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A review by theseventhl
The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
3.0
As usual, excellent writing and great plot pacing but I really disliked the main character Hayley and how she treats people around her. Personally, I'm tired of MCs who sees everyone as 'zombies and freaks' and simplifies all people around them because their personal problems apparently eclipse how they should treat other human beings.
Also, I HATED that Hayley pretty much saw all other female characters other than her friend as bimbos and trash and hookers. A lot of unchallenged-in-narrative internalized misogyny from an author who is usually better than that. I won't comment on the treatment of PTSD/trauma because I don't have any personal authority on that issue and won't pretend to.
Still, three stars it is. Not a wholly bad book, just not what I was looking forward to.
Edit: I think Khanh's review hit it square on the head re: all the problems I have with this book, even if her review is a star lower than mine.
Also, I HATED that Hayley pretty much saw all other female characters other than her friend as bimbos and trash and hookers. A lot of unchallenged-in-narrative internalized misogyny from an author who is usually better than that. I won't comment on the treatment of PTSD/trauma because I don't have any personal authority on that issue and won't pretend to.
Still, three stars it is. Not a wholly bad book, just not what I was looking forward to.
Edit: I think Khanh's review hit it square on the head re: all the problems I have with this book, even if her review is a star lower than mine.