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A review by arielamandah
Far North by Marcel Theroux
3.0
3.75. This was a very readable, fast-paced book. The story carries you along and there's a good narrative arc. The book has interesting perspectives on religion, and really, any hard-line beliefs. Clearly creative and engaging. This was one book, however, where I felt like the author didn't do a great job capturing the narrator's voice, and the disconnect between a male author and a female protagonist felt extremely stark. The parts of the book that were supposed to read "feminine" felt very forced and cliched.
Overall, I have few complaints - it was a quick read and a vivid story.
(spoilers - and complaints - ahead)....
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I am SO tired of female characters who can only be tough if they endure a traumatic experience. Can't we be resilient without being raped or doused in acid? There were also so many throw-away pieces in which Theroux tries to "feminize" Makepeace that felt awfully awkward. There was a particular reference to the fact that she felt soft or empathetic to someone, and that she suspected it was due to her "woman-ness" (or some such)... eye roll. Can't we, as humans, also experience empathy and be kind? The way the book ended with her pregnancy was also a cop-out to me, felt rushed, and didn't seem aligned with the character we'd gotten to know throughout. It was as if Theroux wasn't sure how to wrap things up so he went down a cliched path.
Overall, I have few complaints - it was a quick read and a vivid story.
(spoilers - and complaints - ahead)....
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.
.
.
.
.
.
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I am SO tired of female characters who can only be tough if they endure a traumatic experience. Can't we be resilient without being raped or doused in acid? There were also so many throw-away pieces in which Theroux tries to "feminize" Makepeace that felt awfully awkward. There was a particular reference to the fact that she felt soft or empathetic to someone, and that she suspected it was due to her "woman-ness" (or some such)... eye roll. Can't we, as humans, also experience empathy and be kind? The way the book ended with her pregnancy was also a cop-out to me, felt rushed, and didn't seem aligned with the character we'd gotten to know throughout. It was as if Theroux wasn't sure how to wrap things up so he went down a cliched path.