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joannavaught's review
4.0
i devoured this in 24 hours. it was like having a really good friend come into town just for one night, so you stay up all night and drink wine and get pretty silly and discuss everything. loved it. i wish scarlett thomas would visit more often.
seebeeoss's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
5.0
canonically_k's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ship-in-a-bottle distribution system. No chapters, just a part 1 and 2, lots of flashbacks.
linneahedvig's review
4.0
This was almost more philosophy than narrative, but it philosophized about narrative in a way that really made me rethink what I expect from fiction...and what I expect from life. It talked a lot about how we narrativize our lives in a way that isn't quite healthy.
The main character, Meg, writes YA series books while she tries to get her "real" novel written, but she just keeps deleting more and more words from her novel. But instead of the novel becoming nothing, it's like it could be anything--a grocery list, a note to her boyfriend. This book feels similarly ambiguous, but in the best way.
The main character, Meg, writes YA series books while she tries to get her "real" novel written, but she just keeps deleting more and more words from her novel. But instead of the novel becoming nothing, it's like it could be anything--a grocery list, a note to her boyfriend. This book feels similarly ambiguous, but in the best way.
elizaeliza's review
3.0
3.5 Stars. Hated it at first but after a couple of weeks break returned to it with fresh eyes and it kept my interest. An unusual book. Full of curiosities, paradoxes, zen riddles, and terrible, terrible relationships. Would perhaps really speak to childless 40-somethings fresh out of a bad relationship or affair. Or maybe it's for those interested in fiction that messes with tradition narrative formats… not sure…
catladylover94's review
I as liked some of the people in the book, the author rambled too much and she did not know how to end some of the rambling, it was a bit to much,
milleskaanvad's review against another edition
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
1.0
willsinfinitelibrary's review
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
norynor's review
3.0
I’ve had this book on my shelf for nearly a decade, and finally have just got around to reading it - I think this could have been REALLY good. I liked the drama of the plots and loved the piece about magic. Also I now want to live in a cottage by the sea and learn to knit. But if I read the phrase “storyless story” ever again I might cry. The constant waffling over story convention was painful and pretentious and really took away from the actual story. Maybe if I was a writer I would like it but it’s not for me. I would have loved to see the magic fleshed out more, and I really wish Meg would have tried to figure out if Rosa was really alive (honestly can’t believe she didn’t even bother?). Overall a good read, would be an interesting one for a book club discussion.