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A review by readswithcocktails
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am still not sure whether I loved this book or thought it was just OK.
I love an unreliable narrator, but I'm always annoyed by vigilante detectives. I mean, ACAB and all of that, but it also never works out when people decide to take matters into their own hands. Do I keep reading books with amateur sleuths? Yes. But I'm continually annoyed.
In spite of the fact that I think (and hope) I have my shit more together than Bodie, I felt a lot of kinship toward her. Weird, fat (although, I can't decide if Bodie was fat or just was dealing with some dysmorphia) music/theater kids in the 90s. We both dealt with the casual cruelty of a certain subset of 90s teen boys, and the casual (what we'd now call) assault and harassment that they'd engage in. Absolutely visceral reactions toward the stories that came out during the #/MeToo movement. In spite of all of that, it felt like something was missing from her as a character. I know her single-mindedness was part of the point, and I can't really put my finger on what I thought was missing.
The story was well constructed, alternating between the present and Bodie's flashbacks. I felt like the final section dragged. I was also never sure what the book was trying to say about power, sex, and relationships. It touched on the grey areas, with it's subplot about accusations against Bodie's ex husband, but I'm not sure what it's trying to say about them. Bodie grapples with it a bit. And maybe the point is that there are no easy answers.
I love an unreliable narrator, but I'm always annoyed by vigilante detectives. I mean, ACAB and all of that, but it also never works out when people decide to take matters into their own hands. Do I keep reading books with amateur sleuths? Yes. But I'm continually annoyed.
In spite of the fact that I think (and hope) I have my shit more together than Bodie, I felt a lot of kinship toward her. Weird, fat (although, I can't decide if Bodie was fat or just was dealing with some dysmorphia) music/theater kids in the 90s. We both dealt with the casual cruelty of a certain subset of 90s teen boys, and the casual (what we'd now call) assault and harassment that they'd engage in. Absolutely visceral reactions toward the stories that came out during the #/MeToo movement. In spite of all of that, it felt like something was missing from her as a character. I know her single-mindedness was part of the point, and I can't really put my finger on what I thought was missing.
The story was well constructed, alternating between the present and Bodie's flashbacks. I felt like the final section dragged. I was also never sure what the book was trying to say about power, sex, and relationships. It touched on the grey areas, with it's subplot about accusations against Bodie's ex husband, but I'm not sure what it's trying to say about them. Bodie grapples with it a bit. And maybe the point is that there are no easy answers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Murder, and Sexual assault