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lindseyhall44's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Self harm
bisexualbookshelf's review
- 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
3.0
Enid’s character is a rich tapestry of contradictions. Her anxiety and dark humor make her both relatable and compelling, while her paranoia and morally dubious choices—like having an affair with another woman’s wife—add layers of complexity. Austin’s portrayal of Enid’s struggle to navigate her various roles to appear 'normal' is particularly poignant and indicative of autistic traits, which resonates deeply with neurodivergent readers.
One of the most touching aspects of the novel is Enid's relationship with her mother. This bond provides a stabilizing force in Enid’s tumultuous life, highlighting the importance of familial support in the face of mental health challenges. The depiction of Enid’s mother’s grief and her efforts to raise a disabled, neurodivergent child on her own adds a layer of emotional depth to the story.
The narrative’s structure, however, is a bit uneven. The first third of the book feels overloaded with various subplots—Enid's half-sisters, her job, her mother, her paranoia, her self-loathing, and her dating life. This initially makes the story feel disjointed and slow to start. Yet, once the focus sharpens,
While the book excels in many areas, it also stumbles in some significant ways.
Another point of contention is the portrayal of Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CRT). As a trauma therapist in training, I find this therapy controversial due to its potential to retraumatize patients by forcing them to confront walled-off memories. While Austin’s representation might be accurate to her or Enid’s experience, it risks misleading readers about the general efficacy and safety of such treatments.
In summary, "Interesting Facts About Space" shines in its representation of autism and PTSD, and its exploration of Enid's inner world and relationships. The dark humor and unique quirks of Enid’s character are major strengths. However, the problematic subplot
📖 Recommended For: Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives, Fans of dark humor and quirky characters, Admirers of psychological and emotional depth, Those interested in autism and PTSD representation, Lovers of intricate and metaphorical storytelling.
🔑 Key Themes: Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms, Familial Relationships and Support, Paranoia and Intuition, Self-Discovery and Personal Growth, Autistic and PTSD Experiences.
Graphic: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt and Self harm
literaryolive's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.25
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Self harm
dev921's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Grief, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail
randeerebecca's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Outing, Abandonment, and Pregnancy
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Ableism, Bullying, Stalking, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Minor: Self harm, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt
emilybacher's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide attempt
Minor: Self harm
froon's review
5.0
austin is so incredibly adept at capturing interesting and complex characters. in a book that is largely plotless, the characters must be engaging enough to carry the story. and i found the characters in this book did that with ease. it also helps that their relationships with each other are often fraught and messy and so full of love. in a way, they resonate in the middle space of sadness and joy that feels so human and real, making it impossible not to be invested in their lives. on top of that, austin is so good at writing the most devastating lines ever. it will be a simple phrase, oftentimes an action, but it will communicate so much about a interaction/relationship. (pulling on randomly of enid and her mom “she gasps and points, and i watch her face light up rather than the sky” p.75 like isn’t that so AHHHH).
i loved enid as a narrator too. enid is a bit of a disaster (but she working on it) and so, unintentionally, funny. there’s a discord between the very real trauma she’s working through and the absurdity of everyday life. it ends up being heartbreaking, hilarious, and real. i can see if people get tired of sitting in her brain, but, to me, it was a joy.
in the author’s note, emily austin said the enid was inspired by a boygenius song which makes my review of everyone in this room will someday be dead (“gilda is so chinese satellite by phoebe bridgers”) canon now :)
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm
megtall's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Minor: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Outing, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
felix_benjamin's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Suicide attempt