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allythegingy's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
literarycrushes's review against another edition
4.0
Vacuum in the Dark by Jen Beagin will make you and laugh, often within the same sentence. The story focuses on Mona, a 26-year-old feeling adrift in life (this is basically its own literally genre by now), working as a cleaning woman in Taos, New Mexico. Jen Beagin reads to me as a sort of edgier (if not edgier, definitely darker) Sally Rooney or even a less isolated Ottessa Moshfegh character. Like Moshfegh’s work, this book fell somewhere between literally fiction and something more poppy you might read about in People Magazine (this is a good thing). The book really gets what it’s like to feel kind of lost at that in-between age where you’re not a child anymore, but still don’t feel like a *real* adult yet.
Plus, Mona’s imaginary friend is Terry Gross, which is honestly reason enough to read this book.
**after reading some reviews of this book I guess it’s actually a sequel to one called ‘Pretend I’m Dead.’ I never felt lost or left out but if that’s something that’s important to you, you can read the other one first!
Plus, Mona’s imaginary friend is Terry Gross, which is honestly reason enough to read this book.
**after reading some reviews of this book I guess it’s actually a sequel to one called ‘Pretend I’m Dead.’ I never felt lost or left out but if that’s something that’s important to you, you can read the other one first!
katydidreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
troutsoap's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.5
hollybop's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gralicia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
daniellefff's review against another edition
4.0
I’ll read anything Jen Beagin writes until the end of time.
“Strange, she thought, how affected you are by malice when you’re a kid, how a mean word or look can unravel you, how devastating cruelty feels when you’re too young to protect yourself. But eventually, after all those defense mechanisms are firmly in place, it’s the so-called positive shit—mercy, not malice—that brings you to tears.”
“Strange, she thought, how affected you are by malice when you’re a kid, how a mean word or look can unravel you, how devastating cruelty feels when you’re too young to protect yourself. But eventually, after all those defense mechanisms are firmly in place, it’s the so-called positive shit—mercy, not malice—that brings you to tears.”
chelseyanderson's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
mrweb's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25