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lancemama's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Bullying, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Gaslighting and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Forced institutionalization
frogglin's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
The story here, set in the early 50s at the time of the Rosenburg executions and into the McCarthy trials, is narrated by Simon Putnam. Simon is a recent Harvard graduate, is Jewish, and the son of a woman who knew Ethel Rosenburg.
When he's given a job at a publishing house and offered the chance to edit a novel, he's troubled to find it's a racy, barely fictionalised, retelling of Ethel Rosenburg's story. Simon is very strong in his morals, so he is torn between editing the book as it is, and tarnishing the memory of Ethel (and upsetting his mother) but keeping his job, or trying to steer the flighty and exotic author Anya in a more sensible direction.
I suspect I am too far away from the historical events mentioned here, as I'm Australian, but even so they feel familiar. I found Simon's constant turmoil to be repetitive. Whenever a new piece of information or barrier appears in his path, he asks the same questions and treads the same path as to why it's a challenge for him to deal with - morals, his mother, himself. After a while it started to feel like padding as every major story beat lead to the same thoughts.
Simon falls in love very easily, deciding he's forever devoted to someone from a mere glance over desk, or a photograph. It's faintly ridiculous. Overall though, an interesting and compelling story that takes a while to get going but pays off.
When he's given a job at a publishing house and offered the chance to edit a novel, he's troubled to find it's a racy, barely fictionalised, retelling of Ethel Rosenburg's story. Simon is very strong in his morals, so he is torn between editing the book as it is, and tarnishing the memory of Ethel (and upsetting his mother) but keeping his job, or trying to steer the flighty and exotic author Anya in a more sensible direction.
I suspect I am too far away from the historical events mentioned here, as I'm Australian, but even so they feel familiar. I found Simon's constant turmoil to be repetitive. Whenever a new piece of information or barrier appears in his path, he asks the same questions and treads the same path as to why it's a challenge for him to deal with - morals, his mother, himself. After a while it started to feel like padding as every major story beat lead to the same thoughts.
Simon falls in love very easily, deciding he's forever devoted to someone from a mere glance over desk, or a photograph. It's faintly ridiculous. Overall though, an interesting and compelling story that takes a while to get going but pays off.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
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