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maddsienicole's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Body horror, Blood, Death, Addiction, and Misogyny
Minor: Confinement and Rape
rorikae's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
'The Shimmering State' by Meredith Westgate is a thought provoking novel that explores the power and danger of memory.
The story centers on Sophie and Lucien who are both patients at a center that treats people who have used Memoroxin, a drug that allows one to experience past memories of their own or others. Sophie is an aspiring dancer who waitresses to make ends meet and has come to the attention of a powerful and controlling Hollywood producer. Lucien is a photographer whose mother has recently died and whose grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The story weaves between their two perspectives, hopping between their current experiences at the Center and their lives before that brought them to this point.
Westgate does an excellent job of discussing the impact of memory on identity through the two main characters. The story shifts into and out of the past and present as well as between the two main characters in an interesting way that is easy to follow. As we learn more about Lucien and Sophie's past, we better understand how their lives became entangled with Mem. The use of two very specific character studies to explore wider questions about memory works incredibly well. Despite my ability to feel empathy for these characters and to be interested in their stories, I never truly cared for them. Though I think the commentary and ideas that this story presents will stick with me, I think that the characters will be easy to forget. Even so, I think that Westgate does do a lot in this story and presents many ideas in an effective manner. I'll be interested to see what they write next and if they continue to explore complex ideas through near future character studies.
The story centers on Sophie and Lucien who are both patients at a center that treats people who have used Memoroxin, a drug that allows one to experience past memories of their own or others. Sophie is an aspiring dancer who waitresses to make ends meet and has come to the attention of a powerful and controlling Hollywood producer. Lucien is a photographer whose mother has recently died and whose grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The story weaves between their two perspectives, hopping between their current experiences at the Center and their lives before that brought them to this point.
Westgate does an excellent job of discussing the impact of memory on identity through the two main characters. The story shifts into and out of the past and present as well as between the two main characters in an interesting way that is easy to follow. As we learn more about Lucien and Sophie's past, we better understand how their lives became entangled with Mem. The use of two very specific character studies to explore wider questions about memory works incredibly well. Despite my ability to feel empathy for these characters and to be interested in their stories, I never truly cared for them. Though I think the commentary and ideas that this story presents will stick with me, I think that the characters will be easy to forget. Even so, I think that Westgate does do a lot in this story and presents many ideas in an effective manner. I'll be interested to see what they write next and if they continue to explore complex ideas through near future character studies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Car accident, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual assault, Drug use, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Suicide, and Dementia
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