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lydiaewinters 's review for:
Eliza and Her Monsters
by Francesca Zappia
It’s perfect.
There’s really no other way around it.
In my late teens and early twenties, fandom was my LIFE. I had a real life Emmy and Max. Actually I had several, and most of us are still friends now. I bought this book because one of them left a positive review. I just convinced another (my RL Emmy, we met when she was 12) to get the book out of the library.
Eliza is such a real character. I wondered at times if she was on the spectrum, partly because of how intensely she attacked Monstrous Sea. Whether she is or isn’t doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that she is a passionate artist and storyteller and she has created something truly beautiful.
It was interesting to see her relationship with her family. My life is an open book, so mine were always fairly well informed about what I was doing. But Eliza is an introvert in a family of extroverts, none of whom seem to understand her at all.
Then there’s Wallace, who is possibly the sweetest boy in the world. (He’s 18 in the book so I can feel like less of a creep lusting over him 😂) I’ve read a lot about selective mutism because it fascinates me, and let me tell you, it was represented accurately. They never say the words in the book, but if you know anything about it it’s clear as day that he’s selectively mute.
I wonder how this book would be interpreted by someone who has little to no involvement in fandom, although there are a lot less of those people now that we have smartphones and tumblr. 🙃 I think after reading about Eliza and her friends they might just get “it”.
So in summary, best book I’ve read this year by far, A++++++ highly recommend. It made me cry a little at the end, but not ugly cry. Just a few years because I’ve been there and my heart hurt for Eliza.
There’s really no other way around it.
In my late teens and early twenties, fandom was my LIFE. I had a real life Emmy and Max. Actually I had several, and most of us are still friends now. I bought this book because one of them left a positive review. I just convinced another (my RL Emmy, we met when she was 12) to get the book out of the library.
Eliza is such a real character. I wondered at times if she was on the spectrum, partly because of how intensely she attacked Monstrous Sea. Whether she is or isn’t doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that she is a passionate artist and storyteller and she has created something truly beautiful.
It was interesting to see her relationship with her family. My life is an open book, so mine were always fairly well informed about what I was doing. But Eliza is an introvert in a family of extroverts, none of whom seem to understand her at all.
Then there’s Wallace, who is possibly the sweetest boy in the world. (He’s 18 in the book so I can feel like less of a creep lusting over him 😂) I’ve read a lot about selective mutism because it fascinates me, and let me tell you, it was represented accurately. They never say the words in the book, but if you know anything about it it’s clear as day that he’s selectively mute.
I wonder how this book would be interpreted by someone who has little to no involvement in fandom, although there are a lot less of those people now that we have smartphones and tumblr. 🙃 I think after reading about Eliza and her friends they might just get “it”.
So in summary, best book I’ve read this year by far, A++++++ highly recommend. It made me cry a little at the end, but not ugly cry. Just a few years because I’ve been there and my heart hurt for Eliza.