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kendallheldt's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
yuniverse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
mtstellens's review against another edition
5.0
A really good book about a Black woman struggling in her 20’s. It had the tone of a lot of the other ‘sad girl reads’ but it is more grounded so probably an easier entry than some of the other ones. I really liked it; I won’t say that I enjoyed it, it is pretty sad, but it was still very well written and engaging.
Edie has been let go from her publishing job and ends up moving in with her boyfriend and his family (he is much older than her and is in an ‘open marriage’). Eric and his wife have recently adopted Akila, who is also Black. Edie ends up helping to take care of her, do her hair and try to get her parents into her interests. She also grows closer to the wife, she is a coroner and Edie goes with her to paint. Edie continues to fit in, but also continues to sleep with Eric even after his wife asks her not to. They are caught after Eric has a health scare when they are together and Edie is asked to move out. In the weeks before she leaves she finds that she is pregnant. On her last day in the house, Edie and Akila go to the mall and are assaulted by police as they are on the way into the house as they arrive home. One of the neighbors had called the cops because she assumed they were criminals because they were Black. Edie has a miscarriage, but still ends up moving out after a bit to start her new job back in the city.
I really liked the scenes between Rebecca (the wife) and Edie. Where Edie begins to paint again with Rebecca in the morgue. Rebecca is an interesting character, she seems to be so disappointed in her life and yet externally at least it seems successful. Of course neither she nor Eric should have been parents, especially to a child of a different race that they are not prepared to support. Eric wanted a child and yet he is not there at all. Rebecca didn’t, and though she is physically there she is unable to support Akila in the way she needs (her hair and seeing how her tutor is being racist). I think that in a different book, the culmination would have been an interpersonal interaction between Edie and others in the house like Rebecca and Eric. I think that the climax being a police interaction was part of what sets this apart from other ‘sad girl books’. I think that it works so well. Life doesn't usually have neat and plot satisfying solutions. This, and the very visceral ‘knocked-on-your-ass’ feeling after Edie lost her job and her apartment and all of her stability so quickly definitely helped it feel more connected to the real world. It doesn't really get wrapped up, but it feels like it ends well.
Edie has been let go from her publishing job and ends up moving in with her boyfriend and his family (he is much older than her and is in an ‘open marriage’). Eric and his wife have recently adopted Akila, who is also Black. Edie ends up helping to take care of her, do her hair and try to get her parents into her interests. She also grows closer to the wife, she is a coroner and Edie goes with her to paint. Edie continues to fit in, but also continues to sleep with Eric even after his wife asks her not to. They are caught after Eric has a health scare when they are together and Edie is asked to move out. In the weeks before she leaves she finds that she is pregnant. On her last day in the house, Edie and Akila go to the mall and are assaulted by police as they are on the way into the house as they arrive home. One of the neighbors had called the cops because she assumed they were criminals because they were Black. Edie has a miscarriage, but still ends up moving out after a bit to start her new job back in the city.
I really liked the scenes between Rebecca (the wife) and Edie. Where Edie begins to paint again with Rebecca in the morgue. Rebecca is an interesting character, she seems to be so disappointed in her life and yet externally at least it seems successful. Of course neither she nor Eric should have been parents, especially to a child of a different race that they are not prepared to support. Eric wanted a child and yet he is not there at all. Rebecca didn’t, and though she is physically there she is unable to support Akila in the way she needs (her hair and seeing how her tutor is being racist). I think that in a different book, the culmination would have been an interpersonal interaction between Edie and others in the house like Rebecca and Eric. I think that the climax being a police interaction was part of what sets this apart from other ‘sad girl books’. I think that it works so well. Life doesn't usually have neat and plot satisfying solutions. This, and the very visceral ‘knocked-on-your-ass’ feeling after Edie lost her job and her apartment and all of her stability so quickly definitely helped it feel more connected to the real world. It doesn't really get wrapped up, but it feels like it ends well.
norcalchris's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-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
4.75
Some of the most impressive and daring writing I’ve ever experienced. Darkly funny at times, vaguely sinister, and shines an unflattering light on the rotten ugly within and around us.
Will be an obvious reread in the future and a study piece on writing style and voice.
I’m not giving it quite 5 stars because I had no problem putting it down halfway through and reading a full other book before I picked it back up and at times the long streams of consciousness became exhausting. Regardless, will be one of the best books I read this year and glad I bought a physical copy.
