A review by spowers26
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

SHE COULD READ EVERYONE. SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT EVERYONE WAS LIVING A GREAT TRAGEDY. 

HER TRAGEDY HAD TAUGHT HER THE LANGUAGE OF TRAGEDY- AND MADE HER ABLE TO READ THAT OF OTHER PEOPLE. IN THAT WAY, SHE SUPPOSED IT WAS A SORT OF BLESSING. 

 

THEY WERE LIKE TINY BATTLEFIELD VETERANS. INJURED BY THE TRIALS OF BEING YOUNG, IN THE GREAT CHILDREN'S WAR. PERHAPS HE HIMSELF HAD NEVER ESCAPED HIS CHILDHOOD WOUNDS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT THESE CHILDREN WORE THEIR INJURIES ON THE OUTSIDE.

I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. THE LONELY HEARTS HOTEL DEALS WITH A SLEW OF TROUBLING SUBJECT MATTERS AND WAS AT TIMES UNCOMFORTABLE TO READ. (EXTREME TRIGGER WARNINGS) 
O'NEILL EXPLORES THEMES OF ABANDONMENT, WOMEN'S ROLES. THEATRICS AS A VERSION OF REALITY MORE REAL THAN LIFE ITSELF, POVERTY, DEPRESSION, DRUG ADDICTION. ART AND THE IMAGINATION. AND THE MEANING OF LIFE. 

I WENT INTO THIS BOOK EXPECTING A LIGHT WHIMSICAL READ BUT WHAT I GOT WAS DARK. VIOLENT, SAD BUT HOPEFUL STORY.