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lilyskate's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This book was deeply reflective and the complexity of the characters was intriguing. I don't know that I liked any of the characters, but they were so realistic and so many lines hit my heart. I picked this up at a random book store on a whim, and I'm so happy I did. One of my new favorites!
jessicaesquire's review
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up. It may seem like a long story without much of a point at first, but this book packs a punch if you stick with it.
Our narrator, Helen, runs into Frank on the street. She has not seen him in more than 20 years. But we know already from the title that their lives were previously intertwined. Helen takes us back through their lives, starting with their meeting in childhood and then moves us through their lives together and apart.
I assumed that this would be a story of a marriage, but it isn't. Though it resembles one in many ways. The lack of formal ties lets Helen believe she is willing and has power. There is a lot to dive into here with the ways women in particular can convince themselves they are willing and useful even when a man is sucking them dry with little reward or gratitude. In fact, if there is a real flaw to the novel, it's that you can never really understand why Helen is so devoted to Frank. When you assume it exists, you understand why she acts as she does. But as is so often the case in books with a strongly charismatic character (particularly one who is allegedly a genius) that never translates into something tangible for the reader.
Still, even though I was frustrated with Helen, the final act ramps up well and Kerninon's short chapters keep a real sense of momentum. It took me a few days to read it, but I was always happy to come back to it.
Our narrator, Helen, runs into Frank on the street. She has not seen him in more than 20 years. But we know already from the title that their lives were previously intertwined. Helen takes us back through their lives, starting with their meeting in childhood and then moves us through their lives together and apart.
I assumed that this would be a story of a marriage, but it isn't. Though it resembles one in many ways. The lack of formal ties lets Helen believe she is willing and has power. There is a lot to dive into here with the ways women in particular can convince themselves they are willing and useful even when a man is sucking them dry with little reward or gratitude. In fact, if there is a real flaw to the novel, it's that you can never really understand why Helen is so devoted to Frank. When you assume it exists, you understand why she acts as she does. But as is so often the case in books with a strongly charismatic character (particularly one who is allegedly a genius) that never translates into something tangible for the reader.
Still, even though I was frustrated with Helen, the final act ramps up well and Kerninon's short chapters keep a real sense of momentum. It took me a few days to read it, but I was always happy to come back to it.
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