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jessica_patient's review against another edition
The Paper Wasp is an intense thriller and you might need to get your shoulders massaged after reading this one! Lauren Acampora tells the story of a dark friendship of two women. Twisted, ambition and jealously drive Abby to the brink. Set in the backdrop of Hollywood, obsession for perfection drives lots of people but in Abby she's prepared at no cost to twist her friendship with her childhood friend, and now a rising star, Elise.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing me with Lauren Acampora’s novel, The Paper Wasp, in exchange for an honest review.
Abby and Elise were childhood best friends raised in a small town in Michigan. They began to grow apart when as a teenager, Elise became involved in acting and her career took off.
Flash-Forward to their late 20’s: Elise is an actress living in Hollywood, while Abby is stuck in their small town, a college dropout. She is working retail and dreaming of a career in the film industry. Abby obsesses over Elise, saving every magazine article that features her former friend. The two women reconnect, when they both attend their high school reunion. Following the reunion, Abby decides to run off to Hollywood, showing up on Elise’s doorstep. Elise, takes Abby in for an extended stay, treating Abby to a taste of her lavish lifestyle. Soon, the boundaries of their relationship are blurred, when Abby accepts a job being Elise’s personal assistant. The situation is further strained by Abby’s growing ambition, a ticking time-bomb that is ready to explode.
I absolutely loved The Paper Wasp. Acampora is a masterful writer, combing gorgeous prose with complex characters. I could not put The Paper Wasp down and plowed through it in a single afternoon.
I’m a Los Angeles native and I found the way that Acampora captured the city to be perfect. There is a wonderful moment where Elise drives Abby through Hollywood for the first time, noting its lackluster, dingy atmosphere, which is a strong contrast both Abby’s perceived image of Hollywood and to Elise’s glamorous lifestyle. Elise takes meditation classes at an exclusive institute and although I’m not sure of a real-life counterpart, it is certainly something that exists in Los Angeles. It has strange, ethereal quality, but is also is a bit of a cult. I could easily imagine the type of fellow Angeleno’s, not only celebrities, who would have a membership to this type of club. One of the more memorable aspects of the institution, is their crazy costume parties, where members come dressed as images from their dreams. It’s strange and magical, with a hint of a nightmarish quality; akin to a scene from Alice in Wonderland.
There is another contrast, when Abby travels back to Michigan to see her sister. Her sister is a drug addict, who has recently had a baby daughter. Abby visits her sister and niece, seeing that they live in a filthy trailer barely able to make ends meet. Abby’s heart tells her to kidnap her niece and save her from the poverty and neglect, but she can’t act on it.
Abby’s obsession with Elise creates a tension throughout the story. In the start, she appears to be a bit of a stalker, but then as we see the dynamic between the two women, it is clearer that Abby is more concerned with the lack of direction that her life has taken. She is envious of Elise, who doesn’t seem to deserve her lucky breaks. Rather than wishing to be Elise, Abby thinks that she is more deserving or at least, if she were to have a good opportunity, she would know how to make the most of it. We learn that Abby has been carrying around a terrible secret that is making her more motivate to take risks in life. Abby becomes emboldened throughout the story, making her actions increasing erratic, creating a sense of danger.
When Abby is confronted with the real Elise, not the Elise from the magazine articles, she realizes that her friend lacks self-confidence. Elise lives a messy life. This sets up a social commentary on how we view celebrity, or even ordinary people, via carefully curated social media accounts. Abby couldn’t imagine the real Elise, because she was so caught-up in the fake, media version. Not only that, Abby spent a decade so hyper-focused on this fake Elise, that when she was confronted with the truth, her world cracked open.
The Paper Wasp is my current favorite read of 2019. I was hooked from the first page and cannot wait to read Acampora’s collection of short stories, The Wonder Garden. She is such a talented writer.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
Abby and Elise were childhood best friends raised in a small town in Michigan. They began to grow apart when as a teenager, Elise became involved in acting and her career took off.
Flash-Forward to their late 20’s: Elise is an actress living in Hollywood, while Abby is stuck in their small town, a college dropout. She is working retail and dreaming of a career in the film industry. Abby obsesses over Elise, saving every magazine article that features her former friend. The two women reconnect, when they both attend their high school reunion. Following the reunion, Abby decides to run off to Hollywood, showing up on Elise’s doorstep. Elise, takes Abby in for an extended stay, treating Abby to a taste of her lavish lifestyle. Soon, the boundaries of their relationship are blurred, when Abby accepts a job being Elise’s personal assistant. The situation is further strained by Abby’s growing ambition, a ticking time-bomb that is ready to explode.
I absolutely loved The Paper Wasp. Acampora is a masterful writer, combing gorgeous prose with complex characters. I could not put The Paper Wasp down and plowed through it in a single afternoon.
I’m a Los Angeles native and I found the way that Acampora captured the city to be perfect. There is a wonderful moment where Elise drives Abby through Hollywood for the first time, noting its lackluster, dingy atmosphere, which is a strong contrast both Abby’s perceived image of Hollywood and to Elise’s glamorous lifestyle. Elise takes meditation classes at an exclusive institute and although I’m not sure of a real-life counterpart, it is certainly something that exists in Los Angeles. It has strange, ethereal quality, but is also is a bit of a cult. I could easily imagine the type of fellow Angeleno’s, not only celebrities, who would have a membership to this type of club. One of the more memorable aspects of the institution, is their crazy costume parties, where members come dressed as images from their dreams. It’s strange and magical, with a hint of a nightmarish quality; akin to a scene from Alice in Wonderland.
