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slevine18 's review for:
Cleopatra and Frankenstein
by Coco Mellors
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s been four days since I finished this book and I still haven’t stopped thinking about it. It gave me the kind of experience that has left me wordless in trying to articulate how I feel about it. It wasn’t the most outstanding thing I’ve ever read, but it was one of the most unconventional stories I’ve encountered. I think that’s what I really enjoyed about it, while also being the reason that readers are separated in their consensus of the book. (I can definitely understand why this is not for everyone, but I’ve really been wanting to throw myself into deeply pensive literary fiction.)
I recommend that you go into this with absolutely no expectations and just let the story take you on a ride. Bonus points if you listen to a Cleo and Frank Spotify playlist while reading. It is much more character driven rather than plot heavy, and it was unlike other books in how it brought you so deep into the perspectives of nearly every side character, even more sometimes than the supposed main characters. I think this was my favorite aspect of this book. It made me feel privy to everyone, and made me understand their flaws and imperfections and mistakes. Everyone in this felt raw and real and all their ugly was laid bare in earnest.
In a way, every person was a little piece of New York itself, the city practically being its own character who unleashed its weight on each person unapologetically. Some thrived in its environment, others not.
I think I will be pondering this book for a long time.
I recommend that you go into this with absolutely no expectations and just let the story take you on a ride. Bonus points if you listen to a Cleo and Frank Spotify playlist while reading. It is much more character driven rather than plot heavy, and it was unlike other books in how it brought you so deep into the perspectives of nearly every side character, even more sometimes than the supposed main characters. I think this was my favorite aspect of this book. It made me feel privy to everyone, and made me understand their flaws and imperfections and mistakes. Everyone in this felt raw and real and all their ugly was laid bare in earnest.
In a way, every person was a little piece of New York itself, the city practically being its own character who unleashed its weight on each person unapologetically. Some thrived in its environment, others not.
I think I will be pondering this book for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Drug use