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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
Wow. I have not read anything like this book in a very long time. The closest thing I can think of is The Unbearable Lightness of Being, but I read that five years ago, so it is hard to say. In Sheila Heti's Afterword, she writes that "the obstacle in this book is that we may be unfit for love, plain and simple: because we haven't lived in such a way that we have let ourselves be fit for it; we haven't even lived in such a way that we have made ourselves fit for life." This is a beautiful and perfect way to summarize this book. When I started reading An Apprecinticeshhip, I did not like the dynamic between Ulisses and Lori because I felt that he was controlling her-- what made him the judge of whether or not she was ready to receive love? Why is he calling all of the shots? At first glance, this novel is steeped in misogyny, but as I reflect on my reading experience, I realize it is really a novel about self-discovery and learning how to live. At times, the novel expresses very dated, gender-essentialist views on the relationships between men and women; once one is able to get past it, the novel unfolds as a story of the desire to better oneself in order to be capable of loving and being loved. Despite this, I think it is incorrect to market this book as a romance. Although the driving force of the plot is Lori's desire to be with Ulisses, her "guide" (which, yes, lol), I really did not find the relationship itself to be romantic. Instead, I found Lori's desire to better herself to be beautiful. Maybe I am too much of a romantic cynic and, therefore, am unable to fully let go of my reservations and appreciate Lori and Ulesses' unconventional romance. The writing was so intricate and beautiful and complicated-- Lispector could give a Modernist writer a run for their money. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read that has left me with more questions about the way I live my life and how I love than answers.
It is beautiful. A story about the struggle of becoming a person capable of loving and being loved. The cold Ulisses, who intellectualizes everything, prods Lori into defining herself; their romance is of this dynamic. A dynamic that is ultimately reclarified. Their meetings are the high points of the book for me.
I typically enjoy moments of solitary thinking in novels—and here I loved the section on Lori’s agony over going to a party alone, which is so acute that she overdoes her makeup and leads to a wonderful dialogue on masks—however, some of her internal moments (which take up a large chunk of the novel) are inundated with a philosophy-speak that alienates me from Lori’s emotional struggle. At these times, I could sit back and admire the craft and beauty of the prose, but it didn’t get an emotional response out of me. Perhaps, I am prejudiced just against such philosophy-speak, I will have to see how I feel when I read this again.
I typically enjoy moments of solitary thinking in novels—and here I loved the section on Lori’s agony over going to a party alone, which is so acute that she overdoes her makeup and leads to a wonderful dialogue on masks—however, some of her internal moments (which take up a large chunk of the novel) are inundated with a philosophy-speak that alienates me from Lori’s emotional struggle. At these times, I could sit back and admire the craft and beauty of the prose, but it didn’t get an emotional response out of me. Perhaps, I am prejudiced just against such philosophy-speak, I will have to see how I feel when I read this again.
inspiring
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
wow such an imaginative and beautifully written book… i found myself really locked in with every sentence since they all were meaningful ! i haven’t read many stream of consciousness style books, so i really ate this one up. this is a book i definitely will read again 😋
enjoyed this book so much and lispector's insane writing style. love as giving your solitude to another i mean come on!
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an absolutely beautiful, strange book. I’ve never read anything quite like it. The prose is complicated, lovely, and rich in meaning. It’s specificity somehow simultaneously reveals the universality of the struggle to love and to live. I imagine I could read this book every day and find something new in each sentence.