very beautiful but broken simultaneously, and the structure of the book helped me understand what they meant. The structure reminded me a lot of “A Little Life” except its inverted — in that book the trauma is past, the beauty is the present. Reading this book helped me understand critics that said “A Little Life” was voyeuristic.
-I have read a lot of accounts of sexual violence and rape, but this book is the first and only thing where I felt like I understood the magnitude of what that violence does to a person. It is devastating, and I think everyone — especially cisgender men — who has not faced such violence should read this book.
-The honesty that defined Michael and Miri’s relationship before her kidnapping actually shocked me. The honesty, how clearly they saw one another, their very plain desire to just be there for one another. I really don’t know if relationships like theirs are possible but jesus christ a bitch will now dream. I loved loved loved love that Miri was not easy, that she was very clearly hard to love and difficult. I love the relationship and duty she feels towards, and is reciprocated by her mother in love.
It is weird to say this is now one of my favorite books because the content is so terribly violent, but it is because it’s truly a literary work. I had physical reactions to this book, had to turn away from the page. I could so clearly picture what was going on and it made me want to vomit and scream at the same time. Roxane Gay is a writer, a really fucking good writer.
-It is at once the most romantic and most violent book I have ever read. Gay juxtapositions scenes of extremely tender moments from Miri’s past with the most awful, awful moments of her present. The characters talk a lot about how the Haiti they see is very beautiful but broken simultaneously, and the structure of the book helped me understand what they meant. The structure reminded me a lot of “A Little Life” except its inverted — in that book the trauma is past, the beauty is the present. Reading this book helped me understand critics that said “A Little Life” was voyeuristic.
-I have read a lot of accounts of sexual violence and rape, but this book is the first and only thing where I felt like I understood the magnitude of what that violence does to a person. It is devastating, and I think everyone — especially cisgender men — who has not faced such violence should read this book.
-The honesty that defined Michael and Miri’s relationship before her kidnapping actually shocked me. The honesty, how clearly they saw one another, their very plain desire to just be there for one another. I really don’t know if relationships like theirs are possible but jesus christ a bitch will now dream. I loved loved loved love that Miri was not easy, that she was very clearly hard to love and difficult. I love the relationship and duty she feels towards, and is reciprocated by her mother in love.
It is weird to say this is now one of my favorite books because the content is so terribly violent, but it is because it’s truly a literary work. I had physical reactions to this book, had to turn away from the page. I could so clearly picture what was going on and it made me want to vomit and scream at the same time. Roxane Gay is a writer, a really fucking good writer.
duygusu's review
4.0
I understand both the positive and negative reviews. I just want to say, if you are triggered by abuse, violence, rape etc, then DO NOT read this book.
But if you want to know and understand the psychological affect of these, or how a victim can act the way they do afterwards, then this is a gem.
But if you want to know and understand the psychological affect of these, or how a victim can act the way they do afterwards, then this is a gem.
alice_speilburg's review
5.0
Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I loved the contrast between the memories of her love story and the brutal reality of her kidnapping. That was a brilliant technique to put the reader in her frame of mind. But I didn't lose it emotionally until the second half. You'll have to read to find out why.
jessnellreyn's review
5.0
This book will wreck you, haunt you and make you think... be prepared for a marathon read. You won't be able to put it down.
11corvus11's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book.
It gets 5 stars for writing style, debut, and for accurately portraying PTSD. It definitely held my attention and made me read it through the end.
What makes me give it three stars is that I honestly found all of the characters incredibly unlikable and unrelatable. I was supposed to be empathizing with the main character and I could not, despite things we have in common. I also found it to be trauma after trauma and I wasn't sure what the point of it was. It didn't feel liberating at all throughout the book, and I found it on a feminist book list. I found that the main character's class privilege was (perhaps accurately) reflected in her behavior which made it really hard to relate to her and want to read about her, even though what happens to her is so devastating and she is indeed strong.
I don't know, I'd read something else by this author for sure because the writing was excellent. I just didn't like this book and wouldn't recommend it.
It gets 5 stars for writing style, debut, and for accurately portraying PTSD. It definitely held my attention and made me read it through the end.
What makes me give it three stars is that I honestly found all of the characters incredibly unlikable and unrelatable. I was supposed to be empathizing with the main character and I could not, despite things we have in common. I also found it to be trauma after trauma and I wasn't sure what the point of it was. It didn't feel liberating at all throughout the book, and I found it on a feminist book list. I found that the main character's class privilege was (perhaps accurately) reflected in her behavior which made it really hard to relate to her and want to read about her, even though what happens to her is so devastating and she is indeed strong.
I don't know, I'd read something else by this author for sure because the writing was excellent. I just didn't like this book and wouldn't recommend it.
_sena_frost's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.0
nerdherd503's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Brilliant, but heart wrenching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence