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A review by youreawizardjerry
Pew by Catherine Lacey
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am a perfect fit for this story as a queerly ambiguous child of small town USA. I am both intimately appreciative and critical of rural America. Despite this perfect matchup, I still didn’t care much for the direction it went. I shifted my expectations to embrace the book in whatever form it was going to take, which initially was dark and intriguing, but ultimately was neither of those things. I rarely felt compelled by the writing. It had it's moments, certainly, but I can't help feel that other authors could have made masterpieces of this premise. If it was treated with different prose, intensity, if only something was different, MORE—and this feeling is not the mark imo of having been a great read. Despite this…I still dug it! +bonus points for atmosphere.
I believe those of us that carry the curse of the small town upbringing can hold an inherent appreciation for Pew. Not because we see something extra within it but because there is nothing extra. I’d be surprised if readers who don't feel sentimental about rural country would be as charitable towards it…because frankly that was all that carried the read for me. At what point am I praising the book for what is materially and purposefully in it vs what I am bringing to the table? I guess that's my eternal question. One that continues beyond. Is it an easy cop-out to write this way? Is this the genre genre-ing? Am I grateful for this mirror regardless? I think if this was a film it could easily be one of my favorites, but it's not and isn't. I don't know what to make of that.
Maybe y'all come from the burbs and will still love it. Or maybe it can be a moment for us rural gothic queers alone, to remember her— the crippling horrors of change and our landlocked legs yearning for it.
If nothing else... Pew teaches ALL readers alike that radical listening will consistently get you the best chisme, and that I can fully get behind👌🤭
I believe those of us that carry the curse of the small town upbringing can hold an inherent appreciation for Pew. Not because we see something extra within it but because there is nothing extra. I’d be surprised if readers who don't feel sentimental about rural country would be as charitable towards it…because frankly that was all that carried the read for me. At what point am I praising the book for what is materially and purposefully in it vs what I am bringing to the table? I guess that's my eternal question. One that continues beyond. Is it an easy cop-out to write this way? Is this the genre genre-ing? Am I grateful for this mirror regardless? I think if this was a film it could easily be one of my favorites, but it's not and isn't. I don't know what to make of that.
Maybe y'all come from the burbs and will still love it. Or maybe it can be a moment for us rural gothic queers alone, to remember her— the crippling horrors of change and our landlocked legs yearning for it.
If nothing else... Pew teaches ALL readers alike that radical listening will consistently get you the best chisme, and that I can fully get behind👌🤭