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cangell's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I loved “Three Women” and “Animal,” so I was excited to read Lisa Taddeo’s latest delve into the feminine psyche. Her prose is lush, poetic, and unsparing, chronicling the insidious ways the patriarchy erodes women’s self worth. She treads familiar terrain in this story collection, which is reminiscent of Cheever and Updike’s classic tales of upper middle class malaise. The language is as spectacular as ever here, yet where her two previous books were gripping and impossible to put down, I found my attention waning.
Collections are usually thematically linked, but most of these stories are simply too similar to the point of schtick. After the second or third or fourth wealthy, self-absorbed white woman stewing about wealthy, self absorbed white men, I started to lose interest. The Malibu villas and New England country houses started to blend together.
Much of the criticism of Taddeo’s work reeks of the same double standards her characters suffer under. Many readers still seem deeply uncomfortable with complicated, openly sexual female characters who aren’t sufficiently meek or morally pure. Taddeo seems to be speaking to that directly. I love a good unlikable narrator, but even the most hellish characters need to be compelling (Joan in “Animal” is a great example). The pressures and traumas that have undone these women are very real, but many of the stories merely paint a portrait of these issues rather than add something new to the conversation. I kept waiting for some kind of nod to the reader that wasn’t there.
A number of reviews have touched on representation issues. Queer people and people of color are largely invisible, except for occasional appearances as an exotic or threatening other. I assumed these icky moments were a reflection of the narrow worldview of the characters, but they were never commented upon or explored further. The world of the stories is almost defiantly vanilla .
There are a number of standouts in the collection, especially towards the second half of the book. The enduring love between friends in Air Supply and Suburban Weekend is deeply moving. I enjoyed the supernatural turn in Padua, 1966. Taddeo is at her best when she dives beyond the everyday heartaches to examine the much bigger monsters that lurk underneath. I think if I’d read some of them on their own instead of couched between the other stories, I would have appreciated them more.
Taddeo is such a skilled storyteller, it would be nice to see her step beyond her comfort zone. I’ll be eager to see what she comes out with next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
numipig30's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
crimsonreadlips's review
challenging
dark
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Incest, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Cursing, and Classism
Minor: Cancer and Death
eleeowart's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.25
Lisa Taddeo’s writing is so unique, succinct and impactful. I reread sentences multiple times just to keep chewing on them because I like the taste. She’s relentless.
Women are always the focus of her writing, and through various women’s experiences, she uncovers the darkest pieces of living in society as a woman—the fatphobia, blatant misogyny and stereotypes can be a lot to get through. But isn’t that the reality? It’s through these unlikablw characters thoughts that’s we get to unpack the filth and darkest sides of humanity. Definite trigger warnings though.
Women are always the focus of her writing, and through various women’s experiences, she uncovers the darkest pieces of living in society as a woman—the fatphobia, blatant misogyny and stereotypes can be a lot to get through. But isn’t that the reality? It’s through these unlikablw characters thoughts that’s we get to unpack the filth and darkest sides of humanity. Definite trigger warnings though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexism, and Alcohol
malwaredb's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I absolutely head over heels loved Animal so I jumped at the chance to read Ghost Lover. Unfortunately, while I still adored Lisa Taddeo's prose and writing style I just couldn't connect with any of these short stories and it just didn't do anything for me. Without a doubt she is an outstanding artist who has the innate ability of weaving some gritty and raw narratives, I just wish for Ghost Lover she moved away from the rich privileged white female.
9 individual stories told in Taddeo's sharp, unrelenting and gritty style, evocative but just not gripping.
9 individual stories told in Taddeo's sharp, unrelenting and gritty style, evocative but just not gripping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Grief, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
foundeasily's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
The prose is lively and the stories well plotted for what they are. I would hardly say she isn't a good writer. That said... the class character and overall feel of the book were off-putting.
I enjoy a book or story with an unlikable protagonist but it's a lot harder when the writer seems to loathe them, as well. And the dislike seems to come from a moralizing and loaded point of view of the author.
The collection beginning with a story built around a false or (at least grey area) rape accusation, with shallowly inflected revenge motivation put a very bad taste in my mouth. Not only including a story built around it but leading off with it and naming the collection after it is a politically and morally loaded choice.
I continued on and hoped it was an aberration. I really enjoyed, for instance, Detransition Baby, which initially I felt awkward about for it's centering of detransition but came to see it as a complex and thoughtful choice. Taddeo instead continued with a series of stories built around what she seems to see as shallow, lonely and secretly pathetic women. Few, if any, round out around these qualities into fully realized complex characters. There feels like there is a self loathing, grafted onto each character.
I haven't read her novels and I could imagine a version of these types that more fully fleshed out accomplishes more and better. However, within the short story form, these fail to inspire me, outside of good prose style, occasional small insights and turns of phrase.
There was one or two stories I liked well enough and fell into the same traps a little less or at least somewhat transcended them. But overall, this was a frustrating read.
I enjoy a book or story with an unlikable protagonist but it's a lot harder when the writer seems to loathe them, as well. And the dislike seems to come from a moralizing and loaded point of view of the author.
The collection beginning with a story built around a false or (at least grey area) rape accusation, with shallowly inflected revenge motivation put a very bad taste in my mouth. Not only including a story built around it but leading off with it and naming the collection after it is a politically and morally loaded choice.
I continued on and hoped it was an aberration. I really enjoyed, for instance, Detransition Baby, which initially I felt awkward about for it's centering of detransition but came to see it as a complex and thoughtful choice. Taddeo instead continued with a series of stories built around what she seems to see as shallow, lonely and secretly pathetic women. Few, if any, round out around these qualities into fully realized complex characters. There feels like there is a self loathing, grafted onto each character.
I haven't read her novels and I could imagine a version of these types that more fully fleshed out accomplishes more and better. However, within the short story form, these fail to inspire me, outside of good prose style, occasional small insights and turns of phrase.
There was one or two stories I liked well enough and fell into the same traps a little less or at least somewhat transcended them. But overall, this was a frustrating read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Fatphobia
One story revolved around a false or at least grey sexual assault allegation that is talked about as a weaponized revenge for a perceived slight.julietealy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Every time I read Lisa Taddeo I feel like she is writing to me. Ghost Lover is an engrossing collection of short stories that beautifully capture the female experience. I love the way that Taddeo writes about lust, rage, ageing, jealousy, friendship, and love. Her characters are raw and complex and flawed, and that's what I love so much about her work. I really savored reading this book because each story felt so special to me. My favorite stories in this collection are Ghost Lover, Fourty-Two, Air Supply, and A Suburban Weekend. This is my new favorite collection of short stories. Each one scratched my brain in a different way, and I really appreciate how cohesive this collection is. Thank you SO much to Caroline and Avid Reader Press for sending me this ARC 💘 I am so grateful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Medical content, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Infidelity, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
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