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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really felt like I was in Soléne’s head, well written, but I alternatively loved and hated both the characters. The book made me think about sexism and how women aging and their sexuality is viewed by society
This was a *great* book club pick - there is SO much to discuss.
This story and these characters are complicated and complex, but there is a shallowness to much of that that bothered me (celebrity, aging women, motherhood, desire, age gap relationships...). Most of the issues are introduced and just, left. I don't expect a book to solve the issue of how women, especially no longer beautiful women, over a certain age become invisible in the public eye. I *do* expect that if you're going into bring that up, that your going to add something (*anything*) of value to the conversation. Or at least wrestle with the complexity a bit. This work doesn't. On anything. It skims past nearly everything it brings to the table, which felt deeply unsatisfying for me.
Most of the book is told in the past tense - Solene is recollecting after the events have taken place...and the tellings are mired in guilt. This book feels like an exercise in self flagellation at the end of a devastating breakup. Can I handle some of that? Sure. Do I want 400 pages of that, that simultaneously show no personal growth? No. This doesn't read so much as a romance as it does a confessional - shame and celebration mingling into a stew of self flagellation and longing. The sex often doesn't feel sexy. There's so much guilt in the telling of this pleasure that it wasn't exciting.
I was in the (much smaller) camp of folx who really just didn't like this, but it missed on multiple fronts.
This story and these characters are complicated and complex, but there is a shallowness to much of that that bothered me (celebrity, aging women, motherhood, desire, age gap relationships...). Most of the issues are introduced and just, left. I don't expect a book to solve the issue of how women, especially no longer beautiful women, over a certain age become invisible in the public eye. I *do* expect that if you're going into bring that up, that your going to add something (*anything*) of value to the conversation. Or at least wrestle with the complexity a bit. This work doesn't. On anything. It skims past nearly everything it brings to the table, which felt deeply unsatisfying for me.
Most of the book is told in the past tense - Solene is recollecting after the events have taken place...and the tellings are mired in guilt. This book feels like an exercise in self flagellation at the end of a devastating breakup. Can I handle some of that? Sure. Do I want 400 pages of that, that simultaneously show no personal growth? No. This doesn't read so much as a romance as it does a confessional - shame and celebration mingling into a stew of self flagellation and longing. The sex often doesn't feel sexy. There's so much guilt in the telling of this pleasure that it wasn't exciting.
I was in the (much smaller) camp of folx who really just didn't like this, but it missed on multiple fronts.
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
If you want heartbreak and tears then this is for you. If you want a happy ending then I definitely suggest the movie.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Furious that I read the entire book and the ending was 1 page. And furious at the ending too
Yes, the obvious spoiler. I wanted the happy ending here so bad. And that is all I will say.
first half so much better than the second. liked the movie better I think.