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A review by rittisoncco
Love Me Tender by Constance Debré
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
On the one hand, I really appreciated this autobiography of fighting for custody over her son after coming out as gay, dismantling this need for love to be beautiful and unconditional and joyful, looking at the sour love within families. Kinship love is not uncomplicated and we don't always want it. I liked that a lot.
On the other hand: how did this book get past several revisions AND translation and no one picked up on 1) the horrifically ignorant statement that temples in Mexico were built by the Inca; 2) when they go to a Japanese restaurant, what does she MEAN when she says they watched the food be prepared by a (quote) "real Japanese"? Shocking ignorance and exoticisation published in 2023 by a (seemingly) edgy highly educated author. What. Tf. Happened.
I enjoyed what the book was doing a lot. I enjoyed the narrative dismantling love. That was so great. But the above two points give the book a sour taste.
On the other hand: how did this book get past several revisions AND translation and no one picked up on 1) the horrifically ignorant statement that temples in Mexico were built by the Inca; 2) when they go to a Japanese restaurant, what does she MEAN when she says they watched the food be prepared by a (quote) "real Japanese"? Shocking ignorance and exoticisation published in 2023 by a (seemingly) edgy highly educated author. What. Tf. Happened.
I enjoyed what the book was doing a lot. I enjoyed the narrative dismantling love. That was so great. But the above two points give the book a sour taste.