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hedgefruit 's review for:
After Sappho
by Selby Wynn Schwartz
Thanks to Netgalley and W.W Norton and Company for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
In all honesty, I think I would have preferred this book if it was a short story. Like I adore the conceit of it, the speculative non-fiction about lesbians in the early 1900s and what that meant for their lives. I adored how meticulously researched it was! And I found the intertwined viniette structure, while something of a gimmick, to be one that fit the purpose of the work.
And yet, despite all these positive qualities, the book felt like such an absolute slog to get through. I think the viniette structure would have worked better in a shorter piece, but also I understand the need for it to be longer.
Really, I just wish this had managed to hold my interest and attention more, because while it is so deeply compelling on an intellectual and craft level, it felt like trying to tread mud to read through at certain point.
In all honesty, I think I would have preferred this book if it was a short story. Like I adore the conceit of it, the speculative non-fiction about lesbians in the early 1900s and what that meant for their lives. I adored how meticulously researched it was! And I found the intertwined viniette structure, while something of a gimmick, to be one that fit the purpose of the work.
And yet, despite all these positive qualities, the book felt like such an absolute slog to get through. I think the viniette structure would have worked better in a shorter piece, but also I understand the need for it to be longer.
Really, I just wish this had managed to hold my interest and attention more, because while it is so deeply compelling on an intellectual and craft level, it felt like trying to tread mud to read through at certain point.