Reviews

Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman

Only show reviews with written explanations

kookyashe's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In two minds about this. The writing was beautiful. I found the dialogue of Eve’s internal division about queerness, feminism, societally entrenched sexual expectations of women, particularly the implications of enjoying the latter, very skilful. The parts about vanity and the fleeting currency female bodies were also insightful, and low key an attack. Eve's oscillation on her relationship with Nathan I felt was dissected so well for the first 2/3 and then when it was politicised in the context of the lawsuit kind of had no conclusion?

On the other hand, if Nathan is supposed to be an embodiment of the patriarchy, the tropes were certainly laid on very thick (doesn’t need a safe word because he can ~intuit~ what women want, makes a queer woman cum immediately on penetration, ok mate). I also found Olivia’s character kind of two dimensional as a foil to Eve, and felt like that set up a false dichotomy between sexual repression and freedom that was kind of reductive.

This whole book was kind of edging, in the sense that it nearly said something interesting, and then didn’t.

calandra_hudson's review

Go to review page

reflective slow-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? No

2.75

gaylandtoo's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective tense medium-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

yall i have no clue what the thesis of this book is. i enjoyed my time, but what was the point? i can't figure it out.

bloodmoonlips's review

Go to review page

challenging reflective tense slow-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

3.5

tasig's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective tense fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book is…. Inflammatory. It feels like the author is intentionally pushing buttons (at times pretty problematic, just like the leading man) To me it felt suspenseful and then anticlimactic. But was entertaining/thought provoking?

Content Warnings

josierushinxo's review

Go to review page

3.0

Fiction. The text reminded me a lot of other texts which use a sexual dynamic like this (A Touch of Jen, Exciting Times) but does it in a clever way in which we never seem to fully understand the dynamic. The other texts described used lack of communication or problematic characters to establish this unusual dynamic, but this text allows the reader to explore their communication and personalities. As the text progressed, I felt that I had an idea of where the plot was heading but felt clueless on what the climax of the text would be. It felt unsure at times about the attitude towards the recurring battle for the protagonist about her sexuality. The ending fell flat for me - there was no climax I expected, no explosion. I usually enjoy books where not a lot happens, but this requires some character development to drive the plot, and I felt that only dynamics strengthened - the characters barely changed. Maybe that is part of the circularity of the text, but I didn’t find it as impactful as I wanted it to be or what it could have achieved. I still think highly of the author’s writing style though, and would like to try another text by the author before I conclude my thoughts on her writing.

csteffes's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This is unlike most novels I’ve read, in the way that Fishman unabashedly tackles taboo topics (sexuality, power dynamics, the complicated nature of queerness, subordination, desire…etc) and is completely unafraid to say something that might not necessarily be popular or, let’s say, feminist. The shame we associate with desire, the greediness society attaches to it, can lead us to seek or find it in places that can hurt us, wound us, and here we find ourselves in Nathan’s dimly lit uptown apartment where it all begins to unfold…

Eve’s decisions are frustrating and mind boggling, but man are they honest and real and the things we do and never tell people about. Relational manipulation (sometimes abuse) when mixed with intense sexuality and desire is such a difficult thing to parse out, and Fishman fires the first shot.

Many people hate this book but I fucking loved it. Give me more. Eve’s inner monologue will stick with me. Thank you for this act of service.