foxandwolf03 's review for:

Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey

5.0

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If you are a relatively smart person who understands the nuances of human desire and control vs giving up control, as well as the power of the stories we tell ourselves about our lives, then you should ignore the bad reviews and read this book. Especially if you’re open to unconventional novels. Most of the bad reviews complain about unlikeable characters (truly, who cares?) and run-on sentences (which feels too idiotic to even comment on). Sure, Cusk fans will probably like it but frankly, I found Popkey to be darker, smarter, and more interesting than Cusk. Popkey manages to imitate the idiosyncrasies of speaking—from backtracking to stalling to getting sidetracked—almost too well and the pacing of the stories is expertly done. It’s not a style that’s going to land with everyone but once you settle in, you’ll find yourself mesmerized.