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blyttgh's review against another edition
3.0
05/08/24 Very polarizing — I almost wish I was on either end of the spectrum instead of ambivalent in the middle. I really enjoyed the main narrator’s mind and I wonder what this could’ve been without the sudden shift to third person. This was a whirlwind with equal parts intriguing and ineffective moments.
Was it possible nothing of any significance had ever happened between us and our ending was just the sad process of realizing this? It was too sad to believe that we had just been two people staving off loneliness together.
82
Was there anything left of me in my mother?
88
all that stopped her from giving up was the belief that only incredibly boring people have lives that go the way they expect.
99
a man so stingy with himself that he refused to witness another’s pain.
130
boys grew up to be men, but girls just stayed girls as long as the whole world agreed to treat them this way, liabilities, precious objects, things to be protected or told what to do.
159
protecting her history was the only way she could control it, that if no one knew the way her childhood had been taken, then she had, in a way, taken it back.
239
He talked so much that Mary forgot she also had the ability to say things and her mute watching fueled him.
241
Was it possible nothing of any significance had ever happened between us and our ending was just the sad process of realizing this? It was too sad to believe that we had just been two people staving off loneliness together.
82
Was there anything left of me in my mother?
88
all that stopped her from giving up was the belief that only incredibly boring people have lives that go the way they expect.
99
a man so stingy with himself that he refused to witness another’s pain.
130
boys grew up to be men, but girls just stayed girls as long as the whole world agreed to treat them this way, liabilities, precious objects, things to be protected or told what to do.
159
protecting her history was the only way she could control it, that if no one knew the way her childhood had been taken, then she had, in a way, taken it back.
239
He talked so much that Mary forgot she also had the ability to say things and her mute watching fueled him.
241
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
khadijaheatswords's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
In her unconventional approach to the mystery of love and relationships, Catherine Lacey writes a kind of spiritual descendant of the Stepford Wives. The main character is frustratingly and endearingly passive, often finding life happening to her.
A star lost for part 2 of the book which shifts from a first person to a third person omniscient narrator. Too much time is spent on the inner loves of characters we will never see again and who do little to serve the story.
A star lost for part 2 of the book which shifts from a first person to a third person omniscient narrator. Too much time is spent on the inner loves of characters we will never see again and who do little to serve the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Blood
julsreadinglist's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Girlfriend Experiment is a fascinating concept: researchers monitor interactions between compatible subjects to discover what really makes a relationship work. This horrifyingly clinical approach to love soon reveals itself to be very one-sided. For instance - Mary, as the Emotional Girlfriend, is required to endlessly comfort and empathize with her "boyfriend" Kurt. Kurt, for his part, never needs to ask Mary a single question about her own life. This one-sided nature of the GX allows Lacey to explore inequality in heterosexual relationships. How often are women expected to nurture and cater to men with no reciprocation?
Despite the aforementioned fascinating exploration, the plot of this novel is just heavy-handed and unsurprising enough to be boring. Catherine Lacey's prose, on the other hand, remained riveting and gorgeous throughout The Answers. I can say now that Lacey is unparalleled when it comes to creating a dreamy, haunting atmosphere. Reading this book, I was reminded of how much I loved her prose in Pew - which has been one of my favorite reads of this year. Whenever I found my interest in the plot waning, Lacey's beautifully crafted sentences fueled my desire to turn the page. Ultimately, I am still obsessed with her talent and can't wait to read more of her work.
Despite the aforementioned fascinating exploration, the plot of this novel is just heavy-handed and unsurprising enough to be boring. Catherine Lacey's prose, on the other hand, remained riveting and gorgeous throughout The Answers. I can say now that Lacey is unparalleled when it comes to creating a dreamy, haunting atmosphere. Reading this book, I was reminded of how much I loved her prose in Pew - which has been one of my favorite reads of this year. Whenever I found my interest in the plot waning, Lacey's beautifully crafted sentences fueled my desire to turn the page. Ultimately, I am still obsessed with her talent and can't wait to read more of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent
mfiegel's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault