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A review by greatlibraryofalexandra
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
5.0
Unhiiiiiiiinnnnnged.
This book was great. Like a psychological, cerebral, millennial 'Misery.' A meditative "Ingrid Goes West" that had a condemning and satisfying ending (whereas that movie was terrible). I was absorbed in this book even when I was horrified. I understood where this was going to go on page 127 of the book, but it did not deter my enjoyment - and I was even sure I was wrong for a while. I loved the way it played with the perception of self that warps us, as children of the millennia half-obsessed with social media, and how it walked this clever line of being clearly unstable...but also almost convincing you it was a little justifiable, because Caleb...well, he was lying!
It also had a subtle way of accepting its unoriginality by facing it, relying on the repeated theme of "yes, but there are lots of books that focus on women stalking other women" - a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of stories recycled, and twisted into something unique, and successful because we all keep going back to the same old thing, and the same old lesson learned. This was just really grody and fun to read and fun to live vicariously through. Am I ever going to behave like this? No, it's psychotic. Do I sometimes want to? Hmm.
There's a voyeur in all of us and Caitlin Barasch is calling us out.
TW: There's a rape scene in this book, but (oddly) I think it's...important. It explicitly discusses the difference between a bodily reaction and a verbal reaction, and the representation of the FMC's mental state over the incident while it is happening is done very very well done.
This book was great. Like a psychological, cerebral, millennial 'Misery.' A meditative "Ingrid Goes West" that had a condemning and satisfying ending (whereas that movie was terrible). I was absorbed in this book even when I was horrified. I understood where this was going to go on page 127 of the book, but it did not deter my enjoyment - and I was even sure I was wrong for a while. I loved the way it played with the perception of self that warps us, as children of the millennia half-obsessed with social media, and how it walked this clever line of being clearly unstable...but also almost convincing you it was a little justifiable, because Caleb...well, he was lying!
It also had a subtle way of accepting its unoriginality by facing it, relying on the repeated theme of "yes, but there are lots of books that focus on women stalking other women" - a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of stories recycled, and twisted into something unique, and successful because we all keep going back to the same old thing, and the same old lesson learned. This was just really grody and fun to read and fun to live vicariously through. Am I ever going to behave like this? No, it's psychotic. Do I sometimes want to? Hmm.
There's a voyeur in all of us and Caitlin Barasch is calling us out.
TW: There's a rape scene in this book, but (oddly) I think it's...important. It explicitly discusses the difference between a bodily reaction and a verbal reaction, and the representation of the FMC's mental state over the incident while it is happening is done very very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape