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documentno_is's Reviews (1.29k)
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
While maybe a little imperfect in its writing, the message of this book rings clear: we are all victims of this imperfect system trying to navigate it in various ways. Through navigating the tragedy of loss, to the anxiety of never having enough funds, Madeline takes us on an autobiographical journey of the ways the system has failed her. As somebody with my own experience in the punk scene (albeit in the southeast) and systems of collective care I've stumbled upon many of the same conclusions she has; in the end it's all about just trying to take care of each other. In terms of its financial advice, I can't really weigh in, the author is much further in her financial wellness journey than I am in my own (one of the real reasons I wanted to read this book!) and some of the advice isn't practically applicable to me (not a business owner, just a cog in the machine) although I sure wish my bosses would take her advice (they won't)! Still, I found this book very worthy of reading as a biography and to get the gears in my head turning (will I really someday be able to afford a house or retirement?) My only criticisms come from the structure, as a biography the financial sections seem dull but as a financial advice piece the long biographical sections "lose the plot" a little. Still, an amazing read I recommend to anybody who isn't a mega billion 'gazillionaire' monopoly man. I love crass.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a cute YA story but tried to do too much (events, complex relationships between characters, potential secret illness subplot ) which detracted from the central issue the relationship between Skyler and Norah
Also a literary peeve of revealing central plot points/ background through overhearing or eavesdropping, and doing so in a cop-out way rather than a Shakespearean drama kind of way
but I think if you really liked the summer i turned pretty and want a slightly different analog this could be for you
Also a literary peeve of revealing central plot points/ background through overhearing or eavesdropping, and doing so in a cop-out way rather than a Shakespearean drama kind of way
but I think if you really liked the summer i turned pretty and want a slightly different analog this could be for you
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
1 point for being just not the audience of this ( maybe southern wine moms would disagree yknow) and for the cadence of a quick moving plot and an interesting story concept
But that’s where the compliments end because oh did I loathe to be in this man’s head. Also a lot of this book was just really poorly written ?the smut scenes particularly were almost unbareable to read and I found myself making ☹️ this face the entire time.
I miss the days when something could be a romance novel but also just a good book ? The parts with the kid saved it a little but not enough.
I miss the days when something could be a romance novel but also just a good book ? The parts with the kid saved it a little but not enough.
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kind of the surfing version of along for the ride, cute ya story, occasionally couldn't live up to its subject matter.
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For context, this is the first Rachel Cusk novel I have read so my review might not illuminate anything if you are already familiar with her style.
What I liked:
The lens cast on these women is neither entirely damning nor is it completely devoid of criticism, it shows them in their hypocrisy and privilege as often as it empathizes with their prisons
The descriptive is jarring, cold, and poignant without being too overly descriptive.
The cadence, while a bit slow for me, is consistent
The setting is very alive, it is alive in its characters as much as it is in its description; Cusk has perfectly painted a snapshot in time in a particular neighborhood and class that I am not super familiar with otherwise. Her prose is skillful and sometimes damning.
What I didn't like:
I feel that if there is no plot, then there should at least be some character development. I think you could really make the argument that in this novel, nothing happens.
I couldn't quite pin any distinctive voice between any of these characters. Jumping between Juliet or Maisie or Sory was like a single character's running monologue and the only thing that changed was the names of the husbands and children; you could perhaps snake the argument this was intentional-but then it leaves the anomaly of Christine? She is a little harsher than the other women, a little more off the cusp, and a little more daring/ "problematic" but also a little more human. My inability to distinguish the characters made it hard to discern why there were so many.
The novel culminates in this ridiculous dinner scene where Christine and the other women are completely disconnected from each other, their husbands, and really lay bare their privilege, their horribleness. The energy of the prose in this climax is relatively neutral, it feels as even-keeled as the text before it and never really feels like an "event."
Ultimately the novel is clearly a beautiful piece of literature that dives rather majestically into the throes of womanhood, whiteness, class, and British-ness (lol) but maybe doesn't say that much about any of those things (or at least nothing I haven't read more poignantly from other novels.) While the structure was clear, the purpose was muddled and I'm left a bit wanting but not unwilling to dive further into Cusk's Bibliography.
What I liked:
The lens cast on these women is neither entirely damning nor is it completely devoid of criticism, it shows them in their hypocrisy and privilege as often as it empathizes with their prisons
The descriptive is jarring, cold, and poignant without being too overly descriptive.
The cadence, while a bit slow for me, is consistent
The setting is very alive, it is alive in its characters as much as it is in its description; Cusk has perfectly painted a snapshot in time in a particular neighborhood and class that I am not super familiar with otherwise. Her prose is skillful and sometimes damning.
What I didn't like:
I feel that if there is no plot, then there should at least be some character development. I think you could really make the argument that in this novel, nothing happens.
I couldn't quite pin any distinctive voice between any of these characters. Jumping between Juliet or Maisie or Sory was like a single character's running monologue and the only thing that changed was the names of the husbands and children; you could perhaps snake the argument this was intentional-but then it leaves the anomaly of Christine? She is a little harsher than the other women, a little more off the cusp, and a little more daring/ "problematic" but also a little more human. My inability to distinguish the characters made it hard to discern why there were so many.
Ultimately the novel is clearly a beautiful piece of literature that dives rather majestically into the throes of womanhood, whiteness, class, and British-ness (lol) but maybe doesn't say that much about any of those things (or at least nothing I haven't read more poignantly from other novels.) While the structure was clear, the purpose was muddled and I'm left a bit wanting but not unwilling to dive further into Cusk's Bibliography.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I appreciate the focus on consent and power dynamics but ultimately was a frilly lil rom com so idk about the super high ratings
informative
medium-paced
Somewhat insightful but didn’t tell me much I didn’t know.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was difficult to get through, albeit I became extremely attached to the characters. It succeeds as a wonderful coming of age novel and leaves something to be desired in other areas. I can’t quite wrap my head around why the pivotal *event* needed to happen but maybe that just cements the senselessness of that kind of death.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was okay, tried a little too hard but the characters were pretty likable. The characters getting together so early in left the second half of the book scrambling for content, and their final “ fight” was so forced
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes