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leahvanert's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
2.5
I can't remember if someone recommended this to me or I just saw it somewhere and was intrigued by the story. It's described by someone who did an endorsement as Gossip Girl in 1950s Texas, and I can see that! This book would be great for someone who doesn't need a solid plotline that's consistently moving and would rather focus on the characters themselves. This wasn't bad, but it was just okay.
peggyd's review
3.0
I read this for my book club; otherwise I doubt I would have picked it up. The problems of rich white girls in 1950s Houston simply isn't my cup of tea. This is about wealthy Cece and Joan, friends since birth. Joan is stunning, lit from within, blah, blah, blah and Cece is her best friend and puppy dog, essentially. Joan disappears from Cece's life several times, and the book focuses on the mystery and impact of those disappearances.
The bones of this story were fine and I think it makes strong points about the nature of women's friendships and how complex they are. Yet I was really impatient with CeCe, the narrator, who seemed willfully ignorant and complacent. The book seems to blithely accept "the way things are" in 1950s Houston, including women as objects and homemakers only. If it tries to question this status quo via Joan and her desire for more, I think it fails, basically saying she can only get more by letting men use her and by using them in return. Hmph. I think those ideas needed to be examined more deeply to make this book a truly satisfying read.
The bones of this story were fine and I think it makes strong points about the nature of women's friendships and how complex they are. Yet I was really impatient with CeCe, the narrator, who seemed willfully ignorant and complacent. The book seems to blithely accept "the way things are" in 1950s Houston, including women as objects and homemakers only. If it tries to question this status quo via Joan and her desire for more, I think it fails, basically saying she can only get more by letting men use her and by using them in return. Hmph. I think those ideas needed to be examined more deeply to make this book a truly satisfying read.
joan_anne's review
1.0
I can’t believe I finished this book. There was more depth in the last 1/4 of the book than the first 3/4 so it almost made it worth it. The characters were too shallow and the glamour of the 50s descriptions weren’t as vivid as promised.
leslie_kent's review against another edition
4.0
I got this as part of the Penguin First to Read program. I'm so glad that I chose it. The writing was lovely and the characters sucked me in. I guess I'd say that it's the story of a friendship between CeCe and Joan. The mystery of Joan and her life is always there in the background and as CeCe struggles to solve it, I found myself wanting to solve it with her.
ceeemvee's review against another edition
2.0
First, a very heartfelt thank you to Riverhead Books for providing me with this book.
The After Party is the story of two women named Joan, one a very dominant personality and the other her “handmaiden.” The story unfolds in Houston during the 1950's, amidst wealth, high-society and glamour. The two Joans begin school together and the teacher decides two Joans won't work, so one is called by her middle name, Cece. Yes, Cece is the handmaiden to the Joan who is larger than life.
Unfortunately, it took me a month to get through this book. It started well, but the story moves slowly and meanders all over the place. Cece is forever at Joan's beck and call, even straining her marriage to the breaking point. She lies to her husband, who starts to believe she is in love with Joan. Could it be? No, she's just infatuated with her and acting like an obsessive teenage hanger-on who never grew up. She gets angry when Joan is around and treats her terribly, then moons over when she is gone. No spoiler, but there is one scene of debauchery where Joan has particularly messed up, and Cece doesn't seem as concerned with that as she was about other antics that would make people talk. Joan was just a spoiled, rich, self-centered girl who grew into the same type of woman. She brought nothing to the relationship, which makes it hard to understand Cece's choices, feelings and emotions.
That said, the writing style was good and the scenes between Cece and her mother were very well-written and moving.
The After Party is the story of two women named Joan, one a very dominant personality and the other her “handmaiden.” The story unfolds in Houston during the 1950's, amidst wealth, high-society and glamour. The two Joans begin school together and the teacher decides two Joans won't work, so one is called by her middle name, Cece. Yes, Cece is the handmaiden to the Joan who is larger than life.
