A review by jerakahs
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is one of the most ambitious books I've ever read. At first, I took issue with the way the South is portrayed  (in this alternate version of US history, the South secedes after WWII and becomes a theocracy, while the North becomes a flawed socialist "utopia"). While I still disagree somewhat with this portrayal of the South, I can't deny that the worldbuilding is pretty expertly done, and becomes less distracting throughout the book. But the larger narrative, that of C and X, was absolutely fascinating to me. I was utterly captivated. The prose style is notably journalistic, with footnotes, interviews, photographs, etc. I really loved this--it feels like a book that no one else could write. With both the concept/execution of the book and the character of X herself being so ambitious and motivated, I found myself really inspired and motivated myself. I would really recommend this book; it's can be a difficult read (definitely not a beach read) but incredibly rewarding.