A review by courtneyfalling
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was such a weird book. I still have such mixed feelings. Very in the "sad girl" genre a la Ottessa Moshfegh. The main character is a TRIP but I feel like the subtle throughline of how the trauma of Palestinian diaspora amidst ongoing genocide intersects with her personal family experiences and childhood trauma as well as her relationship decision-making was well-crafted. My main issues are plot-related. The center is a strange interlude and her "love addiction" was written justtttt enough where I wasn't sure how critical the book wanted to be of the center. Lots of ambiguous space and reactions. Also
I feel like having a main character with difficulties forming overly intense emotional relationships too quickly, then busting apart, is not solved by her suddenly getting into a good intense emotional relationship, without entirely clarifying what separates her capacity to suppress her self-destructive interiority and truly commit to handling interpersonal conflict this time... especially in the context of ongoing genocide and diaspora
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