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daisydays128's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
naomip's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I couldn’t say this was an enjoyable read but I found it so immersive. The narrative voice was so well characterised; every interaction, conversation and observation so well drawn that each decision or reaction Therese makes/has feels like the only way that character could possibly react. My response to this book felt really personal and I have to say, has encouraged some introspection.
ginabarclay's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ahucklesby's review
emotional
inspiring
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
2.0
essjay1's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I raced through this, incredibly readable (in a great way), the writing is so sharp and and so observant. I loved the not so subtle digs at the materialism we all love to hate. Definitely a breath of fresh air in the aus/nz lit scene. Reminded me a lot of Rachel Cusk. And maybe Joan Didion.
sannetukker's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bianca89279's review
4.0
3.5
This was an interesting novel, albeit imperfect.
It's about Therese Thorne, a fifty-something-year-old, the owner of a small chain of luxury homewares/decor. She's been married for thirty years to a property developer, two decades her senior. He came with baggage - four children and some lovely properties. ;-)
Therese came from a modest family, but she's had no problems getting used to a life of luxury - as if it's hard. She thinks her life is pretty sweet, she's content in her marriage. When her husband's property development affairs start being investigated by authorities, Therese is left to question her life, her role and her choices, including who she really is and what she wants. She's spurred on a journey of discovery by her somewhat unhinged neighbour, Claire.
There were many things I liked about the novel as it looks at affluence, career, having children, ageing, and female rage. While Claire was an interesting catalyst, an in-your-face kind of character, I found her unbelievable, and I questioned a few other situations that felt over-dramatised and incredulous, e.g. in what universe do people just let some strangers live in their home, rent-free and are so blase about it? I also found the author's choice to have an impromptu orgy peculiar, to say the least, not on moral grounds, just on logistical and probability grounds.
This had good bones, some parts were well done, so I'm keen to read more by this author.
This was an interesting novel, albeit imperfect.
It's about Therese Thorne, a fifty-something-year-old, the owner of a small chain of luxury homewares/decor. She's been married for thirty years to a property developer, two decades her senior. He came with baggage - four children and some lovely properties. ;-)
Therese came from a modest family, but she's had no problems getting used to a life of luxury - as if it's hard. She thinks her life is pretty sweet, she's content in her marriage. When her husband's property development affairs start being investigated by authorities, Therese is left to question her life, her role and her choices, including who she really is and what she wants. She's spurred on a journey of discovery by her somewhat unhinged neighbour, Claire.
There were many things I liked about the novel as it looks at affluence, career, having children, ageing, and female rage. While Claire was an interesting catalyst, an in-your-face kind of character, I found her unbelievable, and I questioned a few other situations that felt over-dramatised and incredulous, e.g. in what universe do people just let some strangers live in their home, rent-free and are so blase about it? I also found the author's choice to have an impromptu orgy peculiar, to say the least, not on moral grounds, just on logistical and probability grounds.
This had good bones, some parts were well done, so I'm keen to read more by this author.
nina_reads_books's review
3.0
The premise of Lioness by Emily Perkins definitely appealed to me but it ultimately didn’t quite hit the mark.
Therese Thorne is the owner of a successful homewares business in New Zealand and she has been married to her much older and very wealthy property developer husband Trevor for decades. Trevor’s adult children have never really taken to Therese despite her efforts but nevertheless Therese feels happy and content with the very comfortable life she leads.
Then allegations of fraud against her husband rock her world and she begins to look over her life with fresh eyes, interrogating the agency she has had and considering whether she is truly happy. As the investigations continue, Therese begins to feel more alone and turns to her downstairs neighbour Claire who is living alone while her husband and teenage daughter are living in another city. Claire seems to have the perfect, carefree, creative life that Therese wonders if she has missed out on. Naturally, everything comes to a dramatic head.
I really enjoyed the writing in this and the focus on wealth, capitalism and female rage that Perkins shone a light on, but I wasn’t particularly convinced by the direction the story took. I could buy Therese questioning whether marrying Trevor with such an age gap had compromised her sense of self and how she critically considered the way that Trevor’s children treated her but her friendship with Claire was odd and didn’t ring true. I couldn’t believe Therese would suddenly turn from a wealthy member of the upper class to a woman who completely lets go and starts engaging in frenetic drug fuelled group dancing! This part of the storyline actually tipped into something so outrageously ridiculous right at the end that it was almost farcical. I love weird books, but this didn’t land for me sadly.
Still I haven’t read Perkins before, and I’d happily give her another go. It was great to read another work of New Zealand fiction as I don’t think we get too many here in Australia.
Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing for my #gifted copy.
Therese Thorne is the owner of a successful homewares business in New Zealand and she has been married to her much older and very wealthy property developer husband Trevor for decades. Trevor’s adult children have never really taken to Therese despite her efforts but nevertheless Therese feels happy and content with the very comfortable life she leads.
Then allegations of fraud against her husband rock her world and she begins to look over her life with fresh eyes, interrogating the agency she has had and considering whether she is truly happy. As the investigations continue, Therese begins to feel more alone and turns to her downstairs neighbour Claire who is living alone while her husband and teenage daughter are living in another city. Claire seems to have the perfect, carefree, creative life that Therese wonders if she has missed out on. Naturally, everything comes to a dramatic head.
I really enjoyed the writing in this and the focus on wealth, capitalism and female rage that Perkins shone a light on, but I wasn’t particularly convinced by the direction the story took. I could buy Therese questioning whether marrying Trevor with such an age gap had compromised her sense of self and how she critically considered the way that Trevor’s children treated her but her friendship with Claire was odd and didn’t ring true. I couldn’t believe Therese would suddenly turn from a wealthy member of the upper class to a woman who completely lets go and starts engaging in frenetic drug fuelled group dancing! This part of the storyline actually tipped into something so outrageously ridiculous right at the end that it was almost farcical. I love weird books, but this didn’t land for me sadly.
Still I haven’t read Perkins before, and I’d happily give her another go. It was great to read another work of New Zealand fiction as I don’t think we get too many here in Australia.
Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing for my #gifted copy.
alananewport's review
3.0
Set in Wellington, and some interesting ideas about female empowerment/submission but ultimately the story was too meandering to keep me hooked.