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hongjoongie's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed this more than The Interestings, but Wolitzer is so weird where on the sentence level her writing is really good but then from the whole-novel perspective it seems kinda pointless/doesn’t leave me feeling much?
silverfeather's review against another edition
3.0
meg wolitzer: we need to start vilifying white feminists
me: :) aww
meg wolitzer: but in a way they are geniuses and we must glorify them
me ....... AUEHHHHGHHG
me: :) aww
meg wolitzer: but in a way they are geniuses and we must glorify them
me ....... AUEHHHHGHHG
drewsbooklist's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m so torn on this book because I did enjoy reading it but now, looking back on it, I can’t really tell what the point of the book was. There were so many characters and each got their own sections, but I think that clouded the focus of the book overall. I wish it had just been about Greer and Faith, maybe alternating their POVs instead of focusing as much on the side characters.
It also seemed like Greer as a character could have been much more developed, I just didn’t see her grow much in meaningful ways so the ending felt a bit out of nowhere and out of character for her.
The whole book just felt very privileged as well to me, especially in Greer’s sections, and this could have been a great tool for socio-political commentary but the author just didn’t take it far enough to make a real meaningful point.
It also seemed like Greer as a character could have been much more developed, I just didn’t see her grow much in meaningful ways so the ending felt a bit out of nowhere and out of character for her.
The whole book just felt very privileged as well to me, especially in Greer’s sections, and this could have been a great tool for socio-political commentary but the author just didn’t take it far enough to make a real meaningful point.
qnawal97's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
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This book had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time so I finally decided to read and I'm glad I read when I did. Part of this story takes place in the protagonist's (Greer) time working at a foundation and because I started working at a non-profit within the last year so I could relate to some of their internal and external struggles. At the same time, it was different because there was the element of capitalism. I thought that in the beginning of the book, it felt like I was reading a memoir that eventually turned into fiction so that was hard for me to get used to. I really didn't feel for Greer's character; it was very much white feminism vibes but they kind of addressed that at the end when. I almost kind of wished that Zee was the main character instead LOL and I found Cory's storyline interesting as well. At times though I didn't really understand the purpose or meaning to the storylines within this book. That being said, I think their were some great quotes throughout, I think Faith Frank's character was very similar to many figures who've been working in social justice movement spaces, especially in contemporary times, and I liked the pace of the book and the shift in perspectives of different characters.
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This book had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time so I finally decided to read and I'm glad I read when I did. Part of this story takes place in the protagonist's (Greer) time working at a foundation and because I started working at a non-profit within the last year so I could relate to some of their internal and external struggles. At the same time, it was different because there was the element of capitalism. I thought that in the beginning of the book, it felt like I was reading a memoir that eventually turned into fiction so that was hard for me to get used to. I really didn't feel for Greer's character; it was very much white feminism vibes but they kind of addressed that at the end when
Spoiler
Zee and Greer had their confrontationturquoiseshell's review against another edition
3.0
I did not think this book was very good, and I don’t think it contributes anything to the world. The characters are not even unlikable... just boring. The author must think she’s so smart to have anticipated the criticism she would inevitably get for this book in a meta sort of way. By this I mean that throughout the book the characters point out that others call their work “rich white lady feminism” and call them out for their collective privilege and lack of diversity. The characters lazily write this off, as Meg Wolitzer must also have done. Ironic, isn’t it, that just as the two female characters’ books and work didn’t contribute anything new or productive to the world, neither did this novel itself. The novel attempts to speak on our current political climate but just seems silly and dated. Maybe that was the point, but if so, it wasn’t effectively done. If the main character had gone to work for “Femme Fatale,” maybe it would have been a more interesting book... but the main character would never have done that, because she’s boring and lame.
rachsteiner's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5