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A review by ayuming_reads
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was an interesting book in that Tori is incredibly unlikable. I know that sounds mean, and I don’t mean it as an insult, because I share and have shared a lot of Tori’s personality traits.
It is extremely clear that Tori is depressed and not at all in a healthy state of mind. This depression surpasses just her mood and showcases itself through her pessimism and blatant judgmental disregard for everyone around her.
No one feels real to her, not even herself, and so she often talks down to the classmates around her.
I think typically this is where a “Not like other girls moment” would occur, but it’s obvious that with Tori this isn’t her trying to set herself apart from others - she’s just in that moment incapable of actually processing her thoughts and feelings and instead takes it out on everyone and everything.
I also liked how Tori is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. Because we view everyone through her depressed, jaded eyes, we don’t get the full picture and are ignorant to what her friends and classmates are actually like.
A good example is Becky.
It’s a 2.5 for me because while I did like some of the characters, it overall felt a little too lackluster. The ending especially.
It is extremely clear that Tori is depressed and not at all in a healthy state of mind. This depression surpasses just her mood and showcases itself through her pessimism and blatant judgmental disregard for everyone around her.
No one feels real to her, not even herself, and so she often talks down to the classmates around her.
I think typically this is where a “Not like other girls moment” would occur, but it’s obvious that with Tori this isn’t her trying to set herself apart from others - she’s just in that moment incapable of actually processing her thoughts and feelings and instead takes it out on everyone and everything.
I also liked how Tori is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. Because we view everyone through her depressed, jaded eyes, we don’t get the full picture and are ignorant to what her friends and classmates are actually like.
A good example is Becky.
It’s a 2.5 for me because while I did like some of the characters, it overall felt a little too lackluster. The ending especially.