nikkixuan's review against another edition
4.0
would’ve been three stars if not for the following passage:
‘I’ve often thought it’s fathers who make painters,’ he said, ‘while writers come from their mothers.’
I asked him why he thought that.
‘Mothers are such liars,’ he said. ‘Language is all they have. They fill you up with language if you let them’
‘I’ve often thought it’s fathers who make painters,’ he said, ‘while writers come from their mothers.’
I asked him why he thought that.
‘Mothers are such liars,’ he said. ‘Language is all they have. They fill you up with language if you let them’
lenasch's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
dcmr's review against another edition
2.0
Some interesting passages and good lines but written with such an intellectual detachment that the overall feeling is pretentiousness.
justagrill's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
isirla's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Stunning prose but I honestly didn't get much of what she was trying to say. Some of the passages were so obscure, I had to reread to make sure I read it correctly the first time. Maybe it's too smart for me.
I am giving this 3 stars because it wasn't terrible. And I could see some of the themes presented. But the dialogue between people didn't feel real whatsoever.
I'm also giving it the 3 stars because I'm so grateful this wasn't about some middle aged woman who decided to get her kicks with some artist, right under her husband's nose. I would have dnf'd it the minute the writing went in that direction if that were the case.
I feel this quote perfectly sums up what this book is about and how the main character feels: "Why do we live so painfully in our fictions? Why do we suffer so, from the things we ourselves have invented?"
Not my favourite book but not a terrible character study.
I am giving this 3 stars because it wasn't terrible. And I could see some of the themes presented. But the dialogue between people didn't feel real whatsoever.
I'm also giving it the 3 stars because I'm so grateful this wasn't about some middle aged woman who decided to get her kicks with some artist, right under her husband's nose. I would have dnf'd it the minute the writing went in that direction if that were the case.
I feel this quote perfectly sums up what this book is about and how the main character feels: "Why do we live so painfully in our fictions? Why do we suffer so, from the things we ourselves have invented?"
Not my favourite book but not a terrible character study.
nataliebonetti's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-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
4.0
mimsen's review against another edition
3.75
This has one of my now favourite opening lines of all time. Rachel Cusks prose is sublime, at least in my humble opinion.
But the plot left me really confused, all this talk about destroying someone and this weird power dynamics? I don't know what to make of it, it is so far from who I am. So I read this beautifully written book which I didn't really understand.
But the plot left me really confused, all this talk about destroying someone and this weird power dynamics? I don't know what to make of it, it is so far from who I am. So I read this beautifully written book which I didn't really understand.