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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
The woman who is perpetually a guest in the lives of others and even in her own. The main character is a brilliant young woman who has learned to survive and even enjoy life as best as she can, however, to do so she continually creates false personas which are completely crafted to manipulate and to appeal to the people she runs across who have something to offer her. In the process she does not allow herself to connect with her inner being, she does not know who she really is, she does not have the luxury to examine what she wants or who she wants to be. She is a guest in her own life. It is such a well written book about a window in time, one summer. I think it reflects all of us during different times of our lives when we forsake ourselves in order to simply survive. Maybe there is always a time when this is okay and even necessary as we wander through this life-hopefully one day to strip ourselves of our masks and be able to live authentically in safety and with full agency. My first Cline novel, and definitely not my last!
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was expecting more. Absolutely nothing happened throughout the book, I was hoping the ending would redeem the book but it was bad as well.
dark
tense
fast-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
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
Left me feeling anxious the whole time mixed with a deep hatred for the main character
I haven't read any of Cline's previous works, but her writing fits the sad 20 something girl in NYC genre that I'm fiercely loyal to. The synopsis and the cover were inviting, and I needed a good beach read. This is definitely a thriller. But... it isn't thrilling. For the first time since "A Little Life," I felt tremendous anxiety while reading a novel. I finished the book hurriedly and felt relief when I dropped it in the return bin at the library.
The New York Times calls the plotline "deceptively simple," which I suppose I agree with. 22 year old New York City transplant to Hamptons transplant Alex is disposed of by Simon, her older-man-friend of the past few months. She understands that she is part of a regenerating cycle of young women for him, that her place could be filled by any girl of the same age and physique, but still, she can't accept his dismissal. So begin 5 days of treacherous drifting (or grifting?) from couch to pool to house, a welcome and sometimes unwelcome 'guest.' Events unfurl as she navigates the vacation town of the uber wealthy while waiting for Simon's labor day party, the finish line we accompany her in reaching.
While I did finish the book and found it entertaining, I cannot in good faith say that I liked it. Alex is mysterious, but once we've been with her for a hundred or so pages, I'm don't much care to learn more than I know. I hear Cline's statement on elitism and the currency of being a young woman, the power of telling your own narrative, etc. It's not bad, but not for me. You can tell after a chapter or two if you'll like this book, so just trust your gut on this one.
The New York Times calls the plotline "deceptively simple," which I suppose I agree with. 22 year old New York City transplant to Hamptons transplant Alex is disposed of by Simon, her older-man-friend of the past few months. She understands that she is part of a regenerating cycle of young women for him, that her place could be filled by any girl of the same age and physique, but still, she can't accept his dismissal. So begin 5 days of treacherous drifting (or grifting?) from couch to pool to house, a welcome and sometimes unwelcome 'guest.' Events unfurl as she navigates the vacation town of the uber wealthy while waiting for Simon's labor day party, the finish line we accompany her in reaching.
While I did finish the book and found it entertaining, I cannot in good faith say that I liked it. Alex is mysterious, but once we've been with her for a hundred or so pages, I'm don't much care to learn more than I know. I hear Cline's statement on elitism and the currency of being a young woman, the power of telling your own narrative, etc. It's not bad, but not for me. You can tell after a chapter or two if you'll like this book, so just trust your gut on this one.
"The Guest" by Emma Cline is a psychologically nuanced novel that delves into the life of Alex, a young woman navigating the limits of society on Long Island’s summer scene. The story unfolds over a span of a week, following Alex after a failed relationship leaves her without a safety net or a clear path forward. As she drifts between borrowed luxuries and encounters with strangers, Alex's survival instincts are put to the test, revealing how morally ambiguous humans can be when they have no real choice.
The novel’s tone is suffused with a sense of unease, mirroring Alex's own uncertainty toward her circumstances. The plot isn't driven by grand events but by the tension of Alex’s choices and the consequences that unfold, creating a slow-burn narrative that is compelling in its understated intensity.
The novel’s tone is suffused with a sense of unease, mirroring Alex's own uncertainty toward her circumstances. The plot isn't driven by grand events but by the tension of Alex’s choices and the consequences that unfold, creating a slow-burn narrative that is compelling in its understated intensity.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes