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neenthefiend's review
3.0
The cadence of the prose can be a bit inaccessible when starting the reading journey, but as you travel further you pick up hedva’s rhythm. It was so incredibly stressful. I can’t tell if it’s good or just unnervingly impactful and whether that profundity is necessary which I guess is the whole point? Slippery profundity? This made me feel grateful for my daddy issues because I don’t think I could bear the weight of mommy issues. I also have some new 50 cent words in my pocket now. I wasn’t going to buy my own copy but after reading…. It stuck with me. Particularly the slow descent into madness that dawns once she reaches Berlin. I read through this the first time to get the larger plot and arguments but I suspect upon a more tactically second read mechanisms of the writing process and meticulous construction will be elucidated.
kriscrz's review
3.75
"It was because she was so determined to make beauty in the world. She wanted to find where it was hiding. But real beauty is only ever solitary—when it stands on its own, it exists for one person at a time. So she locked it up inside herself, afraid it would get stolen. She found the thing we're all searching for. And she had to protect it. She could only ever give the desire to search for it myself"
Abhorrent main character. Loved it!
irismessenger_'s review
5.0
Epically beautiful, smart, and cool. I loved being in the head of a successful yet still struggling artist, surrounded by an industry of people that want something from her, and artist peers that try to control her actions. There's a entrancing rebellious spirit to this book.
The commentary is powerful too. Money and power inducing anxiety--- labor and identity in the beautiful/messy creation of art. And what to do with your own identity when others want control over it.
Then there's the queer erotic pulse of world-consuming-muses, but also hits this obsessive, neurotic, (and queer) pull to that which you can't have (straight girls).
In the publicity the book was compared to Han Kang and Clarice Lispector, so I expected a lot from it, but I found that the prose was entirely intoxicating. The story flowed, as the fragments of her life as an artist pieced themselves together. Her own tale wisely incased in writing about the lives of the people around her and the family that abandoned each other.
The commentary is powerful too. Money and power inducing anxiety--- labor and identity in the beautiful/messy creation of art. And what to do with your own identity when others want control over it.
Then there's the queer erotic pulse of world-consuming-muses, but also hits this obsessive, neurotic, (and queer) pull to that which you can't have (straight girls).
In the publicity the book was compared to Han Kang and Clarice Lispector, so I expected a lot from it, but I found that the prose was entirely intoxicating. The story flowed, as the fragments of her life as an artist pieced themselves together. Her own tale wisely incased in writing about the lives of the people around her and the family that abandoned each other.
madding78's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
illiterateape's review
dark
sad
slow-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
3.0
cschneid's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alixf889's review
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-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
3.5
My feelings about this one are complex.
I think the racial and art world commentary is valuable and interesting, and the writing is beautiful
However-and this is likely partially the point, because the artist is clearly supposed to be unlikable-there’s something. Off putting about our main character specifically. It’s interesting that she’s described as white passing yet never seems to acknowledge the inherent privilege she has as someone who is. Also the characters of Yves and Hanne felt a bit like caricatures.
I think the racial and art world commentary is valuable and interesting, and the writing is beautiful
However-and this is likely partially the point, because the artist is clearly supposed to be unlikable-there’s something. Off putting about our main character specifically. It’s interesting that she’s described as white passing yet never seems to acknowledge the inherent privilege she has as someone who is. Also the characters of Yves and Hanne felt a bit like caricatures.
itshmorgs's review
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ver educational. love the art history lens. got lost in some of the musings of our protagonist though i love an unreliable narrator.
marslikestoread's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0