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A review by jimbowen0306
Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott
2.0
On good grief, this book irritated me. In it, we see 2 bright girls rise up in their chosen field of biochemistry, from Podunk high school, to highly respected post-doctoral fellows. Along the way, one does something unspeakable, and when the other tells she isn't really believed (because adults be that way apparently). So when they meet up later, the potential for an explosive denouement is there in the back of your mind.
Except it doesn't happen. Sure something does happen, but it's in no way comparable to the original incident, and the reporter of said original incident has very little agency anyway. She is the epitome of Victorian victimhood feminism. Put upon at every turn. And don't tell me she has some form of imposter syndrome. She's worked her way into one of the most prestigious labs in the country from backwoods America. She beat ivy-league students to the position. And to get there, she's had to achieve this repeatedly. So no. She's just as ruthless as the rest of them, but if she didn't seem put upon, we'd have no story.
So, all in all, not fun. I really couldn't get behind the lead character.
Except it doesn't happen. Sure something does happen, but it's in no way comparable to the original incident, and the reporter of said original incident has very little agency anyway. She is the epitome of Victorian victimhood feminism. Put upon at every turn. And don't tell me she has some form of imposter syndrome. She's worked her way into one of the most prestigious labs in the country from backwoods America. She beat ivy-league students to the position. And to get there, she's had to achieve this repeatedly. So no. She's just as ruthless as the rest of them, but if she didn't seem put upon, we'd have no story.
So, all in all, not fun. I really couldn't get behind the lead character.