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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This book is entirely screwed up and I love it for it. A very Franzen-inspired book centering around young love and marriage, with a unexpected feminist twist in showing how differently the female experience is after viewed through a male gaze. It's dark, eye-opening, and brings up the thoughts of wondering if you can ever really know someone at all.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very lovely and talented writer, however I struggled through this book. Detestable characters with very few [if any] redeeming qualities, an off kilter rhythm [that's true] and the last 20 pages were like cement to slog through. Very beautiful writing, but I closed the book thinking "huh"?
She has some beautiful lines. The second half flies, opening all the doors from the first. Plot holes, I guess. I think liked the words and characters too much to be bothered.
Beautifully written and interestingly constructed with imagery and plot straight out of the gods playbook. I struggled a bit with Lancelot's god like character, though how could one not like him? He is an only semi-conscious narcissist, born of a manipulative, controlling and cold mother, who takes on an exotic wife who is far too much like dear old mom. It takes a very long time to see this or to learn the depths of his wife's darkness. Throughout the first half (the Fates) we wonder exactly what keeps these two together. He is so beautiful, so light, so generous, so careless and she, so none of these things. Then Mathilde's story is told (the Furies) and it is darker and sadder and far more calculating than we've seen. These two don't so much love or like each other; each is hungry for what the other can give. For Lancelot, cracking the love of a mother. For Mathilde, a golden ticket to redeem her sorry life.
A powerful story.
A powerful story.
dark
reflective
slow-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
Loved the 2nd half, aka, The Furies. Archetypes, almost mythical in profile, set in modern day; many references, via plays within the story, such as Antigone--to Greek tragedy and Shakespeare themes. Would like to read again with a changed understanding of the first half, i.e. Fates,
I really enjoyed reading this book. Now that I'm done, I'm a bit surprised. In retrospect it reminds me a bit of The Interestings, which I didn't enjoy. But something about Fates and Furies really drew me in and kept me hooked. I think it might make for an interesting book club discussion.