Will be an obvious reread in the future and a study piece on writing style and voice.
I’m not giving it quite 5 stars because I had no problem putting it down halfway through and reading a full other book before I picked it back up and at times the long streams of consciousness became exhausting. Regardless, will be one of the best books I read this year and glad I bought a physical copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Miscarriage
Minor: Drug abuse, Abortion, and Suicide
lqueijo's review against another edition
2.0
No seguimento do "Black Lives Matter", e em sentido decrescente, passei do excelente "Girl, Woman, Other" para o mediano "Such a fun age" e agora para este fraquinho "Luster". Pelos vistos o "hype" continua.
Não consegui perceber a ideia de uma jovem negra de vinte e qualquer coisa anos ir co-habitar com um casal (heterossexual) branco, cujo homem conheceu, previamente, online e com quem desenvolveu uma relação física (não cheguei a perceber se emocional também) e com a sua adolescente filha adoptiva (negra), num subúrbio de habitantes, tipicamente, brancos. Para além dos devaneios (de todos os tipos) de Edie, a protagonista, que, seguramente, não pode ser considerada uma rapariga comum, e que me parece ser o ponto forte do livro, este não tem, rigorosamente, nada mais a oferecer. Não se pode dizer que as restantes personagens sejam desenvolvidas porque a história, na sua pobreza, também não o é. Este livro parece uma clara tentativa de aproveitamento do "timming" acerca das questões raciais sem, no entanto, conseguir nada que se pareça.
Tinha pensado ler, ainda o "Queenie", mas sendo dentro da "mesma onda", não me parece que queira chegar ainda ao francamente mau, uma vez que não foi tão badalado como este "Luster". Ou então anda tudo ao contrário...
Fraco. Muito fraco...
Não consegui perceber a ideia de uma jovem negra de vinte e qualquer coisa anos ir co-habitar com um casal (heterossexual) branco, cujo homem conheceu, previamente, online e com quem desenvolveu uma relação física (não cheguei a perceber se emocional também) e com a sua adolescente filha adoptiva (negra), num subúrbio de habitantes, tipicamente, brancos. Para além dos devaneios (de todos os tipos) de Edie, a protagonista, que, seguramente, não pode ser considerada uma rapariga comum, e que me parece ser o ponto forte do livro, este não tem, rigorosamente, nada mais a oferecer. Não se pode dizer que as restantes personagens sejam desenvolvidas porque a história, na sua pobreza, também não o é. Este livro parece uma clara tentativa de aproveitamento do "timming" acerca das questões raciais sem, no entanto, conseguir nada que se pareça.
Tinha pensado ler, ainda o "Queenie", mas sendo dentro da "mesma onda", não me parece que queira chegar ainda ao francamente mau, uma vez que não foi tão badalado como este "Luster". Ou então anda tudo ao contrário...
Fraco. Muito fraco...
annamack2023's review against another edition
3.0
This was another book that I did really enjoy the storyline, but the writing held it back for me. The writing tries so hard, to the point it will achieve something interesting or give a description I like but then ruin it by going look at me aren’t I clever?? Did you see what I did there??
I saw a few reviews that complained about being disconnected from the main character. I do think this book is very much falls into the genre of troubled women, and for me that disconnect is a common thread throughout these books. It was great to see a black protagonist and a black author in this sub genre, which I feel like is often dominated by white women’s stories.
I look forward to reading more from this author, there is something deeply unique about this book that I’d love to see more of. However, the writing style just wasn’t quite my cup of tea.
I saw a few reviews that complained about being disconnected from the main character. I do think this book is very much falls into the genre of troubled women, and for me that disconnect is a common thread throughout these books. It was great to see a black protagonist and a black author in this sub genre, which I feel like is often dominated by white women’s stories.
I look forward to reading more from this author, there is something deeply unique about this book that I’d love to see more of. However, the writing style just wasn’t quite my cup of tea.
tzpink's review against another edition
2.0
WAY TO DEEP
The story line was good...and overall the gist of the book was decent but the author used way too many words. At times I felt like I was taking the SAT. There was symbolism for everything. It was difficult to read for me. I felt like I was reading this book in a foreign language.
The story line was good...and overall the gist of the book was decent but the author used way too many words. At times I felt like I was taking the SAT. There was symbolism for everything. It was difficult to read for me. I felt like I was reading this book in a foreign language.
meggielee's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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