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A review by hagiasophia
Human Blues by Elisa Albert
3.75
Complicated feelings on this one. I could not stop reading, though the story is slower and introspective. The writing style feels very stream-of-consciousness, which worked here (and unlike other books that use this style, there are quotation marks!). Aviva is a frustrating main character. We are deeply inside her head and feel deeply for her, but she is also abrasive, stubborn and spouting opinions most readers will disagree with. However, she is also sharp and funny - her observations on white, upper-class motherhood are delightful. The Amy Winehouse subplot does not add as much to the story as I would have liked, but was still an interesting addition. I would have liked more development of Aviva's husband, Sam, but the story is ultimately about Aviva's internal struggles, so he is not necessary to the main thrust of the plot.
I found out while reading this book that the author lives in my neighborhood, which explains her familiarity with upstate New York. I was distracted trying to determine which locations were real and which were made up for the story. Also, Albany High does not have a Civics class, at least when I attended, but otherwise an accurate depiction of the city.
I found out while reading this book that the author lives in my neighborhood, which explains her familiarity with upstate New York. I was distracted trying to determine which locations were real and which were made up for the story. Also, Albany High does not have a Civics class, at least when I attended, but otherwise an accurate depiction of the city.