Scan barcode
A review by abbier_14
Luster by Raven Leilani
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
if you go into this book expecting its a short slice of life book then im sure this will meet your expectations, if you go into it expecting growth and character development then you'll be disapointed.
- When i first finished the book i was kinda pissed off at how the characters remained the same and we didnt really have closure about the direction their life was heading, but after thinking about it a little more im actually satisfied with the content of the story that i dont mind that it didnt have a solid ending.
- I am kinda tired of books with a main character who lives in new york city, has only 10 dollars to her name at any given time, and has a failed art career. Im sure many people can relate but i feel this sort of character is over done and i was frustrated at the fact she was so apathetic about her life falling apart. I did think some things were mentioned for the sake of ticking a box, and some stereotypical things you would expect of a complicated main female character e.g. an abortion, dead beat dad, mum who commited suicide. However these things were merely an annoyance and I dont think it ruined the story.
But ig it was part of her character and mindset that she felt that her life falling apart was inevitable and just a part of life as a young black woman living in new york city. I usually do struggle liking books that have an unlikable main character but i actually didnt mind it with this book. And i think Luster has helped me appreciate the fact that i do not always have to like the main characters in books, and that i can understand the characters troubles and flaws in a more sympathetic way.
- I did feel the other characters were hollow and they felt fake, like they wouldnt be real people. (Apart from the daughter, i felt like she was well done apart from her dialogue) But maybe thats because the content of the story is so unbelievable itself that it makes the characters seem unbelievable, but i felt like i didnt really understand rebeccas motivations or her character and personality. I did enjoy Eric but i feel like we barely interacted with him in the story and i would often be reading and wishing he was in the scene
- I think this book is a perfect length. Any longer and this would be boring and i think the writing style would get old, but any shorter and the connection we feel with the characters may have been lost. I did enjoy the writing style and the feeling as if we were in the main characters head, listening to her dream-like state thoughts but i can see how it can be off putting for some.
- When i first finished the book i was kinda pissed off at how the characters remained the same and we didnt really have closure about the direction their life was heading, but after thinking about it a little more im actually satisfied with the content of the story that i dont mind that it didnt have a solid ending.
- I am kinda tired of books with a main character who lives in new york city, has only 10 dollars to her name at any given time, and has a failed art career. Im sure many people can relate but i feel this sort of character is over done and i was frustrated at the fact she was so apathetic about her life falling apart. I did think some things were mentioned for the sake of ticking a box, and some stereotypical things you would expect of a complicated main female character e.g. an abortion, dead beat dad, mum who commited suicide. However these things were merely an annoyance and I dont think it ruined the story.
But ig it was part of her character and mindset that she felt that her life falling apart was inevitable and just a part of life as a young black woman living in new york city. I usually do struggle liking books that have an unlikable main character but i actually didnt mind it with this book. And i think Luster has helped me appreciate the fact that i do not always have to like the main characters in books, and that i can understand the characters troubles and flaws in a more sympathetic way.
- I did feel the other characters were hollow and they felt fake, like they wouldnt be real people. (Apart from the daughter, i felt like she was well done apart from her dialogue) But maybe thats because the content of the story is so unbelievable itself that it makes the characters seem unbelievable, but i felt like i didnt really understand rebeccas motivations or her character and personality. I did enjoy Eric but i feel like we barely interacted with him in the story and i would often be reading and wishing he was in the scene
- I think this book is a perfect length. Any longer and this would be boring and i think the writing style would get old, but any shorter and the connection we feel with the characters may have been lost. I did enjoy the writing style and the feeling as if we were in the main characters head, listening to her dream-like state thoughts but i can see how it can be off putting for some.