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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
This wasn’t my favorite. It definitely gives the reader a lot to think about. I found the author’s attention to shifting power dynamics (old/young, teacher/student, male/female etc) very interesting. And I was really engaged in the conversation about a woman’s place in their assessment of their own personal trauma. Other than that, I did not really like the story, the ending in particular felt jumbled.
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A provocative, dark, and propulsive campus drama that attacks many sacred cows, including MeToo and its uneasy balance with safety/infantilization/freedom, Gen Z's approach to difficult topics in art, mature women and desire, labor and creativity, campus politics, aging...many hot-button topics. The characters are all unlikeable, and all the main ones are narcissistic, yet they remain flawed and interesting in specific, intriguing ways. The details of an American college campus and the home of two pretentious professors were perfectly, satirically rendered. Working in academia, I found that I recognized most of the major and minor characters, which was a helpful reminder to try not to turn out that way. On its face, the plot is absurd and dramatic, but it builds up in a way that is all too plausible, yet not entirely predictable. The whole thing is drenched in acid, and I deeply enjoyed it. Don't read it if you need likeable characters or justice served.
This book isn’t at all what I expected. It does what it does extremely well.
I get why it's not for everyone- I guess- but damn, I LOVED this book.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
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
2.5⭐️ truly wanted to like this but simply meandered too much and last 30 pages were extremely disappointing. boo
So, the cover does not give you what you think you are getting. This is a twisted literary offering in a voice that feels fresh then, quite honestly, grates. The title is more of a hint to the contents than one realizes, but with a different cover and title, the book could be on more lists. Only… what? Perhaps: Inferno. I did love the book references and writer angst. Make no mistake, more than anything—anything!!!—the protagonist wants to be still relevant in our misogynistic world that still mostly hates older women.
2.5 stars
Another "What did I just Read?" books, I don't think that there was much resolution in the end, and the climax was.... where? I felt like it was building towards something and it just fell flat. I also hope that I never think of myself the same way the narrator thinks, it was kind of depressing.
Another "What did I just Read?" books, I don't think that there was much resolution in the end, and the climax was.... where? I felt like it was building towards something and it just fell flat. I also hope that I never think of myself the same way the narrator thinks, it was kind of depressing.