rachel_the_managing_editor's review
5.0
4.78 stars
Hey, here's a new book I actually appreciated (which is saying something for me). With its short chapters, lush sensory descriptions, and confessional tone, this book feels like a meditation. A meditation on what it means and feels like to be alone. The doubts and questions, the justifications and desires and hopes. All of it. A meditation on finding love and life in strange and often unexpected places.
A quiet book, but one with a deep resonance.
Hey, here's a new book I actually appreciated (which is saying something for me). With its short chapters, lush sensory descriptions, and confessional tone, this book feels like a meditation. A meditation on what it means and feels like to be alone. The doubts and questions, the justifications and desires and hopes. All of it. A meditation on finding love and life in strange and often unexpected places.
A quiet book, but one with a deep resonance.
starness's review
4.0
“I’m not old yet, but my heart is sick with old desire,”
I'm hovering between a 3 and 4 star but I'll bump it up to a 4 due to its originality, this is narrative poetry, the words glide on the page and before you know it you've been swept up in it's lyrical beauty. Rich evocative descriptions that are also short, tight and snappy every sentence a treasure trove of gold. Introspective thoughtful observant nuggets. I could list so many sentences that sang to me and made my heart revel in this delightful internal monologue, a woman questioning her worth as an older redundant? woman. Her descriptions of her little slice of Miami make this book visually alive. Her descriptions of her surroundings are my favourite part as the plot is meandering more observations than anything, with the theme of loneliness, aging and her imaginations of fantasy, reminiscing of lost youth and sexual vigour.
She's obviously inspired heavily by Ovid as a lot of references are littered throughout and gives it a strong literary style, it's not an easy read and it's not a book that can be read with distractions. It's a book that warrants your undivided attention as there is so much there to absorb. Some passages I had to reread as it's not the style I'm accustomed to after awhile though I got a little fatigued with the narrative style and looked forward to reading a straight novel again, so I'm guessing this is a book that requires a certain type of reader who likes their books slightly off centre that's easy to read but demands some concentration.
I'm hovering between a 3 and 4 star but I'll bump it up to a 4 due to its originality, this is narrative poetry, the words glide on the page and before you know it you've been swept up in it's lyrical beauty. Rich evocative descriptions that are also short, tight and snappy every sentence a treasure trove of gold. Introspective thoughtful observant nuggets. I could list so many sentences that sang to me and made my heart revel in this delightful internal monologue, a woman questioning her worth as an older redundant? woman. Her descriptions of her little slice of Miami make this book visually alive. Her descriptions of her surroundings are my favourite part as the plot is meandering more observations than anything, with the theme of loneliness, aging and her imaginations of fantasy, reminiscing of lost youth and sexual vigour.
She's obviously inspired heavily by Ovid as a lot of references are littered throughout and gives it a strong literary style, it's not an easy read and it's not a book that can be read with distractions. It's a book that warrants your undivided attention as there is so much there to absorb. Some passages I had to reread as it's not the style I'm accustomed to after awhile though I got a little fatigued with the narrative style and looked forward to reading a straight novel again, so I'm guessing this is a book that requires a certain type of reader who likes their books slightly off centre that's easy to read but demands some concentration.
tbsims's review
4.0
a great way with words. And drawing a picture. And navigating a path... with a satisfying ending.
nicolewrites's review
1.0
I had such high hopes for this book, as it was hyped up on Booktube. But I really didn't enjoy it. I disliked both the subject and the writing. I nearly stopped reading several times, but kept reading in hopes it would improve. I do not recommend.
lifesaverscandyofficial's review
volcel canon
"And maybe that's enough. To have had some love some time. Even if it worked only awhile. Even if it only worked only awhile. It's enough to have had some once and now to live with just pieces of it, and it's all right if you spend what you still have on an old cat or duck, a few friends, your mother. Not everyone is paired on the ark."
kemilyh1988's review
3.0
Won in a Goodreads Giveaway. I was not loving it at the start, but it definitely grew on me. Her inner dialogue was smart and honest. The prose was lovely and I truly was engaged. Also, the duck and Buster were sweet in their own ways. Quite good!
margaret_adams's review
Maybe it’s not bad to love so much what another mind made.
ktrusty416's review
5.0
Poetic, spare, brittle, beautiful, raw... Always looking for answers in stories featuring solitary women. Very rarely find them but the trade off - wisdom - is well worth it.
hannahhood's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0