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rholbrook's review against another edition
4.0
In this short but powerful novella, Lionel Shriver asks the age-old question: Can men and women ever be just friends?
When Weston proposes to his longtime girlfriend Paige, her acceptance comes with one condition: He must sever ties with his best friend of 25 years and old flame, Jillian. When Jillian gives the couple an intensely personal and extravagant engagement gift, dubbed The Standing Chandelier, the complicated relationship triangle is made all the messier. The gift is large, awkward and inconvenient, signifying the elephant in the room that is Weston and Jillian’s cloudy relationship.
Anyone who’s been in a serious relationship will relate to this on both sides of the spectrum. Readers will find themselves empathizing with every character, yet also wanting to shake them out of their stupidity at other times. Read it in one sitting to experience the full intensity.
When Weston proposes to his longtime girlfriend Paige, her acceptance comes with one condition: He must sever ties with his best friend of 25 years and old flame, Jillian. When Jillian gives the couple an intensely personal and extravagant engagement gift, dubbed The Standing Chandelier, the complicated relationship triangle is made all the messier. The gift is large, awkward and inconvenient, signifying the elephant in the room that is Weston and Jillian’s cloudy relationship.
Anyone who’s been in a serious relationship will relate to this on both sides of the spectrum. Readers will find themselves empathizing with every character, yet also wanting to shake them out of their stupidity at other times. Read it in one sitting to experience the full intensity.
zahra_'s review
2.0
Really wanted to like this book but, as Shriver says, sometimes you just don’t click. Hah. It never really makes sense why Baba and Frisk don’t work together as a couple so the resulting plot seems meaningless and drawn out. In the end, the gift is reduced to a meaningless piece of decor rather than the gut-wrenching symbol of emotion that it was meant as.
I believe the novel could have been redeemed, become poignant even, had the ending been less inconclusive and frankly, less bitchy.
I believe the novel could have been redeemed, become poignant even, had the ending been less inconclusive and frankly, less bitchy.
karmaversum_28's review against another edition
4.0
Ich dachte mir beim Lesen nur, heftig wie subtil gehässig und garstig Frauen sein können und der Mann merkt es nicht mal.
bookishevie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
2.5
melonplenders's review against another edition
4.0
Powered through this in a day! Couldn't put it down.
susieliston's review against another edition
3.0
I so often seem to miss the point of things I'm sure I missed some here, but overall I'm torn as to how I felt about this. I can't say I LIKED it, but obviously it got my attention. I was surprisingly involved with the characters, to the point that I was really distressed when I finished it and had to remind myself to calm down, its fiction, already. But I don't care how annoying Jillian may have been, I was completely on her side as I hated really, really hated Weston and Paige. I'm getting mad again just writing this. I want her to write a sequel and kill them off, in a grisly and gruesome manner. Now THAT I would love.
ameliesb's review against another edition
5.0
I am not usually one for character-driven stories but holy Cannelloni does this do a good job at exploring interpersonal relationships, influences and social customs with only three characters involved.
mindthebook's review
4.0
Who put the skön in skönlitteratur?! Längtade efter något nytt och med Lionel Shriver kan man lita på att det är originellt och välgestaltat, alltid med fantasifullt språk. Allitteration och assonans förekommer frekvent i detta kompakta verk.
Är också svag för tennisspelande karaktärer* både i romaner och på film. Här är de två. De har spelat i åratal och även haft en liten fling förr. Nu träffar den ena en livspartner och det blir drama.
*Namnet Weston Babansky är helt klart woodyallen:esque.
Är också svag för tennisspelande karaktärer* både i romaner och på film. Här är de två. De har spelat i åratal och även haft en liten fling förr. Nu träffar den ena en livspartner och det blir drama.
*Namnet Weston Babansky är helt klart woodyallen:esque.