Scan barcode
clairellyn's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book because Ebenbach was my creative writing teacher in college, but I loved the book because it is so beautifully written, with characters so flawed and lovely. Ebenbach firmly places you in the story with Zoe and it takes full moments after you have stopped reading to return to the real world. But even more impressive is his handling of Zoe's relationships with other characters in the novel. I was constantly stuck by how I could both see Zoe's reasoning, her awkwardness, her conclusion jumping nature and also see how that response was somewhat flawed. The reader was allowed both completely into Zoe's mind to see the world through her filters, and were also able to take those filters off upon reflection, leaving Zoe to muddle alone in her own mess.
For example, I went into the novel expecting Gordy to be a certain kind of character, one I could predict, one that I knew would be end being the villain of the story, but the novel and Ebenbach doesn't give any easy answers and certainly no easy antagonists. I felt strangely moved by the three minute conversation Zoe had with Taylor's mother. Despite her mental illness, her newness to Portland, the reader see Zoe repeatedly try with one person and another to make a connection, to become the person she so desperately wants to be. And you love her for these moments. Finally, Ebenbach truly sticks the landing with ending which gives us no answers, but merely offers a promise that Zoe will keep on breathing, living, and trying.
This was a wonderful reading experience. I gulped up the book in 24 hours on vacation, and am still thinking about it a week later. I wish more people knew about this slim but powerful novel about what it means to be human.
P.S. Strangely enough the story is somewhat similar to the concept of the show Crazy Ex Girlfriend, but much much more subtle and with less songs. I love both.
For example, I went into the novel expecting Gordy to be a certain kind of character, one I could predict, one that I knew would be end being the villain of the story, but the novel and Ebenbach doesn't give any easy answers and certainly no easy antagonists. I felt strangely moved by the three minute conversation Zoe had with Taylor's mother. Despite her mental illness, her newness to Portland, the reader see Zoe repeatedly try with one person and another to make a connection, to become the person she so desperately wants to be. And you love her for these moments. Finally, Ebenbach truly sticks the landing with ending which gives us no answers, but merely offers a promise that Zoe will keep on breathing, living, and trying.
This was a wonderful reading experience. I gulped up the book in 24 hours on vacation, and am still thinking about it a week later. I wish more people knew about this slim but powerful novel about what it means to be human.
P.S. Strangely enough the story is somewhat similar to the concept of the show Crazy Ex Girlfriend, but much much more subtle and with less songs. I love both.
More...