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tildahlia's review
4.0
I picked this book up as it was meant to be funny (?!) which I guess it was in a very dark and bleak way. That being said, I really enjoyed it. Attenberg is a deft writer who adds something new to the experience of being a single woman in New York. It's short, it's sharp, I enjoyed it.
fbroom's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I was so sad when it was over. It's a book about a woman who is about to turn 40. You learn about Andrea's life and her family and friends at different points in time and not in an ordered way. The writing is precise and sharp. I loved it. I also loved Andrea. Yes, she's running away from responsibilities and pretending there is nothing wrong but all of us do that in one way or another.
"But I cry anyway because it was a path I could have taken and didn’t. I cry for the lost idea, the lost concept. Sometimes I cry, too, for who I was as an artist and what my life could have been like if only I had kept going. I weep for my lost identities. I weep for my possibilities."
"Whatever thrill I had in perfecting my job is now dead, because perfection itself is boring; it’s only everything leading up to it that’s interesting."
"But I might as well have done it, scaled him, straddled him, slid between his sheets. Because a glance is as meaningful as a fuck."
"For so long I have believed I could never catch up, but now I realize there’s nothing to catch up to, there’s only what I choose to make. There’s still time, I think. I have so much time left."
“And worst of all, what if you don’t know what you like at all? What if nothing sticks? Then you spend half your life wondering what it is you’re supposed to be doing next. What happens after that?”
"But I cry anyway because it was a path I could have taken and didn’t. I cry for the lost idea, the lost concept. Sometimes I cry, too, for who I was as an artist and what my life could have been like if only I had kept going. I weep for my lost identities. I weep for my possibilities."
"Whatever thrill I had in perfecting my job is now dead, because perfection itself is boring; it’s only everything leading up to it that’s interesting."
"But I might as well have done it, scaled him, straddled him, slid between his sheets. Because a glance is as meaningful as a fuck."
"For so long I have believed I could never catch up, but now I realize there’s nothing to catch up to, there’s only what I choose to make. There’s still time, I think. I have so much time left."
“And worst of all, what if you don’t know what you like at all? What if nothing sticks? Then you spend half your life wondering what it is you’re supposed to be doing next. What happens after that?”
ktswings's review
2.0
I think I just hard too hard a time identifying with the main character, and it felt like work getting through this very short book. Each chapter was more depressing for me than the next, but not in the sad-book-girl way I enjoy. I'm younger than this character, and yet just wanted to continually tell her to grow the fuck up, if that was the point, then I'm not grown up enough myself to get it.
angelamichelle's review
3.0
I liked this more than I thought I would. And I binge watched a couple seasons of Girls around the same time, so I am now well educated on millennials in New York
bmusselman3's review
3.0
I loved that this novel blurred the lines between fiction and memoir. I don’t have a lot of experience reading autobiographical fiction and I really enjoyed it!
There were moments where I thought it deserved a more streamlined plot, though. It also was quite depressing which I hadn’t anticipated, and was trying to steer away from—but that’s on me reading a lot of depressing books lately. I also found Andrea pretty annoyingly cynical.
There were moments where I thought it deserved a more streamlined plot, though. It also was quite depressing which I hadn’t anticipated, and was trying to steer away from—but that’s on me reading a lot of depressing books lately. I also found Andrea pretty annoyingly cynical.
caseyreadsalotofbooks's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kellyncorrado's review
2.0
Just didn't do it for me. Didn't have a lot of depth, though the potential was there. Nothing really new or exciting with the plot or characters, all felt done before.
carolsm10's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Reflective book. Not much happen, but easy reading and can easily understand character feelings. It's a nice book that questions some morals. Conclusions are not clear, as mentioned, author makes us reflecting on life.
laila4343's review
4.0
This book will sneak up on you.
I thought it was incredibly readable and I kept turning the pages rapidly, but I wasn’t convinced I actually liked it. The heroine is very prickly like a porcupine, interesting but also a bit obnoxious. She’s smart and neurotic with a sharp, wry, dark sense of humor. She has lots of messy, unsexy sex. She is alone but not necessarily lonely, except when she is. Her family is messed up, but they still love one another. She is an artist who no longer makes art. Anyway, I kept reading about her and the more I did, the more I liked this book. The last two chapters are pure gold, deeply sad and beautiful. I’m glad I read this.
I thought it was incredibly readable and I kept turning the pages rapidly, but I wasn’t convinced I actually liked it. The heroine is very prickly like a porcupine, interesting but also a bit obnoxious. She’s smart and neurotic with a sharp, wry, dark sense of humor. She has lots of messy, unsexy sex. She is alone but not necessarily lonely, except when she is. Her family is messed up, but they still love one another. She is an artist who no longer makes art. Anyway, I kept reading about her and the more I did, the more I liked this book. The last two chapters are pure gold, deeply sad and beautiful. I’m glad I read this.