5aru's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Groff's writing is certainly exquisite, reads like cold water down the throat, but I have rather complicated feelings about this book. On the one hand, I am deeply disgusted by the characters at a personal, primal level; on the other, I was incredibly invested in their histories, their relationships, their deep dark corners of the self. It's clear that the visceral disgust or repudiation the characters provoke is more than intentional - it is intrinsic to who they are and what their story is.
It does feel a bit too soap-opera-ish at times, with the ways the plot turned, and it's definitely not a book that will resonate with you in any positive way. It's far more likely to leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth, and yet, it is wholly unforgettable.
It does feel a bit too soap-opera-ish at times, with the ways the plot turned, and it's definitely not a book that will resonate with you in any positive way. It's far more likely to leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth, and yet, it is wholly unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Reading this book felt like I was in a big room full of people with special headphones on where I could only pick up bits of a conversation at a time. I was being slowly led through by someone I didn’t quite know and didn’t quite understand. It felt like I meandered so dreamily past, but was given just enough time to understand each passing person’s deepest fears and thoughts. After time, quite a long time, being led through the room, my guide took me to the top of the stairs and I looked over the balcony and was so shocked to see how everything and everybody we had passed came together so vibrantly and horrifically and beautifully.
I appreciate this book for how much it made me contemplate human existence.
It was very long though.
I appreciate this book for how much it made me contemplate human existence.
It was very long though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death of parent, Suicide, Grief, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, and Body shaming
Minor: Drug use and Toxic friendship
ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
At the point where I felt like I had been reading forever, I saw I still had about 85% (9 hours...) left to read and I very nearly lost the will to go on. But it's for my book group, and I don't like to dnf because then I can't talk about it, but oh my goodness it was hard going! The first part of the book is all Lotto, which is perhaps why it was so trying to read. I was torn between wanting to know what would happen to him, and thinking he was a dick. I did feel the pace picked up in the 2nd half with Mathilde, but perhaps that was just because I could sense the end was in sight. It is too, too long. There is too, too much bad sex. And nobody was very nice at all. I was intrigued, at least, with what on earth we were going to learn about Mathilde when it came to her part of the story. And I did race through the last part because of it. But ultimately, I'm not sure it was worth it, and it really bothered me that
What was the message here? That she was only useful with regards to his career? That annoyed me.
Spoiler
although Mathilde has been editing and tweaking Lotto's work for years, managing his money, managing him, her own writing ends up being a failure.What was the message here? That she was only useful with regards to his career? That annoyed me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Abortion
valjeanval's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I wouldn’t pick up a book that basically said “it’s about a marriage” except that Lauren Groff wrote it. What an incredible, complex, brilliant exploration of a marriage.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Death
Minor: Sexual content, Child death, Cursing, Abortion, Cancer, Grief, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, and Self harm
writersrelief's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
With this title and the division of the book into two correlating sections—FATES to tell the husband’s story, and FURIES to tell the wife’s—Lauren Groff’s third novel promises an examination of marriage from either side.
In the first part of the novel, Groff tells us the story of Lancelot “Lotto” Satterwhite. From a childhood marked by tragedy and intense highs and lows, to his eventual achievements as a famous playwright, Lotto proves irresistible but self-centered. Lotto is happy to bumble along through a life that seems to unfold naturally along a pre-destined path to greatness—the one his mother swore from his birth he was meant for. He loves his wife Mathilde deeply, but Lotto is uncurious about what makes up her person. Instead, he fashions his own version of her stories, praising endlessly both the purity he perceives in her and the way in which she devotes herself to him, his ambitions, and their marriage.
This is followed by Mathilde’s story of her life and marriage to Lotto. Told from her perspective, Mathilde’s account does much to modify Lotto’s version of things, as expected. What may not be expected, however, is the fierceness with which Mathilde responds. Described by Lotto as a near saint—beautiful, loving, caring, unassuming, and kind—Mathilde also has a past marked by tragedy. But unlike Lotto, much of Mathilde’s is her own doing, and her anger and calculation are always present. Mathilde is far more secretive than Lotto imagines she could be (though he does uncover one of her major secrets near the end of the novel, and it shocks him completely). But she also gives much more to Lotto and their marriage than he realizes, in all his complacency. In short, Mathilde is not exactly the person Lotto thinks she is. Nor is she the person we imagine she is, even with being aware she’s something Lotto can’t…or won’t…or doesn’t care to perceive, given his preoccupation with himself and his own artistic goals.
Through some truly wild plot points and an endless sea of gorgeous, inventive prose, Groff builds one version of a marriage—and then, rather than simply tear down that version through the female perspective, she instead transforms it. Mathilde and Lotto love each other intensely—that much is always true. But the story of their marriage is never simple or black and white, not from either side. And though Mathilde’s version reveals much to us that we did not previously know, it also reaffirms what we may have thought would be contested upon hearing her story. Lush, complex, and above all, gorgeously written, FATES AND FURIES is a book you should savor for all its twists and turns, however slight—or ferocious—they may be from one moment to the next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, and Death
tyyne's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sadly I really didn’t enjoy this. The characters were all very unlikeable and the writing style was not enjoyable for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Suicide, Death, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
hinkleh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
Minor: Confinement and Abortion
jjenkins's review against another edition
HIGHLY TRIGGERING BOOK!! The author should have been much more clear regarding content warnings, because not even 10% into the book there are several extremely triggering events. I will not be continuing this book, and would have much preferred to have known ahead of time what I might encounter. It should be required to list content warnings for books such as this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Drug abuse, Addiction, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Excrement, Fatphobia, Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Drug use, Bullying, Sexual content, Rape, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
If you are interested in this book, be advices that the author has not clearly and accessibly listed content warnings. This is a highly triggering book from the beginning.gagne's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death, and Death of parent
carlytenille's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy