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A review by livlosiewicz
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Pros:
•The writing is beautiful! This book has a strong sense of place
•I liked the structure and the different timelines, and how they weaved back and forth, a lot. It added a really well-crafted air of mystery to the novel and kept me captivated
•I also really liked how we could understand the characters’ (mostly Elle’s) decisions, even if we didn’t agree with them. Elle is a VERY flawed character, but we come to understand how she got there, which makes her more fascinating than frustrating to me
•Overall, this book is a creative and well-written exploration of the lasting impact of trauma, and how it can impact its victims not always in one big way, but a million small ways. I disagree with GR users saying the trauma was gratuitous. I think it was hard to read (and totally okay to not want to read it or not like it) but essential for the story Heller was trying to tell
Cons:
•okay, I didn’t like Jonas. I kept thinking I was going to grow to like him, but we didn’t get much characterization from him besides lovesick/horny. I know why she liked him as a kid, but why now?
•Normally, I’m a sucker for an ambiguous ending, but this was one that needed a more decisive ending for me to stick its point. Apparently, Heller didn’t think it was ambiguous, but after reading a bit more background, I think my original interpretation of the end was the opposite of what she’d intended. Basically, there’s an interpretation of the ending that works really well for me when considering the book and its themes, and if that’s not the ending that you interpret, I think it kind of weakens the book and leaves me less satisfied
Recommendation: I recommend for readers who like books with a strong sense of place, books that travel through dual timelines, and books with complicated characters making complicated decisions. This book is really well-written and deliberate, and I was really drawn into it, despite some nitpicky reservations. Please beware before picking this up, there are SIGNIFICANT content warnings. If you’re not in a place to read about trauma/don’t want to, skip this!!
•The writing is beautiful! This book has a strong sense of place
•I liked the structure and the different timelines, and how they weaved back and forth, a lot. It added a really well-crafted air of mystery to the novel and kept me captivated
•I also really liked how we could understand the characters’ (mostly Elle’s) decisions, even if we didn’t agree with them. Elle is a VERY flawed character, but we come to understand how she got there, which makes her more fascinating than frustrating to me
•Overall, this book is a creative and well-written exploration of the lasting impact of trauma, and how it can impact its victims not always in one big way, but a million small ways. I disagree with GR users saying the trauma was gratuitous. I think it was hard to read (and totally okay to not want to read it or not like it) but essential for the story Heller was trying to tell
Cons:
•okay, I didn’t like Jonas. I kept thinking I was going to grow to like him, but we didn’t get much characterization from him besides lovesick/horny. I know why she liked him as a kid, but why now?
•Normally, I’m a sucker for an ambiguous ending, but this was one that needed a more decisive ending for me to stick its point. Apparently, Heller didn’t think it was ambiguous, but after reading a bit more background, I think my original interpretation of the end was the opposite of what she’d intended. Basically, there’s an interpretation of the ending that works really well for me when considering the book and its themes, and if that’s not the ending that you interpret, I think it kind of weakens the book and leaves me less satisfied
Recommendation: I recommend for readers who like books with a strong sense of place, books that travel through dual timelines, and books with complicated characters making complicated decisions. This book is really well-written and deliberate, and I was really drawn into it, despite some nitpicky reservations. Please beware before picking this up, there are SIGNIFICANT content warnings. If you’re not in a place to read about trauma/don’t want to, skip this!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Terminal illness