Unfortunately, it took me a month to get through this book. It started well, but the story moves slowly and meanders all over the place. Cece is forever at Joan's beck and call, even straining her marriage to the breaking point. She lies to her husband, who starts to believe she is in love with Joan. Could it be? No, she's just infatuated with her and acting like an obsessive teenage hanger-on who never grew up. She gets angry when Joan is around and treats her terribly, then moons over when she is gone. No spoiler, but there is one scene of debauchery where Joan has particularly messed up, and Cece doesn't seem as concerned with that as she was about other antics that would make people talk. Joan was just a spoiled, rich, self-centered girl who grew into the same type of woman. She brought nothing to the relationship, which makes it hard to understand Cece's choices, feelings and emotions.
That said, the writing style was good and the scenes between Cece and her mother were very well-written and moving.
marierossi's review against another edition
5.0
THIS BOOK.
It's just an honest to goodness book. Beautiful writing. Developed, well-rounded, three-dimensional characters. A strong plot that doesn't overshadow the people. No dumb plot twists, no secret message, no stand on feminism or racism or the fucking 2016 Presidential Election.
There is romance but it isn't the "main attraction." That belongs to the intense friendship of Cecelia and Joan. The After Party explores the aftermath of a longstanding friendship gone...well, not wrong exactly. Perhaps dry would be a better word. Cecelia is constantly looking for a reason why Joan is pulling away from her, taking trips without telling her. She's hurt and betrayed and so goddamn confused. Therefore, she is every girl.
I found her relatable from the start, melting into the story with ease that always comes with seamlessly written prose. Every time the pages were opened, I was convinced the world was real and heartbroken at the end when I remembered this was a work of fiction.
One of the strongest commendations I can give is use of Tommy, Cecelia's toddler, in the story. It is easy to leave a child out of a story for sake of convenience but having Tommy in the mix made things so much more interesting. It opened up a side of Cecelia that explained so much and, in the end, explains a lot about her relationship with Joan. It is also a good reminder that the wealthy cared for their children despite outward appearances.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. I thought DiSclafani's first work, [b:The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls|18693867|The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls|Anton DiSclafani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396843613s/18693867.jpg|21995426] was a strong debut, but she proves herself a true writer with [b:The After Party|26150788|The After Party|Anton DiSclafani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445445904s/26150788.jpg|46106707]. I think she's here to stay.
It's just an honest to goodness book. Beautiful writing. Developed, well-rounded, three-dimensional characters. A strong plot that doesn't overshadow the people. No dumb plot twists, no secret message, no stand on feminism or racism or the fucking 2016 Presidential Election.
There is romance but it isn't the "main attraction." That belongs to the intense friendship of Cecelia and Joan. The After Party explores the aftermath of a longstanding friendship gone...well, not wrong exactly. Perhaps dry would be a better word. Cecelia is constantly looking for a reason why Joan is pulling away from her, taking trips without telling her. She's hurt and betrayed and so goddamn confused. Therefore, she is every girl.
I found her relatable from the start, melting into the story with ease that always comes with seamlessly written prose. Every time the pages were opened, I was convinced the world was real and heartbroken at the end when I remembered this was a work of fiction.
One of the strongest commendations I can give is use of Tommy, Cecelia's toddler, in the story. It is easy to leave a child out of a story for sake of convenience but having Tommy in the mix made things so much more interesting. It opened up a side of Cecelia that explained so much and, in the end, explains a lot about her relationship with Joan. It is also a good reminder that the wealthy cared for their children despite outward appearances.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. I thought DiSclafani's first work, [b:The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls|18693867|The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls|Anton DiSclafani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396843613s/18693867.jpg|21995426] was a strong debut, but she proves herself a true writer with [b:The After Party|26150788|The After Party|Anton DiSclafani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445445904s/26150788.jpg|46106707]. I think she's here to stay.
megs_readstoomuch's review
2.0
I finished this one just to be obstinate. It ached to be as good as The Paris Wife or The Perfume Collector, but it sort of tripped and fell on its face. It lacks one thing, a strong reason to exist as a story. I just didn't get the point.
I did love Cece and her struggle though, hence the 2 Stars.
I did love Cece and her struggle though, hence the 2 Stars.
unsaidwish's review
4.0
An interesting book about a friendship between two women who had known each other since childhood. I think it gives a wonderful lesson in that while you may know someone your whole life, you will never truly know everything about them. Everyone has their secrets and those secrets affect how they behave and the choices they make. I truly couldn't have predicted the reveal, but it certainly put the entire story into perspective once it was explained.