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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
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
DNF em 40%. Esse livro tem um público muito específico e esse público não sou eu. Muito provavelmente é para mulheres brancas divorciadas que moram em NYC e em algum momento tiverem um transtorno alimentar.
Tentei insistir pra ver se as histórias iam mudar mas eram praticamente a mesma perspectiva sempre.
Tentei insistir pra ver se as histórias iam mudar mas eram praticamente a mesma perspectiva sempre.
There were some short stories in here that I loved and others that I didn't quite enjoy but overall it was a good book.
Lisa Taddeo's Ghost Lover presents nine captivating stories exploring the complexities of desire, womanhood, and social expectations. Through sharp prose and precise character portrayals, Taddeo offers insightful glimpses into the human psyche at various life stages. Standout tales like the titular "Ghost Lover" and "Air Supply" showcase her observant storytelling.
While some characters may appear unlikeable, Taddeo's engaging style and examination of rage and obsession keep readers invested. The collection's recurring motifs of women re-enacting violence and pursuing the unattainable create a sense of cohesion, even as some narratives feel incomplete.
Ghost Lover offers a piercing look at female friendship and aging, showcasing Taddeo's unique literary voice. While the collection may leave some yearning for broader themes or more conclusive endings, it succeeds in sparking enduring contemplation on the intricacies of human connections. Despite its limitations, Taddeo's provocative storytelling leaves me eager to delve deeper into her body of work.
While some characters may appear unlikeable, Taddeo's engaging style and examination of rage and obsession keep readers invested. The collection's recurring motifs of women re-enacting violence and pursuing the unattainable create a sense of cohesion, even as some narratives feel incomplete.
Ghost Lover offers a piercing look at female friendship and aging, showcasing Taddeo's unique literary voice. While the collection may leave some yearning for broader themes or more conclusive endings, it succeeds in sparking enduring contemplation on the intricacies of human connections. Despite its limitations, Taddeo's provocative storytelling leaves me eager to delve deeper into her body of work.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway (Thank you!!). It took me quite a while to get through it even though it's only 221 pages. The main characters in all the short stories are white women - mostly affluent and mostly single - whose lives predominately revolve around men. I found this focus exasperating and, as a single white woman myself, perhaps took it personally. There are other things than men that make up my own and other women's lives but you'd never know it reading these stories. And maybe that wouldn't be so bad, but most of these female characters are so unpleasant, shallow, and unnuanced that it grew repetitive. One of the rare male characters whose thoughts are given a voice "marvels at how easy it is, with women. If only they knew how little time we spend thinking of them, and if they only knew how much we know about how much they think about us." The author goes on to prove this point of view true in story after story. She does have an occasional fun turn of phrase that I enjoyed but in general, whenever I finished a story, I would put the book down in disgust and had a hard time picking it up again.
Beautiful sentences, exquisite characterization; I continue to worship Taddeo’s writing, but I think all these stories together in one collection made the themes feel repetitive and not resonant. I’m not sure if that makes sense; the way she brings to life what it feels like to be a woman - especially an aging woman - is so precise and vivid and that comes through here, but for me it wasn’t as enjoyable as her long-form work. Still good though!
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let me be clear: I wanted to love Ghost Lover. Taddeo's Animal was one of my favorite books of 2021. There were things I liked about this collection, in the end - I enjoy Taddeo's writing style and her use of bizarre metaphors, the way these stories explore the rawness of womanhood. Unfortunately, all of these stories begin to blend together because the main characters are so indistinguishable from each other. They're chasing men who won't give them the time of day, preoccupied with their weight and appearances, grieving a youth that will never return. They were sexually abused by father figures and emotionally neglected by mothers. Within an hour of finishing this one, I already cannot tell you which specific details I'm remembering belong to which woman.
Like many others point out in their reviews, the fixation with weight in this collection is particularly troublesome. Sure, fatphobia is deeply ingrained in the culture that shapes upper middle class white women like those in this collection, but the fact that it is so present in all of these stories feels incredibly unnecessary.
Rounding my rating up to 2 stars because I really liked "Air Supply" and the way it portrays friendship, and for the overall writing style.
Like many others point out in their reviews, the fixation with weight in this collection is particularly troublesome. Sure, fatphobia is deeply ingrained in the culture that shapes upper middle class white women like those in this collection, but the fact that it is so present in all of these stories feels incredibly unnecessary.
Rounding my rating up to 2 stars because I really liked "Air Supply" and the way it portrays friendship, and for the overall writing style.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated