lit_stacks's Reviews (579)

While an interesting concept, following two formerly kidnapped girls, the execution of the end was not done well. The book explores the psychology of these two girls, now women, but in the end, you are never sure of their actual psychological state. While perhaps interesting to some, I do not find books premised on such shaky ground to be interesting.

A series of essays on feminist topics, the book as a whole mainly focuses on how different ways that women are treated lead to domestic violence, rape culture, and sexual entitlement. There was only one essay that I found dull, the art history piece, but it was easily skippable. Overall, the main theme that women are being deprived of their right to define themselves was a unique take on feminism today.

I don't know if I can even count that I read this book considering I just skimmed it. It wasn't for me. At all. I'm also not sure who exactly this book is for. Within the first few pages he had already punched his wife in the face and attempted to murder his daughter. I am curious (read very concerned) about the type of people who read that and think 'Awesome! Let's keep reading!' I then skimmed the rest of the book which was full of truncated, jolting prose that outlines the life of a sex-crazed, cheating drunk. Not to mention the absolutely horrid way that women are portrayed as stupid, emotional punching bags. Just a horrible, horrible book.

Jon Ronson sets out on a journey to figure out how mental illness, most specifically psychopathy interacts with the modern world. What follows is an interesting journey through reality tv (where producers identify the right kind of madness), the insanity ward of a prison, and the mansion of a prominent CEO, all havens of alleged psychopaths. In the end, Ronson decides that diagnosis is not so easy, wondering whether someone should be judged by their sanity or their psychopathy.

The writing in this book is not the greatest, there were times that I thought I could do better (which isn't saying much). I also didn't really get invested in the characters, caring little for how their lives turned out (or ended for that matter). But there was enough suspense and it was an easy enough read that it was a quick and enjoyable book.