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A review by minimicropup
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Atmosphere: đ Largely created through snippets of the charactersâ thoughts and interactions, with detailed descriptions of locations peppered throughout in an effective way. It contributes to the overall setting and goings-ons rather than being distracting.
Main POVs: đ
-a 24 year old recent fine art graduate who presents as carefree, confident, and adventurous but is harbouring a deep sense of shame, depressive disorders, and unhealthy ego. They blame everyone and everything for their struggles. We get to see them slowly evolve and where it comes from in their past
-a 44 year old functional alcoholic and advertising entrepreneur who is successful and perhaps a âcharmingâ drunk but painfully immature and people-pleasing in a shallow way. We also see them evolve and where this tendency comes from
-a witty, intuitive, cynical 37 year old television/film writer recently forced out of their job and now living with their elderly wise-cracking parent
Showânâtell: â€ïž
So much show! Though half the time you arenât quite sure what youâre being shown, it adds to the story. Like bringing a neon crayon set in an unlabelled package, revealing them individually, then passing them around the class.
Reading Journey: đ
People-watching on the NY subway from early morning âtil late night. There will be moments of boredom, confusion, cringing, heartwarmth (?), and laughter.
Great match if you like:
-literary fiction with character-driven narratives that are infuriating, hilarious, and inspiring
-believable outcomes (follows MCs over a two-year period)
-character studies involving addiction, mental illness, and childhood trauma
-NYC party vibes with consequences included
-a sprinkling of randomness
-wrong time and place romance
Vibes: đ đ„șđ„Ž
Format: Library E-book via Libby
Main POVs: đ
-a 24 year old recent fine art graduate who presents as carefree, confident, and adventurous but is harbouring a deep sense of shame, depressive disorders, and unhealthy ego. They blame everyone and everything for their struggles. We get to see them slowly evolve and where it comes from in their past
-a 44 year old functional alcoholic and advertising entrepreneur who is successful and perhaps a âcharmingâ drunk but painfully immature and people-pleasing in a shallow way. We also see them evolve and where this tendency comes from
-a witty, intuitive, cynical 37 year old television/film writer recently forced out of their job and now living with their elderly wise-cracking parent
Showânâtell: â€ïž
So much show! Though half the time you arenât quite sure what youâre being shown, it adds to the story. Like bringing a neon crayon set in an unlabelled package, revealing them individually, then passing them around the class.
Reading Journey: đ
People-watching on the NY subway from early morning âtil late night. There will be moments of boredom, confusion, cringing, heartwarmth (?), and laughter.
Great match if you like:
-literary fiction with character-driven narratives that are infuriating, hilarious, and inspiring
-believable outcomes (follows MCs over a two-year period)
-character studies involving addiction, mental illness, and childhood trauma
-NYC party vibes with consequences included
-a sprinkling of randomness
-wrong time and place romance
Vibes: đ đ„șđ„Ž
Format: Library E-book via Libby
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Addiction includes alcoholism (and recovery), food addiction (and recovery), relationship addiction/codependent friendships, meth, and heroin fatal overdose . Chronic illness is Parkinsonâs and dementia in an elderly parent. Animal death is a short set of scenes involving a pet marsupial that drowns and was left to roam free in unsafe surroundings . Sexual content is consenting adults (though sometimes very intoxicated). Adult/minor relationship recounted a bit by one character from her past. Abandonment theme around parental abandonment/rejection of some characters.