readingistravel's review
4.0
Against something?
This was an interesting read. I wasn't sire if it was against technology or against feminism or f it was against anything at all. But it was an interesting read.
This was an interesting read. I wasn't sire if it was against technology or against feminism or f it was against anything at all. But it was an interesting read.
chrstnareads's review
2.0
I’m confused by this. This is the first of the Out of Line series that I’ve read so maybe I’m missing the point but... what exactly was out of line in her behavior? The main character, Shelby, wasn’t super likable, but I was fine with that. She’s not a domesticated type of woman. She doesn’t cook or clean, she’s unemployed and lying to her husband about it. She makes her own decisions, carries out her own deceptions, but she’s really very passive.
Then she gets Is that the part where she is “out of line” and stops conforming to expectations, the ones that are entirely in her head and put there by her overbearing mother?
Did her mother orchestrate this? Was Shelby dissociating? Was she dreaming, hallucinating? Am I searching for a more satisfying explanation than was actually there?
I mean, sure. I guess I get it. But, god, if it wasn’t depressing as hell.
Then she gets
Spoiler
kidnapped to this place to learn to become a “real” woman capable of love, like in the Hallmark movies she loves so much. But she can’t stop being herself. And she just... sort of resigns herself to living there? Away from the real world?Did her mother orchestrate this? Was Shelby dissociating? Was she dreaming, hallucinating? Am I searching for a more satisfying explanation than was actually there?
I mean, sure. I guess I get it. But, god, if it wasn’t depressing as hell.
noodlesniebauer's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ariellesbooked's review
2.0
Lately, I've been reading/listening to some short stories by authors I really like. I figured that this one by [a:Caroline Kepnes|202260|Caroline Kepnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1417479736p2/202260.jpg], author of [b:You|36430011|You (You, #1)|Caroline Kepnes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549463282l/36430011._SY75_.jpg|39913517], would be a safe bet. One of Kepnes' major strengths, in my humble opinion, is her narrative voice.
However, this short story, which follows new mother, Shelby, as she grapples with feelings of dissatisfaction in her daily life (prompted by being laid off from her job, dealing with her live-in mother, craving excitement in the midst of the mundane, etc.), just wasn't it for me.
I loved that Kristen Bell narrated the audiobook. Definite selling point. However, the actual story takes a bizarre turn about 3/4 of the way through. And even before that, it'd kind of lost me. It's just very strange and not in a way that was super impactful for me. I'm sure there's some excellent analysis to be made about Kepnes' commentary on femininity, but I can't help but feel there might have been a better way to go about it.
However, this short story, which follows new mother, Shelby, as she grapples with feelings of dissatisfaction in her daily life (prompted by being laid off from her job, dealing with her live-in mother, craving excitement in the midst of the mundane, etc.), just wasn't it for me.
I loved that Kristen Bell narrated the audiobook. Definite selling point. However, the actual story takes a bizarre turn about 3/4 of the way through. And even before that, it'd kind of lost me. It's just very strange and not in a way that was super impactful for me. I'm sure there's some excellent analysis to be made about Kepnes' commentary on femininity, but I can't help but feel there might have been a better way to go about it.
reaganrogers's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
jasminious's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I found this book a weird read. None of the characters were particularly likeable and they all felt a bit like caricatures.
Reading this story, I felt confused because I wasn't really sure what the message was or what I was meant to be taking away from it.
Reading this story, I felt confused because I wasn't really sure what the message was or what I was meant to be taking away from it.
miss_honey_91's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mladd28's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kitty_kat21's review against another edition
2.0
Weird little short story. Not sure what it was trying to convey. All I got from it was that as a wife and mother you lose your identity, and will use anything you can to mentally escape for a few hours. The ending was bizarre, but I guess that was the point.