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mememusa's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
"Sono la figlia di un uomo che non si è mai buttato dal ponte: ogni volta che sento l'impatto con l'acqua, io torno. Quando tutto cade, indomito l'amore resta. Ma è una storia vera?"
Si chiude così un libro che per me è un libro onesto. E per questo non sempre piacevole.
Seguono due citazioni dirette che mi hanno personalmente colpita. Non sono le migliori, le più poetiche (pieno di poesia questo libro, la prosa è veramente molto lirica), ma sono quelle che a me hanno parlato e parlano di più.
"La povertà è una macchia nelle cellule, una sbavatura del DNA. Niente si riallinea, dopo un'adolescenza passata nel bisogno. Non si impara a mangiare in maniera diversa, da persona sfamata."
"Viviamo circondati da narrative di salvezza, sia quando siamo molto felici, sia quando non lo siamo."
Si chiude così un libro che per me è un libro onesto. E per questo non sempre piacevole.
Seguono due citazioni dirette che mi hanno personalmente colpita. Non sono le migliori, le più poetiche (pieno di poesia questo libro, la prosa è veramente molto lirica), ma sono quelle che a me hanno parlato e parlano di più.
"La povertà è una macchia nelle cellule, una sbavatura del DNA. Niente si riallinea, dopo un'adolescenza passata nel bisogno. Non si impara a mangiare in maniera diversa, da persona sfamata."
"Viviamo circondati da narrative di salvezza, sia quando siamo molto felici, sia quando non lo siamo."
jenna_renna_wren's review against another edition
5.0
This was quite the wild ride.
I adored so many elements of this narrative novel. The language stands out to me amongst it all. It is at moments boldly and vividly poetic, while at others, it is terse and pointed. The craft, in my mind, is truly what sets this book apart. It is anything but chronological, piecing together repeated and seemingly disjointed ideas with startling ease. This is a beautiful book.
Yet it is also an honest one. The anti-hero that Claudia presents herself as, and even at times the morally grey members of her family, is sometimes hard to reckon with. She is so utterly and unapologetically human. You are often left wondering, how can this girl laugh in the face of death? How can she speak of female individualism while also romanticizing older men? As a living paradox, Claudia’s character comes to embody all the contrasts that she creates so masterfully. It is oftentimes difficult to bear in a complex way.
My one complaint is that this book can be hard to connect with emotionally for these reasons. Claudia and her writing are so far-out-there and - importantly enough - strange, that sometimes it really keeps you on your toes. It’s lovely, but also can limit some of the emotional connections I find key for these types of writings when it comes to staying engaged and following the threads of plot.
Yer this is one memorable piece of art that portrays how even one’s own memories can become aliens. Five stars is a bit trivial, but give or take.
I adored so many elements of this narrative novel. The language stands out to me amongst it all. It is at moments boldly and vividly poetic, while at others, it is terse and pointed. The craft, in my mind, is truly what sets this book apart. It is anything but chronological, piecing together repeated and seemingly disjointed ideas with startling ease. This is a beautiful book.
Yet it is also an honest one. The anti-hero that Claudia presents herself as, and even at times the morally grey members of her family, is sometimes hard to reckon with. She is so utterly and unapologetically human. You are often left wondering, how can this girl laugh in the face of death? How can she speak of female individualism while also romanticizing older men? As a living paradox, Claudia’s character comes to embody all the contrasts that she creates so masterfully. It is oftentimes difficult to bear in a complex way.
My one complaint is that this book can be hard to connect with emotionally for these reasons. Claudia and her writing are so far-out-there and - importantly enough - strange, that sometimes it really keeps you on your toes. It’s lovely, but also can limit some of the emotional connections I find key for these types of writings when it comes to staying engaged and following the threads of plot.
Yer this is one memorable piece of art that portrays how even one’s own memories can become aliens. Five stars is a bit trivial, but give or take.
keavac's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I don’t read a lot of non fiction… though I have been this year. And while this isn’t entirely non fiction, it’s an interesting memoir woven with a lot of cultural references, visualization, and metaphor. Overall I did enjoy it, but it did lose me a bit at times.
desi48ree's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
moh_pa's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Addiction
Minor: Drug use
kvokolek's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Death, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Eating disorder
ajfletch's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0