rlgreen91's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Muddled feelings about this one. I did go into this knowing that it's a fictionalized memoir - I'm not sure what I would have thought if I hadn't known that. While reading, I could see certain plot elements happening - for example, a disagreement between neighbors escalating into a full-blown feud because neither can admit they could have been more accommodating. But the sense that all of these things happened in sequence? That would require a suspension in belief I just can't provide - again, I'm glad I realized I knew this was fictionalized before starting.
One thing I can't quite explain is that even though I know this is a fictionalized memoir, there's something about Naylor the author making Naylor the protagonist that hurts her. Yes, it's fictionalized, and there's a question, in my opinion, of where exactly the fiction begins. But there's just something about the work as a whole where having this center around herself as a character seems to injure Naylor as an actual person. I don't know how to explain why that comes across to me.
Lastly - people have commented about the anti-Semitism in this book, and yeah, it's there. I think it's tied again to this sense that although you could imagine certain individual events happening, the idea that all of these things would happen in sequence is a different story altogether. I also think part of this is a function of how anti-Semitic tropes have been embedded into literature, and media, and pop culture over time. Even if Naylor insisted that her character isn't anti-Semitic, the work still relies on this idea of Jewish people occupying a bunch of government positions and abusing their power - which is an anti-Semitic conspiracy.
Overall, this book was unsettling, and not in an exciting way. I'm a bit disappointed that this is what I'm ending my first reading of Naylor on - it's a rather unpleasant aftertaste.
One thing I can't quite explain is that even though I know this is a fictionalized memoir, there's something about Naylor the author making Naylor the protagonist that hurts her. Yes, it's fictionalized, and there's a question, in my opinion, of where exactly the fiction begins. But there's just something about the work as a whole where having this center around herself as a character seems to injure Naylor as an actual person. I don't know how to explain why that comes across to me.
Lastly - people have commented about the anti-Semitism in this book, and yeah, it's there. I think it's tied again to this sense that although you could imagine certain individual events happening, the idea that all of these things would happen in sequence is a different story altogether. I also think part of this is a function of how anti-Semitic tropes have been embedded into literature, and media, and pop culture over time. Even if Naylor insisted that her character isn't anti-Semitic, the work still relies on this idea of Jewish people occupying a bunch of government positions and abusing their power - which is an anti-Semitic conspiracy.
Overall, this book was unsettling, and not in an exciting way. I'm a bit disappointed that this is what I'm ending my first reading of Naylor on - it's a rather unpleasant aftertaste.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
audreylee's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
3.0
This is a fictionalized memoir about a time in Gloria Naylor's life when a conflict with a neighbor brought about a period of isolation, harassment, and paranoia. Some of this will boggle your mind while some of it may cause a bit of paranoia. Insomnia and unwelcome thoughts are just part of the disturbances. Creepy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism
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