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A review by agreatgabsy
Still Life by Katherine Packert Burke
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Every once in a while, a novel comes your way that that pierces you in the heart, so specifically that you have to marvel at how it fell into your lap. This is one of those for me. I’m a writer, I have a very deep love of Sondheim, and I also went to college in the city of Boston; three things that I have in common with the main character. They are funny coincidences but they anchored me in the story in a beautifully nostalgic way.
To me this is the kind of coming of age novel that should be on the same lists as "The Idiot." (I wrote that down as a note before I even got to the Elif Batuman shout out.) It was so exciting to read this kind of story from the perspective of a trans woman. It is stunningly written with rich characters who have complex inner lives and relationships with one another. It is extremely raw, which I appreciated and interpreted as honest although I can see how some may see it as unpolished. To me, the rough edges contributed to how messy life is as the characters try to figure out adulthood. I absolutely loved the use of Sondheim lyrics to explore the feelings and thoughts about life that Edith had throughout the novel, and to me the addition was meaningful, especially the section on life's moments. The pacing does slow in places, some ideas are dropped, and I felt that it was building to a different ending than the one given-- one that would deal directly with the events that are danced around. However I do think the ending is a satisfying one.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was an excellent debut and deeply authentic. I think Katherine Packert Burke's voice is one that is sorely needed in the world of literary fiction. I can't wait to see what else she does.
Thank you to NetGalley and the W. W. Norton & Company for the ARC.
To me this is the kind of coming of age novel that should be on the same lists as "The Idiot." (I wrote that down as a note before I even got to the Elif Batuman shout out.) It was so exciting to read this kind of story from the perspective of a trans woman. It is stunningly written with rich characters who have complex inner lives and relationships with one another. It is extremely raw, which I appreciated and interpreted as honest although I can see how some may see it as unpolished. To me, the rough edges contributed to how messy life is as the characters try to figure out adulthood. I absolutely loved the use of Sondheim lyrics to explore the feelings and thoughts about life that Edith had throughout the novel, and to me the addition was meaningful, especially the section on life's moments. The pacing does slow in places, some ideas are dropped, and I felt that it was building to a different ending than the one given-- one that would deal directly with the events that are danced around. However I do think the ending is a satisfying one.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was an excellent debut and deeply authentic. I think Katherine Packert Burke's voice is one that is sorely needed in the world of literary fiction. I can't wait to see what else she does.
Thank you to NetGalley and the W. W. Norton & Company for the ARC.