A review by a_reader_of_book
Luster by Raven Leilani

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.25

"Luster" was a confusing read for me. I don't mean that the plot or story was difficult to follow. I just couldn't tell if I liked the book while I was reading it, but by the end, I believe I liked it. "Luster" was the story of a young, poor, black woman's relationship with an older, white, wealthy, married man. But it's also more than that, because it's also about her relationship with herself. Edie is struggling to find her place within herself and in her life. She wants to be an artist, but she struggles to find any talent or truth within her work. She wants to be in a relationship, but she hates who she is and how she acts once she's in one. My favorite parts of the book were between Edie and Akila and Edie and Rebecca. I think this novel really highlighted the importance of female friendships, or even just female-female interactions, and how the most seemingly simple exchanges can bring about deep insight. Raven Leilani does have a very complex writing style that prompted me to mark a few lines I thought were very jarring, honest, and nearly poetic. While I struggled through some sections of the book, I found hope to keep reading in some really beautifully worded sentences. Overall, I'm glad I read it. Not a lot happens, and no character is really likeable, but "Luster" has its moments. 
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