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prosenotbros's review against another edition
3.0
I was so looking forward to this but it unfortunately didn't meet expectations. I arrived at the book anticipating a Maggie Nelson/Anne Carson sort of vibe (fragments, experimental form, autofiction, theory, the usual buzz factors). Yet Larissa's prose and storytelling failed to capture my attention and I ended up skimming chunks of the book. Out of everything, I enjoyed her insights about art and creative production. Occasionally she'd have a pithy statement that struck me as unique.
Blending memoir, theory, and cultural critique is a tall order and requires a fine balance to ensure one doesn't outweigh the others while still allowing space for original insights. The result, here, is a work that relied on theoretical frameworks and art references to do the thematic and emotional legwork: this referential mode of self-interrogation resisted true emotional depth, instead creating distance through the intellectualization of experiences and feelings. It lacked intimacy. Goes to show that saturating a text with discussions of sex and love doesn't always translate to a reading experience where one understands the significance the author seems to place upon both.
Blending memoir, theory, and cultural critique is a tall order and requires a fine balance to ensure one doesn't outweigh the others while still allowing space for original insights. The result, here, is a work that relied on theoretical frameworks and art references to do the thematic and emotional legwork: this referential mode of self-interrogation resisted true emotional depth, instead creating distance through the intellectualization of experiences and feelings. It lacked intimacy. Goes to show that saturating a text with discussions of sex and love doesn't always translate to a reading experience where one understands the significance the author seems to place upon both.
salomeconstancis's review against another edition
3.5
I love Pham's take on love and life so much. There's something so relatable to me in her work. I cannot wait to read what she writes next :)
leah_alexandra's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
So many people I love raved about this book, so I was excited to dive in. But it left me feeling a bit cold. Pham and I are about the same age, but I had such a difficult time relating to her and all of the feelings she’s put down on the page. I liked when she delved deeper into the work of a particular artist, but in general, I found the book a bit tiring and frustrating to read.
tatumcoconate's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5