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A review by wdianasheppard
The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton
5.0
"The World Cannot Give" is a rare breed of dark academia: one centered on the female experience and even more surprisingly taking place in high school. I've read a bunch of so-called "high school" dark academia, and they rarely stick the landing. So often characters in high school dark academia works are pretentious and positioned for maximum admiration, as they shun their social media accounts and drink old fashioneds. It's impossible to believe that they're supposed to be fifteen. Tara Isabella Burton brings equally pretentious, two-faced teens in "The World Cannot Give", but lends them a credibility and a tentative, fragile persona; these teens are trying on faces when they quote Proust and profess to love whiskey. They haven't figured themselves out yet.
And so I loved "The World Cannot Give". I predict it'll be a controversial one. True, main character Laura Stearns is as frustrating as she is relatable: she's malleable, dramatic, and easily misled; more than a few times she's tricked by the eloquent and dynamic Virginia Strauss in such obvious ways that had me screeching at her to open her eyes. Virginia, the object of Laura's fascination and affection, is a horrible yet tender creature. I hated Virginia, even as I was intrigued by her.
And, joy of all joys, this one's actually sapphic.
If you enjoy tales of friend groups going to extremes to feel alive, romantic poetry, and descriptions of the cold North East, if you wish that The Secret History used women as more than set dressing... might I recommend The World Cannot Give?
And so I loved "The World Cannot Give". I predict it'll be a controversial one. True, main character Laura Stearns is as frustrating as she is relatable: she's malleable, dramatic, and easily misled; more than a few times she's tricked by the eloquent and dynamic Virginia Strauss in such obvious ways that had me screeching at her to open her eyes. Virginia, the object of Laura's fascination and affection, is a horrible yet tender creature. I hated Virginia, even as I was intrigued by her.
And, joy of all joys, this one's actually sapphic.
If you enjoy tales of friend groups going to extremes to feel alive, romantic poetry, and descriptions of the cold North East, if you wish that The Secret History used women as more than set dressing... might I recommend The World Cannot Give?