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salimah's reviews
1022 reviews
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
I had more sympathy for Andy's perspective than many reviewers seemed to; however, I concede that his self-absorption could get tiresome. While I understand the author's choice to save Jen's perspective for the end and to give her the last word/to let her bring the narrative back to its core premise, it might have been nice to have their perspectives equally interspersed to break up the tedium of being in Andy's head all the time.
By the time we get to Jen's side, it's a relief because, like Andy, the reader only has the high-level explanation she gave, and the deeper reasons for the breakup are a mystery. When you don't know why an emotional connection has been severed, it leads to perseveration and insufferable navel-gazing (which is why I had sympathy for him).
When we get those details in context, her case is more than justified. In fact, one wonders how she stayed as long as she did. Andy is not a bad guy, but he is standing in the way of his own evolution. But more compelling than any short-sightedness of his is Jen's ambivalence, ultimately, about being a partnered person. He could have been more self-aware, been willing to go to therapy, listened better, and been more considerate of her-- all of it, and they likely would have still ended because there is no fighting that inherent desire to belong only to yourself.
I loved exploring the idea that it's entirely possible to really love someone, to be in love with someone and to still choose a life without them, that this, in fact, is the ultimate expression of love for both them and you.
It was a relief to see Jen's balanced accounting of Andy because, from his telling, it was sometimes challenging to believe she could have loved him. After all, the reader meets him when he is unmoored and recently rejected. We are viewing him through the lens of being someone who was left, and he begins doing all the desperate, embarrassing things the newly dumped do—just solid cringe and in need of a good PR rebranding.
I was hit harder by the ending than I expected to be, the weight of the sadness of it, the acceptance at last. . .
By the time we get to Jen's side, it's a relief because, like Andy, the reader only has the high-level explanation she gave, and the deeper reasons for the breakup are a mystery. When you don't know why an emotional connection has been severed, it leads to perseveration and insufferable navel-gazing (which is why I had sympathy for him).
When we get those details in context, her case is more than justified. In fact, one wonders how she stayed as long as she did. Andy is not a bad guy, but he is standing in the way of his own evolution. But more compelling than any short-sightedness of his is Jen's ambivalence, ultimately, about being a partnered person. He could have been more self-aware, been willing to go to therapy, listened better, and been more considerate of her-- all of it, and they likely would have still ended because there is no fighting that inherent desire to belong only to yourself.
I loved exploring the idea that it's entirely possible to really love someone, to be in love with someone and to still choose a life without them, that this, in fact, is the ultimate expression of love for both them and you.
It was a relief to see Jen's balanced accounting of Andy because, from his telling, it was sometimes challenging to believe she could have loved him. After all, the reader meets him when he is unmoored and recently rejected. We are viewing him through the lens of being someone who was left, and he begins doing all the desperate, embarrassing things the newly dumped do—just solid cringe and in need of a good PR rebranding.
I was hit harder by the ending than I expected to be, the weight of the sadness of it, the acceptance at last. . .
Technically Speaking by Michael Elliot
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
This is now my third Ashley Poston novel, and it feels safe to say I'm inclined to reach for any offering of hers. That being said, this is my least favorite of the three I've read. It's a 3.5/3.75, but a few things got in the way of it being a runaway hit for me.
The premise of a book within a book necessarily means there are a lot of characters to manage, which also means they get a ton of on-page real estate. In a romance, that almost always means the romantic development between the principals is sacrificed. The connection between Elsy and Anders(on) could have only been improved with more development. And, I don't think the early antagonism between them was needed. I think I understand why the author chose that route, but it felt too contrived.
The premise of a book within a book necessarily means there are a lot of characters to manage, which also means they get a ton of on-page real estate. In a romance, that almost always means the romantic development between the principals is sacrificed. The connection between Elsy and Anders(on) could have only been improved with more development. And, I don't think the early antagonism between them was needed. I think I understand why the author chose that route, but it felt too contrived.
He's Gone by Rebecca Collomosse
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5