Scan barcode
A review by kelseamae
Rouge by Mona Awad
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rouge has me in a bit of a state. I simply don't know where to begin.
I've spent the last week telling anyone and everyone about this book; its seductive imagery, the way of the roses, how happy I am to be back reading Awad's prose, and how boggled I am by its plot.
The beauty industry is definitely being confronted head-on in Rouge, as well as whiteness theory, with a focus on Mirabelle's ethnicity as a child of dual heritage (Egyptian father, white mother) mirroring that of Award's own background.
I'm desperate to say that I loved this book, but I don't think I can...
The middle hundred-odd pages are muddied and repetitive, and it wasn't untilMother came alive in Belle's reflection and we become privy to young Belle's mission to poison her mother to please Tom Cruise/Seth that I truly locked in. I completely understand why I've seen some reviewers DNF this book. Tad...eh, could we have done without him? I think so. I'd have liked to have seen more of Hud as the two sank deeper into Rouge.
Some highlights:
I've spent the last week telling anyone and everyone about this book; its seductive imagery, the way of the roses, how happy I am to be back reading Awad's prose, and how boggled I am by its plot.
The beauty industry is definitely being confronted head-on in Rouge, as well as whiteness theory, with a focus on Mirabelle's ethnicity as a child of dual heritage (Egyptian father, white mother) mirroring that of Award's own background.
I'm desperate to say that I loved this book, but I don't think I can...
The middle hundred-odd pages are muddied and repetitive, and it wasn't until
Some highlights:
- I'm a sucker for magical realism. I just love the strangeness of it all. I probably whispered 'what the fuck?' every few pages.
- Everyone's favourite quote: "The only journey that matters in the end, Daughter of Noelle." "Retinol?" I whisper. "The soul. The journey of the soul, of course."
- The fucking jellyfish. I don't know what it was about these suckers, but I'm obsessed with the visual of entranced faces pressed against the aquarium glass, looking at each other's contorted faces through these compelling pulsating jellies.
I'm giving it a 4, even though it probably sits more at a 3.75, simply because this is my review and the image of Belle and Hud slow dancing across the sand will stick with me for a while.