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A review by haleymowatt
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff
3.0
When I first closed this book after finishing it, I was ready to jump on here, press the five stars, then move on with my day. As I sat in my kitchen thinking about the beautiful writing and vivid imagery that pulled me along through the book, I realized how trivial the main idea was. The idea of identity is a complex topic to contemplate, let alone write a whole book about. Ebershoff did an amazing job a exploring this thing that affects us all; "Each of us is defined by our own past, but also by that of our family and lovers and friends and enemies, as well as our country and civilization," and "A novel is written so nothing can be lost," he explains in the introduction.
Unfortunately I did find my self zoning out while reading this book and having to go back and read entire sections, something that I think could have been prevented if there had been less "fluff" that didn't necessarily add to the story itself. The ending wasn't the sort of cliff hanger that left me in awe wondering how I can continue on without knowing what happened, but more an ending that felt like a dull meal that left me very unsatisfied. Nevertheless, I would recommend reading this book because it brings a new - at least new for me - way of expanding on the feelings of being a transgender person in society.
Unfortunately I did find my self zoning out while reading this book and having to go back and read entire sections, something that I think could have been prevented if there had been less "fluff" that didn't necessarily add to the story itself. The ending wasn't the sort of cliff hanger that left me in awe wondering how I can continue on without knowing what happened, but more an ending that felt like a dull meal that left me very unsatisfied. Nevertheless, I would recommend reading this book because it brings a new - at least new for me - way of expanding on the feelings of being a transgender person in society.