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A review by foundeasily
Ghost Lover: Stories by Lisa Taddeo
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
1.75
The prose is lively and the stories well plotted for what they are. I would hardly say she isn't a good writer. That said... the class character and overall feel of the book were off-putting.
I enjoy a book or story with an unlikable protagonist but it's a lot harder when the writer seems to loathe them, as well. And the dislike seems to come from a moralizing and loaded point of view of the author.
The collection beginning with a story built around a false or (at least grey area) rape accusation, with shallowly inflected revenge motivation put a very bad taste in my mouth. Not only including a story built around it but leading off with it and naming the collection after it is a politically and morally loaded choice.
I continued on and hoped it was an aberration. I really enjoyed, for instance, Detransition Baby, which initially I felt awkward about for it's centering of detransition but came to see it as a complex and thoughtful choice. Taddeo instead continued with a series of stories built around what she seems to see as shallow, lonely and secretly pathetic women. Few, if any, round out around these qualities into fully realized complex characters. There feels like there is a self loathing, grafted onto each character.
I haven't read her novels and I could imagine a version of these types that more fully fleshed out accomplishes more and better. However, within the short story form, these fail to inspire me, outside of good prose style, occasional small insights and turns of phrase.
There was one or two stories I liked well enough and fell into the same traps a little less or at least somewhat transcended them. But overall, this was a frustrating read.
I enjoy a book or story with an unlikable protagonist but it's a lot harder when the writer seems to loathe them, as well. And the dislike seems to come from a moralizing and loaded point of view of the author.
The collection beginning with a story built around a false or (at least grey area) rape accusation, with shallowly inflected revenge motivation put a very bad taste in my mouth. Not only including a story built around it but leading off with it and naming the collection after it is a politically and morally loaded choice.
I continued on and hoped it was an aberration. I really enjoyed, for instance, Detransition Baby, which initially I felt awkward about for it's centering of detransition but came to see it as a complex and thoughtful choice. Taddeo instead continued with a series of stories built around what she seems to see as shallow, lonely and secretly pathetic women. Few, if any, round out around these qualities into fully realized complex characters. There feels like there is a self loathing, grafted onto each character.
I haven't read her novels and I could imagine a version of these types that more fully fleshed out accomplishes more and better. However, within the short story form, these fail to inspire me, outside of good prose style, occasional small insights and turns of phrase.
There was one or two stories I liked well enough and fell into the same traps a little less or at least somewhat transcended them. But overall, this was a frustrating read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
One story revolved around a false or at least grey sexual assault allegation that is talked about as a weaponized revenge for a perceived slight.