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A review by dr_kat
With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Inside this book are many, many characters; each with their own agenda and intentions; and a plot that builds on itself, going from high intensity to highest, with all sorts of twisty turns cropping up, especially toward the end.
There’s the story of Meribel who worked hard for her life’s work. She had sacrificed more than a person should ever have to and now sees her career slipping away from her because of gender bias and age discrimination. Meribel is also a single mom of Honor. Honor is autistic, living in a “normies” world. On the cusp of teen hood, Honor isn’t just trying to figure out her world, but she is also discovering herself. Added to this cast are myriad love interests and neighbors who complicate everything. Because Meribel is a former child actor (and current adult actor, although her star is well past its shine) she also had a particularly weird, driven, and creepy stalker chasing her across the country. That’s the gist of it; a synopsis they wasn’t written by AI and maybe shows you a little of my view of things.
My challenges with this book began immediately. So did the fun that this story brings. Starting with what I loved: There’s Meribel’s stalker: called Market Man by Honor because he sends her letters written in fruit scented markers. But as silly as that is, he’s still terrifying because he also sends dismembered doll parts painted to represent viscera and fluid loss. When we find out he’s so young the surreal essence of Meribel’s life become more than just irony. Honor and her friendship midway through the story with the daughter of a jealous neighbor had me cheering. And even though Honor kept objectifying a young homeless woman called Xena (who was never weak or deserving of anyone’s pity), it was absolutely in character and didn’t take away from the story. My biggest issue (and I had a lot of them, but this is the only one I’ll include) was the misdirect around Cam. Meribel never distrusted Cam, and all her talk of how “dangerous” he was was couched in terms of sexual fun and not literal danger. But Cam was set up to be a red herring for the stalker purposely to confuse the issue. I also think Cooper needed to be explored more, and Meribel’s bad choices and bad behaviors could have been lessened.
There’s the story of Meribel who worked hard for her life’s work. She had sacrificed more than a person should ever have to and now sees her career slipping away from her because of gender bias and age discrimination. Meribel is also a single mom of Honor. Honor is autistic, living in a “normies” world. On the cusp of teen hood, Honor isn’t just trying to figure out her world, but she is also discovering herself. Added to this cast are myriad love interests and neighbors who complicate everything. Because Meribel is a former child actor (and current adult actor, although her star is well past its shine) she also had a particularly weird, driven, and creepy stalker chasing her across the country. That’s the gist of it; a synopsis they wasn’t written by AI and maybe shows you a little of my view of things.