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A review by futurememory
Luster by Raven Leilani
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. That was everything that I thought a Sally Rooney novel would be, and far, far more.
Luster is gorgeously written. It flows like spoken word poetry, and is not remotely afraid to revel in specificity. It’s uniquely Black, and Black NYC at that. The sentences ramble with a lyrical cadence that begs to be read aloud, with often surprising and wonderful turns of phrase. I often found myself smiling as yet another sentence hit perfectly. Line by line it’s a delight.
I loved how brutally messy this was. How quietly sad and unflinching it is, how literary it is, and how full of 20s ennui and unfocused chaos it is.
The characters are all so flawed, so human, that I couldn’t help but hope for them.
I think this is divisive for a reason, but it worked tremendously for me.
Luster is gorgeously written. It flows like spoken word poetry, and is not remotely afraid to revel in specificity. It’s uniquely Black, and Black NYC at that. The sentences ramble with a lyrical cadence that begs to be read aloud, with often surprising and wonderful turns of phrase. I often found myself smiling as yet another sentence hit perfectly. Line by line it’s a delight.
I loved how brutally messy this was. How quietly sad and unflinching it is, how literary it is, and how full of 20s ennui and unfocused chaos it is.
The characters are all so flawed, so human, that I couldn’t help but hope for them.
I think this is divisive for a reason, but it worked tremendously for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Police brutality and Alcoholism
Minor: Drug use