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I was not sure if I was going to like this novel but I really did in the end. Deborah Levy constructed a plethora of characters who are strange and idiosyncratic and our narrator is enthralling. I feel as though I will carry Sofia in my mind for a long time. The way the novel is written and because of Sofia being an anthropologist, I wondered if the style was influenced by ethnographic or field study write ups. At times I found the dialogue and action had to follow in terms of how it was written up, so moments of tension or anger felt a bit slow and confusing. But I also felt as though that was because of our narrator who is often lost in her thoughts, her delusions, her daydreams, her desires, her fears. I also found the blending of present and past tense at times confusing but somehow it worked. I wonder if anyone else noticed that? What was the purpose?
I loved reading from the perspective of a character coming into her body, her allure, and being not quite feminine nor performing. When I was younger I often felt that I was fulfilling a fantasy rather than owning my desire or body. So it was magical, monstrous, exciting to read Sofia in her knotted matted hair, her curvy round, short body, being desired and desiring. It also was fun bisexual mayhem. And elegantly showed Ingrid as a complicated and "dangerous to love" person. Someone who thrives on attention and desire from men and others.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the motif of jellyfish as one of my obsessions is about jellyfish and how as our oceans acidify and warm, they will dominate. There were several other allusions to politics, environment etc that were deftly woven in that subtly challenged Conservative POVs.
What a strange and beautiful little novel.
On a side note, I'm not sure I'll watch the film because I love that Sofia isn't a thin queen and has big curly hair and "brown" skin (although brown on white people doesn't mean much) so the casting seems a bit off for me. I want more films with women who aren't tiny and thin so I think I'll be heartbroken to see Sofia conformed to the film industry's standards.
I loved reading from the perspective of a character coming into her body, her allure, and being not quite feminine nor performing. When I was younger I often felt that I was fulfilling a fantasy rather than owning my desire or body. So it was magical, monstrous, exciting to read Sofia in her knotted matted hair, her curvy round, short body, being desired and desiring. It also was fun bisexual mayhem. And elegantly showed Ingrid as a complicated and "dangerous to love" person. Someone who thrives on attention and desire from men and others.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the motif of jellyfish as one of my obsessions is about jellyfish and how as our oceans acidify and warm, they will dominate. There were several other allusions to politics, environment etc that were deftly woven in that subtly challenged Conservative POVs.
What a strange and beautiful little novel.
On a side note, I'm not sure I'll watch the film because I love that Sofia isn't a thin queen and has big curly hair and "brown" skin (although brown on white people doesn't mean much) so the casting seems a bit off for me. I want more films with women who aren't tiny and thin so I think I'll be heartbroken to see Sofia conformed to the film industry's standards.