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heathermiccolo's review against another edition
2.0
I have this problem with literary fiction where I'm always waiting for something to happen, then by the end I'm disappointed because nothing does. This applies to this novel, as well as others like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Nothing happens and I cannot connect to these characters. What is Ruth doing in London? Who was the narrator?? (Third person narrative, with omnipotent 'I' randomly popping up.) We're missing Ruth's background. I was not empathetic toward Ruth and her life. How is Ruth able to live without consequences? I heard about this book from Roxane Gay's Bad Feminist and I think if I had read it with a more critical eye I would have got something out of it, but it goes back to what I originally said, literary fiction narrative goes nowhere.
8little_paws's review against another edition
3.0
About a trainwreck of a young woman living in London and making pretty bad decisions. It's an interesting case study of the 20-something pretty girl.
celesteperilla's review against another edition
2.0
The Bell Jar for millennials but like 200% worse
twobbema's review against another edition
2.0
Stream of consciousness . Don't read if you are expecting a normal novel.
You are inside the main characters head, most of the time. Occasionally, someone tells you something about her.
To quote Ruth's friend 'Biz arre'
You are inside the main characters head, most of the time. Occasionally, someone tells you something about her.
To quote Ruth's friend 'Biz arre'
mallory_odonoghue's review against another edition
emotional
fast-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
1.75
Ugh! I remember reading this and loving this book so much in college. Reading it again ten years later, I was so disappointed. The author is such a good essayist but her creative writing is terrible. The plot is nonexistent which would be OK if the character was interesting or the prose beautiful. Zambreno writes so eloquently in there critiques of modernist authors, artists and their partners but this is a pale imitation of those same figures.
embfitz's review against another edition
I suspect a number of people like this book because there are elements and sections to which they can relate, but I had to abandon that notion for myself pretty quickly. I set aside the pencil I try to keep in my hand, because I was arguing with the text WAY too much. When I sat down with it to read, I imagined putting on a spacesuit, and exploring a new planet.
The structure of GREEN GIRL is one of my favorite kinds -- seemingly disjointed, but unquestionably not. The rules of the book's world are laid down in ways that don't feel tedious. There's an obvious attention to language that I really liked -- especially when it snuck up on me, which doesn't happen often in general. The characters are vivid, they're perfect and flawed in very literal and palpable ways. Their struggles come from all sides. Ruth's complex and basic, frustrating and wearying. The environment is almost headachingly vivid.
This will sound like a sly line, but I absolutely don't mean it that way:
I would love to see more SFF like this.
The structure of GREEN GIRL is one of my favorite kinds -- seemingly disjointed, but unquestionably not. The rules of the book's world are laid down in ways that don't feel tedious. There's an obvious attention to language that I really liked -- especially when it snuck up on me, which doesn't happen often in general. The characters are vivid, they're perfect and flawed in very literal and palpable ways. Their struggles come from all sides. Ruth's complex and basic, frustrating and wearying. The environment is almost headachingly vivid.
This will sound like a sly line, but I absolutely don't mean it that way:
I would love to see more SFF like this.
booksandthebronxgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Really Really Really depressing. But beautifully written
michrichter1's review against another edition
2.0
I started it, enjoyed it well enough, but didn't feel that invested. So I haven't finished, don't know that I will. Though it's a different setting and time period, it feels a lot like Pamela Moore's Chocolates for Breakfast, which I felt more engaged in.
dottiewicks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0