Reviews

I’m finding this a difficult book to review, but I think I liked it? It’s very character-driven, focused more on vibes than anything else. Because of that, it’s a little frustrating since you don’t have the cathartic release of a traditional plot structure, but that feels completely intentional.

This book feels really smart, it’s operating at such a high level, and I loved that. However, it comes off as very pretentious at times.

I thought the writing structure itself was really unique and cool, as were the themes. And it gets bonus points for having the best chaotic bisexual representation I have ever seen.

aront's review

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2.0

Another boring book about insipid, privileged people written by a pretty decent US writer. It seems young US writers are so caught up in their blinkered ideology while being anesthetized by their wealth and privilege, that they have lost sight of reality.

If you can afford to get yourself into a quarter million dollars of debt, and live between Berlin and Los Angeles (as does the main character, and it seems the author themself) you are privileged, no matter how you “identify”. Sure you aren’t the 1% characters, each of whom you disdainfully call “white” girls (are you sure you”re not misgendering them, missy), but you’re better off than 99% of the rest of humanity. Hence your so-called “artistic suffering” comes off petty and whiney, best not put on paper, because it makes you sound pretentious.

I want the couple hours I invested in this book back, so recommending you don’t waste your time. If you want to read a really great, semi-autobiographical first novel about becoming a young person becoming a transgressive artist, read Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

mouse_teeth's review

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4.0

I absolutely could not put this down. Gripping and addictive.

I wanted to give it 5 stars but there were a few smalls parts that I think weren’t edited perfectly and I had to reread to understand, which pulled me out of the flow that was glorious through most of it.

heelturn2's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

Just not my thing. A little too slow, morally compromised main character a little too self absorbed (though to the author’s credit, she’s very believable & you get why she is the way she is, it’s not for no reason, & she’s clearly not supposed to be totally sympathetic), & I am just… not very interested in the art world for many of the reasons that come up as issues in this book! I think there were interesting things happening with race/whiteness & the marketability of art about race. and I like the choice to explore that with a main character who is a little bit terrible. Taking this as a sign that I should stop reading my roommate’s books just because they’re around the house and easy to pick up lol

kirbsyourenthusiasm's review

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4.0

Weird and wonderful, crude in a way I feel Ottessa Moshfegh tries to be lol. Loved the final act - dizzying. Feel like I have a good appreciation having listened to Hedva talk about the book at an author's talk before I read it. People in the comments talking about Hedva being privileged / insipid are hilariously misguided

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