There is another contrast, when Abby travels back to Michigan to see her sister. Her sister is a drug addict, who has recently had a baby daughter. Abby visits her sister and niece, seeing that they live in a filthy trailer barely able to make ends meet. Abby’s heart tells her to kidnap her niece and save her from the poverty and neglect, but she can’t act on it.
Abby’s obsession with Elise creates a tension throughout the story. In the start, she appears to be a bit of a stalker, but then as we see the dynamic between the two women, it is clearer that Abby is more concerned with the lack of direction that her life has taken. She is envious of Elise, who doesn’t seem to deserve her lucky breaks. Rather than wishing to be Elise, Abby thinks that she is more deserving or at least, if she were to have a good opportunity, she would know how to make the most of it. We learn that Abby has been carrying around a terrible secret that is making her more motivate to take risks in life. Abby becomes emboldened throughout the story, making her actions increasing erratic, creating a sense of danger.
When Abby is confronted with the real Elise, not the Elise from the magazine articles, she realizes that her friend lacks self-confidence. Elise lives a messy life. This sets up a social commentary on how we view celebrity, or even ordinary people, via carefully curated social media accounts. Abby couldn’t imagine the real Elise, because she was so caught-up in the fake, media version. Not only that, Abby spent a decade so hyper-focused on this fake Elise, that when she was confronted with the truth, her world cracked open.
The Paper Wasp is my current favorite read of 2019. I was hooked from the first page and cannot wait to read Acampora’s collection of short stories, The Wonder Garden. She is such a talented writer.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
annikadm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
wow. did not think I’d love this book as much as I did. her writing and storytelling is absolutely fabulous. literally finished the entire book in a day
emilybryk's review against another edition
3.0
I would have god damn loved [a:Ottessa Moshfegh|3276202|Ottessa Moshfegh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1568839250p2/3276202.jpg]'s version of this book.
I also *liked* this version.
I also *liked* this version.
kittietta's review against another edition
3.0
Paper Wasp is a disturbing psychological thriller that explores the fine line between loyalty and obsession.
It's very sad and dark and I got lost at times between the dreams of Abby and her delusions. The book works best if you don't question the book and just "dive in".
The writing style is a bit different than anything I've read and the author does know how to weave a story together.
The book does go at a slow pace, and isn't for everyone. Those who like an intellectual challenge and dark sad stories with an "unlikable" main character should try this interesting book 3 stars.
It's very sad and dark and I got lost at times between the dreams of Abby and her delusions. The book works best if you don't question the book and just "dive in".
The writing style is a bit different than anything I've read and the author does know how to weave a story together.
The book does go at a slow pace, and isn't for everyone. Those who like an intellectual challenge and dark sad stories with an "unlikable" main character should try this interesting book 3 stars.
jackie90's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
5.0
The story about two childhood friends separated by time, space and success.
Abby, lives at home with her parents in a small town in Michigan. All her talent, all her potential, wasted.
Elise, now a movie star lives in LA.
These two friends reunite when on a whim, and after a perfunctory invitation, Abby shows up in LA calling Elise from the airport.
Their's is a toxic friendship fueled by manipulation. This book was dark, twisted and beautifully written.
It flowed like a beautiful terrifying stream, slow paced but such a good read.
I'm not sure if Abby was a genius or delusional. She loved Elise, but in such a condescending way. Abby did not find Elise talented, but found her empty almost vapid.
"You lacked the sophistication to understand it as an incident within the context of a deeper, more complex story"
She balked when Elise called herself an artist, shocked that she could be so misguided, Abby and only Abby was the artist.
Highly recommend
Abby, lives at home with her parents in a small town in Michigan. All her talent, all her potential, wasted.
Elise, now a movie star lives in LA.
These two friends reunite when on a whim, and after a perfunctory invitation, Abby shows up in LA calling Elise from the airport.
Their's is a toxic friendship fueled by manipulation. This book was dark, twisted and beautifully written.
It flowed like a beautiful terrifying stream, slow paced but such a good read.
I'm not sure if Abby was a genius or delusional. She loved Elise, but in such a condescending way. Abby did not find Elise talented, but found her empty almost vapid.
"You lacked the sophistication to understand it as an incident within the context of a deeper, more complex story"
She balked when Elise called herself an artist, shocked that she could be so misguided, Abby and only Abby was the artist.
Highly recommend
starryeved's review against another edition
2.0
Ultimately, we're all part of the same vast organism, drifting and bubbling through history, this eternal Spring. We're the same being, only temporarily fragmented into bodies. Throughout our lifetimes, we busily observe each other, bewitched by our varied incarnations.
A striking (and aptly named) character study, compelling and phantasmagoric in its exploration of the human psyche. Paired with Lauren Acampora's gorgeous writing, the story is fine-tuned to what the "descent into madness" looks like in the modern day, in the backdrop of Hollywood glamor.
Reading this was like sinking through an ocean of hallucinations, each gradually growing more distorted and psychedelic and intricately unreliable. While I was fairly disconnected from the story, I cannot discount the quality of the writing. It was a great story, truly immersive, and a definite yes for fans of character studies, but it was not for me. I probably missed the point of it, after all.
ARC received from Grove Press on NetGalley.