the_midwest_library 's review for:

August Blue by Deborah Levy

4.0

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really loved this, it's poetic and classic in presentation but juxtaposed against a modern setting. That blend just really worked for me, it's not really a coming of age story, but it's a coming to self story if that makes sense. Our main character is struggling with emotional detachment from her childhood trauma, balancing her friendships and her strained relationship with her father/instructor. It's a simple book in presentation but I found the entire experience really wonderful, there was a passage I particularly enjoyed where the main character critiques the use of "love you" because without the "I" the phrase is meaningless. Idk this just worked for me, it's what I want in literary fiction all encased in lyrical writing.