I like your point about unlikable protagonists. They are often a way for us to see why a toxic person might be motivated to be the way that they are. Over time, I find being exposed to characters like this tends to make me more empathetic or insightful towards actual people who have similar traits. For example, I was bullied a lot as a kid and, when younger, I hated bullies a lot more than I do now. Once I learned that most of them were just paying the abuse they endured at home forward, it painted the kids I dealt with in a very different light. It doesn't excuse or justify the behavior of course, but sometimes that ability to bridge the gap and understand people can give you a lot more options in how to deal with them in real life, or understand yourself or people you have dealt with in your past a little better.
I love this take and agree with it wholeheartedly. Fiction teaches empathy, and getting familiar with unlikeable people increases our capacity to understand our fellow humans in a varied and dynamic way.
@@UncleBuck3t For sure. Everyone is the hero of their own story. I was raised in a cult, believe me, it was a wakeup call to realize *I* was the toxic friend, and a huge motivator to get out and get counseling.
I read this book back in April, it's a new all-time favorite for me. I annotated practically entire pages 😂 it's so funny and dark and Irina is one of the best characters ever, even for how unlikable she is. What a great ending too. So glad you loved it too Willow!
Your description of the twist reminded me at once of American Psycho, and particularly the amazing chapter with the ATM and meltdown. Without expecting it to share much else with Ellis :), this has gone onto my list.
I had to stop in the middle of the vid because I have the book on my shelf and don't wanna be spoilt 😂. Thanks for your thoughts, I am super glad I bought this in 2023.
Ahhh I've been waiting for your take on this book because I LOVED Penance, but they don't seem similar at all so I wasn't sure how I would do with it. But sounds like it's a must read!
I'm really excited to read this book and Penance and was worried this would be a mixed/negative review - So glad to see you loved it, gets me more excited (even if when I eventually read it I end up hating it but that's for future me to worry about right now I'm excited and hope to love it)
I had this book in my May TBR but life threw me under a bus so I guess that is going to be June now :) I loved your review! I love how can I always watch your reviews without fear of being spoiled without warning!
sounds really intense great review, thank you, after penance I'll go for it. "they're wrong and that's a fact": you do remind me of mary poppins sometimes! ☂️
I cackled because as soon as I finished this book I thought, "she's just like me, FR" and I even posted it on my bookstagram. Happy to know I'm not the only one who feels that way, lmao.
Catching up with your videos ❤❤❤❤. I read that book and borrowing this phrase from Jack Edwards: "I support women's rights... and also I support women's wrongs..." I really liked the greys and really dark complex areas of the character... It makes you reallize that women can also be unapologetically complex like the main character and even feel judged by society...
Two very different books by two very different authors but after readong this i felt like it could almost work as a precirsor for my year of rest and relaxation. With that said i too saw to much of myself in irina.