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A review by ambergamgee
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
5.0
One of my 2021 reading goals is to be more reflective on the things that I read instead of just jumping to the next book. Keep in mind all my reviews I write for myself and not to like, convince anyone or gain some sort of audience. I am trying to write this with no spoilers though, lots of reviews on this book have spoiler warnings.
This was one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. A librarian recommended it to me after I said East of Eden is one of my favorite books, and I can see why. It goes deep into the characters back stories and what makes them who they are, so that the actions on the page actually make sense. I liked the prose, and there were moments where I had to pause and reflect on the things being said. (I listened to it on audio and I think the readers did a marvelous job.)
I’m not a romance reader, and there was a little too much sex for me, but I would not call this a romance. I was not actually convinced of a true emotional, mutual love until the end (ironically, when Mathilde lists things she can’t stand about Lotto.) I loved the complexity and layers of their relationship that seems at face value to be shallow, about sex, and never going to last.
I thought it was beautiful and well done. The complaints I saw in negative reviews: the prose is pretentious. Sure, I could see how someone would think that. I don’t like flowery language that doesn’t contribute to a story either. I felt that the flowery language contributed to this story. It informed the reader about emotion states, especially. The other negative thing I saw mentioned in a couple reviews was that this ...fictional book...was...too...fictional...? What a weird complaint to have about a novel. If you cannot understand that fictional books use fictional stories to tell truths about the human condition, maybe stick to non fiction?
Anyways. I thought it was a beautiful book. I can see how it wouldn’t be for everyone.
TW: sexual assault
This was one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. A librarian recommended it to me after I said East of Eden is one of my favorite books, and I can see why. It goes deep into the characters back stories and what makes them who they are, so that the actions on the page actually make sense. I liked the prose, and there were moments where I had to pause and reflect on the things being said. (I listened to it on audio and I think the readers did a marvelous job.)
I’m not a romance reader, and there was a little too much sex for me, but I would not call this a romance. I was not actually convinced of a true emotional, mutual love until the end (ironically, when Mathilde lists things she can’t stand about Lotto.) I loved the complexity and layers of their relationship that seems at face value to be shallow, about sex, and never going to last.
I thought it was beautiful and well done. The complaints I saw in negative reviews: the prose is pretentious. Sure, I could see how someone would think that. I don’t like flowery language that doesn’t contribute to a story either. I felt that the flowery language contributed to this story. It informed the reader about emotion states, especially. The other negative thing I saw mentioned in a couple reviews was that this ...fictional book...was...too...fictional...? What a weird complaint to have about a novel. If you cannot understand that fictional books use fictional stories to tell truths about the human condition, maybe stick to non fiction?
Anyways. I thought it was a beautiful book. I can see how it wouldn’t be for everyone.
TW: sexual assault