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theskyboi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having read this novel after watching the limited series based on Little Fires Everywhere, I can confidently say that this is a much subtler and richer text than its TV adaptation turned out to be. The book deals heavily in the concept of creating a utopia, so it narrates objectively and allows the reader to decide what has and hasn't worked. For starters, there isn't anything inherently wrong with wanting to create an intentional community, but what has become of Shaker Heights is the product of an intersectional struggle between different strata of race and class. Conversely, the show doesn't have narration; it has Elena Richardson—portrayed by Reese Witherspoon—who just has a knack for playing it a little obtusely when it comes to explaining how she, as a white woman, just wants the best out of life. The show doesn't let you decide where the fog dissipates to reveal a line drawn in the sand; it dries up the fog for you in the dialogue.
As far as the book itself, I'd be doing it a disservice to not speak about the author's voice. Celeste Ng's conversational and casual tone gives readers the best combination of stream-of-consciousness and narrative story structures, blending to create a book much more concerned with universal feelings than minute details. At times, this style does prove somewhat distracting, and it tends to drift more toward the informal side of things, especially in scenes between the Richardson children and Pearl.
For a book about family and identity, the plot arranges all the characters on a playing field where each of their motivations and fears all mix in murky waters, almost dissolving any fixed boundaries between them. No one fully wants to take this first step toward bridging opposing sides because all the characters are busy trying to identify their personal desires before considering those around them. At its core, this novel is about how our family relationships can be much more fragile than we ever thought possible, and it sets this realization against the backdrop of a glimmering suburban utopia in need of serious remodeling.
As far as the book itself, I'd be doing it a disservice to not speak about the author's voice. Celeste Ng's conversational and casual tone gives readers the best combination of stream-of-consciousness and narrative story structures, blending to create a book much more concerned with universal feelings than minute details. At times, this style does prove somewhat distracting, and it tends to drift more toward the informal side of things, especially in scenes between the Richardson children and Pearl.
For a book about family and identity, the plot arranges all the characters on a playing field where each of their motivations and fears all mix in murky waters, almost dissolving any fixed boundaries between them. No one fully wants to take this first step toward bridging opposing sides because all the characters are busy trying to identify their personal desires before considering those around them. At its core, this novel is about how our family relationships can be much more fragile than we ever thought possible, and it sets this realization against the backdrop of a glimmering suburban utopia in need of serious remodeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Abortion
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent