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rkkmistry's review against another edition
5.0
Ok I mean obviously you have to take my review with a grain of salt because there’s no way I wouldn’t give this book 5 stars because it’s just everything that I love about books. And I’m not even saying that because of the poetry world connections, it’s just like non-linear, memoir-esque stuff with no plot and a few interesting formal devices with always get my full approval. BUT really I’m here to talk about how I think this is THE NEW YORK NOVEL for me. Like it just NAILS being like a young sort of creative person in nyc in this way that’s so so so good and relatable and inspiring but really it’s just like, yes—that is IT!! Just like the sort of sprawling sense of purpose and time matched with the intensity of work and financial fear and the venues that are always closing and the beers and the trying to do work work always and the “cool” people and social drama and trips outside the city and the random stuff at people’s apartments. And it’s interesting especially because there’s a point where they clearly like have become more famous (given what they’re doing and who they’re hanging with) but it’s also never like there’s some point where they “make it” either. It’s just like life keeps happening and going on and there’s all this stuff. Also of course super interesting to hear about gay and lesbian culture in this moment that is not that long ago and very much informs where we’re at, but is also different in many ways.
inesparis's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
fridgebuzznow's review against another edition
4.0
This book blurs all sorts of lines. I have no idea which parts are fiction or memoir, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is what Myles is trying to get out: That she left Boston for New York to become a poet in the 1970s, and what poetry means to her. The most important thing. There are many accounts of being “collected” by the rich, becoming a pet to those who don’t (and could not) understand what drives her. The words blur between prose and poetry, between autobiography and dream, all exploring the nature of creating art, and what it means to be a poet.
sierralmgray's review
4.0
more like 3.75 stars; storyline was confusing majority of the time but i really enjoyed Myle’s thoughts and opinions on sex and living throughout your 20s and 30s in the 1960-70s, quite interesting!
Also we love a heavy Boston accent in the audiobook by none other than Eileen herself
Also we love a heavy Boston accent in the audiobook by none other than Eileen herself
alexsadnraa's review against another edition
3.0
Started off really good. Read the first half in a day. But the middle got slow and I was thinking of ditching the book. Got into it again when the lesbian sex was going.
jen395's review against another edition
2.0
DNF: I read just over half of this novel before giving up. I can’t say that it is objectively bad in any sense, the writing style is good and there are many interesting thoughts. I never thought i’d like a novel like this and my experiment showed that was true. Poetry is the one style that goes over my head, and the disorganization, pretentiousness, and lack of direction this novel had did not appeal to me. A lot of events, people, and thoughts are mentioned but none in-depth enough to become enthralled in the story, I felt a great disconnect to the author and how she was feeling. I feel strange not finishing a book as though i’m missing the part that makes me fall in love with it, but I have decided the style and authors voice/personality just aren’t for me.
tuc03229's review against another edition
4.0
This was really really good... the style/content (except for the queerness) reminded me a lot of patti smith, but without the sheen of nostalgia that seemed to cover smith's work. Basically, it's like patti smith but less pretty, more real, and I liked that a lot.
keight's review against another edition
4.0
It’s hard to determine exactly what I liked about this book, but part of it is certainly the very idea that defies easy categorization. Read more on the booklog