sphinx reviewed on 11/16/2013 + 97 more book reviews

I was extremely disappointed by this second attempt by the author of the beautiful "Blankets". It was evident in Blankets that Thompson is burdened with a dichotomised view of women due to his strict religious upbringing (the virgin/whore or angel/bitch complex), and though he is a sensitive, kind person and prefers the "angel" view (with men, naturally, playing the part of devils), this simplistic mindset totally ruined his second book. He was completely unable to get into the mind of his female protagonist, and instead she comes across as an empty, idealised martyr figure. She is repeatedly brutally raped in the story (and this is depicted with a disturbing level of eroticism (probably an unconscious decision on his part) instead of the ugly reality that it is), and yet we are never privy to how this changes her as a person. I couldn't tell you much of anything about this character because she is a shell with no substance. He has potential, but Thompson needs to do some therapy to get over his religious hang-ups and start making a real effort to see women as human, like himself, before he'll be able to write a convincing female character. The artwork is stunningly beautiful, which is the book's redeeming quality.

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