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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
This was an easy read (via audio) with a slightly ridiculous premise - the idea of “invisibility” as a diagnosis. However, the underlying messaging was powerful and made for a very enjoyable and light hearted way to see out my 2024 in books.
I think women over 40 would get the most out of this as it grapples a lot with broken marriages, adult children who still need parenting, female friendship, living alone, and the challenges of life once we get to a certain point.
I think women over 40 would get the most out of this as it grapples a lot with broken marriages, adult children who still need parenting, female friendship, living alone, and the challenges of life once we get to a certain point.
Something weird happens to women around their 40th birthday. For me, I began noticing that my clothes fit differently (and it wasn't just because of the inevitable weight gain that mysteriously happened around this time too. It's more like things began...shifting. IYKYK), wrinkles popped up (seemingly out of nowhere), and skin started sagging.
But, as Jane Tara puts forth in her upcoming debut novel, the changes are just physical. Women seem to start to...disappear.
At first, Tilda notices that her pinky finger is gone. Then her ear, and eventually her neck. What is happening?
As she tries to figure the mystery out, she explores support groups (too depressing), therapy (meh at first, but eventually a win!), and meditation (this is Tilda's favorite).
While a lot of the book was just too woo woo for me (Sorry not sorry that yoga, meditation, silence retreats etc aren't for me), there are parts where I even chuckled out loud, and most importantly, I loved the use of metaphor employed by Tara that really proved the point that there is a massive shift that occurs for women in their 40s-50s that just isn't experienced by men.
I have yet to read The Husbands by Holly Gramazio yet, but I have a feeling the methods behind both stories are the same. Women are not **literally** disappearing, but they are. Who sees them once their bodies have changed, they're not busy raising children, and their "purpose" as society has dictated has ended?
This would make such a great discussion book among friends, and while I don't feel like I've completely disappeared (yet?), I do feel so much about this book.
But, as Jane Tara puts forth in her upcoming debut novel, the changes are just physical. Women seem to start to...disappear.
At first, Tilda notices that her pinky finger is gone. Then her ear, and eventually her neck. What is happening?
As she tries to figure the mystery out, she explores support groups (too depressing), therapy (meh at first, but eventually a win!), and meditation (this is Tilda's favorite).
While a lot of the book was just too woo woo for me (Sorry not sorry that yoga, meditation, silence retreats etc aren't for me), there are parts where I even chuckled out loud, and most importantly, I loved the use of metaphor employed by Tara that really proved the point that there is a massive shift that occurs for women in their 40s-50s that just isn't experienced by men.
I have yet to read The Husbands by Holly Gramazio yet, but I have a feeling the methods behind both stories are the same. Women are not **literally** disappearing, but they are. Who sees them once their bodies have changed, they're not busy raising children, and their "purpose" as society has dictated has ended?
This would make such a great discussion book among friends, and while I don't feel like I've completely disappeared (yet?), I do feel so much about this book.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tilda discovers one morning that she is disappearing literally, bit by bit. She is diagnosed with "invisibility," a condition that affects many women over the age of 40. It is progressive and incurable. Or is it? Tilda is determined to beat the odds and reclaim her visibility - both physical and metaphorical. This novel speaks to any woman who has ever felt "invisible" in public or social situations. This is a combo novel/self-help book. The metaphor is a bit obvious, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story. I cheered for Tilda as she confronted the naysayers and "Pearl," her inner voice that seemed determined to keep her quiet.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book by the end well enough, but it was slow going. I am not a fan of the writing style, so I had a hard time getting into the story. I do like the overall message of the book, and found it to be a valuable message about being willing to take up space in your own life, starting with your own perception of yourself. Unfortunatly, I found the book to be unremarkable in every other way. The characters were fine, the story itself was fine, the writing was fine, but very little about the book took up space to me.
*I received this book in a giveaway but my review and post are not sponsored.*
*I received this book in a giveaway but my review and post are not sponsored.*
I can’t remember the last time I stopped reading a book. I decided 15 pages into this that it was not for me. I couldn’t get past the clunky metaphor of missing body parts to signal older women being invisible - it is really annoying. I thought it was poorly written. I didn’t find it amusing. It’s a self help book dressed up as fiction.
The most heavy handed and basic metaphor of all time. An easy read but I felt myself get dumber as I waited for SOME type of complexity or unexpected twist on the boring metaphor… it never arrives. What a yawn.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Draws heavily on self help but woven into a fictional story. Seems particularly suited to people going thru empty nest, divorce, and/or menopause, with a clever metaphor about invisibility. But could just as easily apply in other life circumstances like chronic illness. I got more drawn in as the book went on but found it a bit slow at the start.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disconcertingly, Tilda’s pinky finger is missing. Not gone, but not visible. And not longe rafter Tilda is officially diagnosed with invisibility. A diagnosis common among when over 40. Slowly more of her starts slowly fading away.
She seeks help at a support group but finds it depressing. She does however find two new friends also dealing with invisibility.
At the behest of her ‘woo woo’ friend, Tilda tries meditation and therapy with a woman who was once invisible herself but is now impossible not to see. This journey takes Tilda on a deep dive of her past, how she talks to herself, how she sees the world, how she sees herself and what she wants.
As a 41 year old woman, wow this hits home. We often lose ourself in our roles and forget a who we really are. I appreciate the reminder to love myself as much as I do others.
She seeks help at a support group but finds it depressing. She does however find two new friends also dealing with invisibility.
At the behest of her ‘woo woo’ friend, Tilda tries meditation and therapy with a woman who was once invisible herself but is now impossible not to see. This journey takes Tilda on a deep dive of her past, how she talks to herself, how she sees the world, how she sees herself and what she wants.
As a 41 year old woman, wow this hits home. We often lose ourself in our roles and forget a who we really are. I appreciate the reminder to love myself as much as I do others.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I *loved* this book—what an incredible topic and such a great exploration of getting older! If you’re a woman above the age of 35, READ THIS BOOK! Tilda’s story of quite literally becoming invisible as an aging, single woman was so refreshing and unique. The book has a truly lovely set of diverse supporting characters I loved so much and the authorpacked a lot of emotional depth into each of them and their stories.
I do wonder if perhaps this book could have been tightened a bit into a novella, but I again, I really enjoyed this.
I do wonder if perhaps this book could have been tightened a bit into a novella, but I again, I really enjoyed this.