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jukietoss 's review for:
A Quitter's Paradise
by Elysha Chang
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel is a lovely addition to the genre of reflections on domestic life. I was most interested in the present-day portions, absolutely drawn to the Eleanor and the ways in which she was navigating grief and life. Early on, where the book looks at the dynamics between Eleanor and her mother were really captivating, and I would have liked more exploration of that relationship throughout the book. The flashes back to her father's story were least compelling to me--as a character, he felt predictably terrible, aloof, abusive, and absent.
I love a book heavy on ambiguity--it lets my imagination roam--and this book was generous in this regard. I appreciated how few answers it gave despite the myriad questions it raised. I also enjoyed how it portioned out information--dropping consequential answers as though they were nothing, just laid out alongside the mundane or that which we should already know. The way Chang did this added a compelling rhythm to the book--interspersing the minute with the high-magnitude. It felt like a reflection of how, when we're living our lives, we so often don't know which moments will be major.
Eleanor as a child and as an adult was really fun to read about. I didn't always understand her motivations (and why should I?) but I loved cringing along with her decisions that often made a mess of things. Chang's concept of the Quitter's Paradise and Eleanor's journey there were compelling. I don't know what to make of the last third of the book--her voice seems muted and her relationships lose their contour. Because of that, the book ended with a fizzle for me. But the first 2/3 were a captivating and quick-paced read.
I love a book heavy on ambiguity--it lets my imagination roam--and this book was generous in this regard. I appreciated how few answers it gave despite the myriad questions it raised. I also enjoyed how it portioned out information--dropping consequential answers as though they were nothing, just laid out alongside the mundane or that which we should already know. The way Chang did this added a compelling rhythm to the book--interspersing the minute with the high-magnitude. It felt like a reflection of how, when we're living our lives, we so often don't know which moments will be major.
Eleanor as a child and as an adult was really fun to read about. I didn't always understand her motivations (and why should I?) but I loved cringing along with her decisions that often made a mess of things. Chang's concept of the Quitter's Paradise and Eleanor's journey there were compelling. I don't know what to make of the last third of the book--her voice seems muted and her relationships lose their contour. Because of that, the book ended with a fizzle for me. But the first 2/3 were a captivating and quick-paced read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse