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deschatjes's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhat self-indulgent story but good story about NY art squat
lesserjoke's review against another edition
4.0
This debut novel from author Rachel Lyon paints a sickeningly captivating picture of a starving artist who accidentally captures her neighbor's nine-year-old son falling to his death in the background of a photography session. The resulting image of the dying boy is the best art she's ever made, and she knows it could launch her career — but also that the photograph would likely break his mother's heart to see it. I don't care much for the scenes when the boy's ghost appears to actually haunt the narrator, but her internal struggle over the ruthless cost of success, alongside Lyon's honest portrayal of hand-to-mouth poverty, is quietly riveting.
rinangel's review against another edition
1.0
Tried very hard to read this, the story is interesting enough but the fact that the author uses no quotation marks at all is a deal breaker for me. I can't stand having to read a paragraph three times just to find out what is dialogue and what is narration. Poor stylistic choice.
mwelbel's review against another edition
4.0
zelmani's review against another edition
slow-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? It's complicated
2.0
eawunder's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of this book kind of baffled me and my end review of it baffles me as well. I didn’t really like 3/4 of this book. I found the main character annoying and a bit insufferable. I kept waiting for something to happen, or change. A lot of the book happens in quiet conversations or internal monologues or hauntings. But the last bit, when the main character considers love and shame and the price of art, was captivating. I also think it had a relatively honest and believable portrayal of grief