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larizzla's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I was expecting big things out of this book but honestly it was kind of hard to read and frustrating to see her pine over an average man essentially the whole book.
inkspiring's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
at the end of the day i think this book fails to live up to its promise because it balances the narrator’s two desires: singing, and max. we are never really given enough to convince us that she loves singing in a fundamental, meaningful way. we are given much of max, but too much. the narrator, anna, is unreliable and unwilling to own up to her mistakes and her role in her self-destruction.
sidenote: the ent doctor??? my mouth dropped that she was surprised by what he said. she is delusional. i’ve never hated being stuck in first person with such an unlikeable narrator so much.
but apart from the insufferable qualities of the narrator, and the cliché relationship dynamic, crimp’s writing holds promise. nothing was incredibly groundbreaking about this book, but at moments the prose was sharp, witty, and clearly polished. i hope crimp works on her pacing in her next book, though, as this one could have used some more work.
and PLEASE for the love of god, authors: use punctuation!!! your readers are begging. the lack of quotation marks made it so difficult for me to read the first 100 pages. it was nearly impossible to get into the book. i almost DNFed, and once i read the ending…i wish i had. what a miserable, miserable end. goodness.
sidenote: the ent doctor??? my mouth dropped that she was surprised by what he said. she is delusional. i’ve never hated being stuck in first person with such an unlikeable narrator so much.
but apart from the insufferable qualities of the narrator, and the cliché relationship dynamic, crimp’s writing holds promise. nothing was incredibly groundbreaking about this book, but at moments the prose was sharp, witty, and clearly polished. i hope crimp works on her pacing in her next book, though, as this one could have used some more work.
and PLEASE for the love of god, authors: use punctuation!!! your readers are begging. the lack of quotation marks made it so difficult for me to read the first 100 pages. it was nearly impossible to get into the book. i almost DNFed, and once i read the ending…i wish i had. what a miserable, miserable end. goodness.
vernnie's review against another edition
4.0
Yes it's another story about a young woman and an old and rich man. However, I think the author has given much nuance to the characters. Like Anna was not a saint and we also have a glipse to other parts of Max's life and emotions. They were not exactly "nice" people but I do care about them.
Also like the author's writing (although the no quotation mark style is really not my thing). The parts about Anna preparing for shows and performing on stage are just so smooth and beautiful, especially the first performance (chef's kiss). Really fell in love with the book after that.
Only complaint is the last few chapters. The arrangement and pacing feel a bit off. Like the ending though. Did not see it coming but also not surprised at all.
Also like the author's writing (although the no quotation mark style is really not my thing). The parts about Anna preparing for shows and performing on stage are just so smooth and beautiful, especially the first performance (chef's kiss). Really fell in love with the book after that.
Only complaint is the last few chapters. The arrangement and pacing feel a bit off. Like the ending though. Did not see it coming but also not surprised at all.
I lay there, thinking, you build one person up to be the person who can give your life colour and meaning, the person who can save you, but they can’t do that, no one can do that.
haleydoeshairs's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hsquatriglia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You want to shake the narrator throughout the whole book but especially the end.
jsharp's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book did not add much value or enjoyment to my life. Not entirely sure why I finished it. She ends up exactly where she started. Take the money and GO girl.
baileysbunchesofbooks's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Simultaneously disliked this book and it’s characters but also really appreciated what it stood for. A very toxic, draining relationship, a coming of age moment that you cling to, and a girl who’s only personality is that she reacts to what others want/need from her.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
5.0
Anna is in her first year of training at a prestigious London conservatory to be an opera singer. She's struggling financially, working in a jazz bar and renting a room in a truly dire house, but she loves her craft. Then she meets an older man and begins a casual relationship with him and her life spins out of control.
I love novels in which women destroy their own lives and this is a variation of that, although Anna is less self-destructive than simply an over-whelmed person who make an occasional bad, but understandable, decision that balloons into disaster. It's less watching someone burn down their own life than it is a reminder at how precarious life is for so many. In Imogen Crimp's novel, Anna is hampered by having been raised by an anxious and over-protective mother and parents who do not support her, financially or emotionally. This is also a novel about the process of studying to become an opera singer, how competitive, repetitious and exciting that world is and how hard it is for someone without outside support and resources to make a go of it, regardless of talent. This is a well-written book that I enjoyed enormously.
I love novels in which women destroy their own lives and this is a variation of that, although Anna is less self-destructive than simply an over-whelmed person who make an occasional bad, but understandable, decision that balloons into disaster. It's less watching someone burn down their own life than it is a reminder at how precarious life is for so many. In Imogen Crimp's novel, Anna is hampered by having been raised by an anxious and over-protective mother and parents who do not support her, financially or emotionally. This is also a novel about the process of studying to become an opera singer, how competitive, repetitious and exciting that world is and how hard it is for someone without outside support and resources to make a go of it, regardless of talent. This is a well-written book that I enjoyed enormously.