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windhover's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lediamond4's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have slightly mixed feelings about this book. I think that the writing was absolutely beautiful. Very poetic. I admit that I’m not someone who is usually interested in the Greek and Roman gods but I felt very pulled into the narrator’s perspective on them and the answers she looked for in the exhibits at the Met.
This is a passive, slow-moving story. There’s honestly not much that actually “happens”. It’s easy to be frustrated by how little action the narrator takes but I also had a lot of sympathy for her. I wanted better for her. Her honestly and vulnerability made her feel like an old friend and I wanted to sit her down and encourage her. That sounds a little silly but I just made a connection with her. It was a very human story.
This is a passive, slow-moving story. There’s honestly not much that actually “happens”. It’s easy to be frustrated by how little action the narrator takes but I also had a lot of sympathy for her. I wanted better for her. Her honestly and vulnerability made her feel like an old friend and I wanted to sit her down and encourage her. That sounds a little silly but I just made a connection with her. It was a very human story.
midnightmarauder's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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
4.0
The Deceptions follows an unnamed narrator as she struggles to keep her life from falling apart.
The narrator is an older woman who lives in New York City with her husband and son, who has just went away to college. The reader is quickly shown that their marriage is strained, with the protagonist trying her best to rekindle the flame, while the husband constantly dampens it. She yearns to be happy and go back to the way things were, and looks up to her neighbor, who lives the life she desperately desires.
The narrator talks of another unnamed character, only referred to as The Visiting Poet. It is heavily implied that something romantic or sexual transpired between the two of them, and through a series of retellings, the reader is made aware of the nature of their relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's the first book I've read so far where most of the characters' names are unknown (excluding the protagonist's students). The only names that are revealed at the end of the book are theprotagonist's and the Visiting Poet's . I also liked the intertwining of Greek mythology with the real-life issues the narrator faced in her life.
The only thing I didn't enjoy about the book was the lack of quotation marks. It made it difficult to know who was speaking and when they stopped speaking. Otherwise, I found the book to be a real page-turner, and I'm surprised that not many people have reviewed it.
The narrator is an older woman who lives in New York City with her husband and son, who has just went away to college. The reader is quickly shown that their marriage is strained, with the protagonist trying her best to rekindle the flame, while the husband constantly dampens it. She yearns to be happy and go back to the way things were, and looks up to her neighbor, who lives the life she desperately desires.
The narrator talks of another unnamed character, only referred to as The Visiting Poet. It is heavily implied that something romantic or sexual transpired between the two of them, and through a series of retellings, the reader is made aware of the nature of their relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's the first book I've read so far where most of the characters' names are unknown (excluding the protagonist's students). The only names that are revealed at the end of the book are the
The only thing I didn't enjoy about the book was the lack of quotation marks. It made it difficult to know who was speaking and when they stopped speaking. Otherwise, I found the book to be a real page-turner, and I'm surprised that not many people have reviewed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Child death
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
Minor: Vomit and Rape
nini23's review against another edition
Bland. Privileged white American woman moaning about white patriarchy. The tunnel vision is astounding.
...an Asian boy, small, has delicate features, hands, and body. I wonder whether the sexual fluidity in this new generation is a result of the evolution of the constraints of marriage, and the ultimate incompatibility of the sexes.
...an Asian boy, small, has delicate features, hands, and body. I wonder whether the sexual fluidity in this new generation is a result of the evolution of the constraints of marriage, and the ultimate incompatibility of the sexes.
izkil's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
marissahiggins's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this book a 3.5/5 stars if it were an option. The writing is clearly strong and the author is talented. Some aspects of the book, I really enjoyed; the repetition of something bad happening, and the way what the bad thing was is revealed, worked really well for me. I appreciated the look into how parents can act and feel when their child is away for the first time. I also appreciated the nonchalance of the husband's internet affair. On the flip side, I struggled with how cis and hetero-centric the book is, especially when it comes to discussions of assault and roles in families. When queer people do come up, it's because the narrator mocks a fellow teacher's coming out, or when the narrator strangely seems to suggest someone's gender identity might change. This is also a book where, to me, I fall into feeling frustrated that the characters simply don't have actual conversations about things; the book could have started with the husband leaving, as he does at the end, and in some ways might have been more compelling and surprising for me. All of that said, I can imagine plenty of people will relate to these themes and the concerns of the book in a way that just doesn't work for me. I'm not the best reader for this book, but the author is certainly talented and I can imagine this one will be a real hit.
mjdudley7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dashleyp's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
The novel's commentary on patriarchy, womanhood, marriage, and academia was achingly accurate. What a beautiful way to tie ancient mythology and modern-day dilemmas together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
viii_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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