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A review by moonbeammckenna
Loner by Teddy Wayne
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eeeeUUUGHGHHWWWWEEEEEEE this book made me feel disgusting inside.
it blew boy parts and my year of rest and relaxation out of the water in terms of unreliable narrator
the similarities to Caroline Kepnes' book You are uncanny, though in my opinion this book was much better at exploring the main character as a narcissist, and also class, status, gender politics, and desire.
the one thing is with both of Wayne's books so far, I was able to piece together A Point, a reason he wrote the book, a piece of his little writer's soul in the main character, and I couldn't quite grasp that in this one. there are suggestions scattered around the pages (aforementioned class, gender politics, etc) and I am almost certain I missed it because I was too busy being repulsed by David Federman. I suppose the sake of exploring the brain of someone repulsive would be reason enough, for the mirror this book holds up can't -- and shouldn't -- be ignored.
nevertheless it was wonderfully written and I kinda loved it.
Please check trigger warnings, loves.
it blew boy parts and my year of rest and relaxation out of the water in terms of unreliable narrator
the similarities to Caroline Kepnes' book You are uncanny, though in my opinion this book was much better at exploring the main character as a narcissist, and also class, status, gender politics, and desire.
the one thing is with both of Wayne's books so far, I was able to piece together A Point, a reason he wrote the book, a piece of his little writer's soul in the main character, and I couldn't quite grasp that in this one. there are suggestions scattered around the pages (aforementioned class, gender politics, etc) and I am almost certain I missed it because I was too busy being repulsed by David Federman. I suppose the sake of exploring the brain of someone repulsive would be reason enough, for the mirror this book holds up can't -- and shouldn't -- be ignored.
nevertheless it was wonderfully written and I kinda loved it.
Please check trigger warnings, loves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence