A review by monasterymonochrome
Ecstasia by Francesca Lia Block
5.0
Yep, this book still slaps! I was afraid I would read it now and struggle to find what once made it so magical for me the way I have with some of Francesca Lia Block's other books, but I'm pleased to report that didn't happen. It's difficult to put into words why I adore this book so much and what makes it hit consistently when it's arguably an example of Block still finding her feet as an author and certainly has plenty of flaws if one looks closely enough. But I love the characters and setting and general vibe so much that I just don't really care about those flaws and even find them charming in some weird way. This book contains many of the hallmarks of Block's writing, descriptive tendencies and character traits and underlying themes that she would later refine into a repeatable signature, and I kind of like how nascent and rough around the edges they are. Her distinctive voice is still emerging, which means that aspects of her writing that later feel stereotypical or expected feel fresher and more immediate and potent here.
As usual, Block plays fast and loose with plot and pacing: there are long stretches where it feels like nothing really happens at all until all of a sudden everything is happening at once and then the conflict is over just as quickly. (I remembered Calliope's abduction being a much bigger deal, but it really only lasts for a couple chapters near the very end.) It didn't really bother me, though. (The only actual annoyance for me was the lyrics that opened each chapter. I feel like made-up lyrics are never very good, and these aren't an exception to that rule, but also they were often integrated into the chapters themselves in a much more organic way, rendering this repetitive emphasis unnecessary). I enjoy the patchwork nature of the narrative, the way it slowly pieces together the characters and their motivations so that we're more invested in their fates. Rafe and Calliope are lovely protagonists, but the real triumph for me is Paul, who is so deeply and complexly rendered despite his side character status. My heart hurt for him every time he was on the page.
I'm surprised Block hasn't written more straight fantasy stuff because her naturally dream-like writing style lends itself well to that genre. I wouldn't say this book's world is terribly unique when it comes to dystopias disguised as utopias (for one, the obsession with youth and shaming of those who dare show their age is certainly a trope I've seen before), but it just pops so vibrantly in Block's unique voice. As a reader, I can see Elysia rolled out before my eyes, and the avoidance of detailed exposition and back story is actually a positive, allowing me to fill in the blanks with my own imagination, making the book a more interactive and immersive experience. While I've noticed that some of her other books feel incomplete for being so short, it's remarkable how rich and substantive this one feels for being just shy of 200 pages. It's just such a delight to read, which leaves me continually baffled that this book and its sequel have taken on this bizarre redheaded stepchild status within Block's bibliography, continually out of print and rarely mentioned in the context of her career as a whole. They deserve to be true cult classics, in my opinion!
As usual, Block plays fast and loose with plot and pacing: there are long stretches where it feels like nothing really happens at all until all of a sudden everything is happening at once and then the conflict is over just as quickly.
I'm surprised Block hasn't written more straight fantasy stuff because her naturally dream-like writing style lends itself well to that genre. I wouldn't say this book's world is terribly unique when it comes to dystopias disguised as utopias (for one, the obsession with youth and shaming of those who dare show their age is certainly a trope I've seen before), but it just pops so vibrantly in Block's unique voice. As a reader, I can see Elysia rolled out before my eyes, and the avoidance of detailed exposition and back story is actually a positive, allowing me to fill in the blanks with my own imagination, making the book a more interactive and immersive experience. While I've noticed that some of her other books feel incomplete for being so short, it's remarkable how rich and substantive this one feels for being just shy of 200 pages. It's just such a delight to read, which leaves me continually baffled that this book and its sequel have taken on this bizarre redheaded stepchild status within Block's bibliography, continually out of print and rarely mentioned in the context of her career as a whole. They deserve to be true cult classics, in my opinion!