A review by acdom
The History of Us, by Leah Stewart
4.0
"The Myth of You and Me" has been my favorite book since the moment I finished it, sobbing alone in my bedroom at 2 in the morning. Despite owning them both, I still haven't read her other two works, "Body of a Girl" and "Husbands and Wives". When I read the summary of "The History of Us", I was sucked it and immediately pre-ordered it on Amazon.
I really really liked it. Stewart's writing is simple, lovely, and very funny. As a teacher, I enjoyed the look into high education and especially Theo's little love affair. A quote I loved: “All teachers are heavy drinkers,” she said. “Our students drive us to it.” Yes.
Another quote I loved: "And Josh wanted to tell her what he knew: that love might look like a shore but turn out to be a desert island, where you roamed alone, talking to yourself, trying to crack open coconuts with your shoe. So thirsty you drank the salt water. So hungry you ate the sand."
I found myself identifying with each of the characters in different ways. Eloise's nostalgia, Claire's debate about her future, Josh's hesitance to share, and Theo's general bitchiness. There was a quote toward the end (this doesn't spoil anything), that knocked me over with the way it resonated with me:
He said, “You like being in love with someone who’s not going to love you back.” She opened her eyes. He looked at her. “Why would I like that?” she asked. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
In a year I'll go back and re-read this one because I think it deserves a second read, just like "The Myth of You and Me" deserved a second, third, and twelfth read.
I really really liked it. Stewart's writing is simple, lovely, and very funny. As a teacher, I enjoyed the look into high education and especially Theo's little love affair. A quote I loved: “All teachers are heavy drinkers,” she said. “Our students drive us to it.” Yes.
Another quote I loved: "And Josh wanted to tell her what he knew: that love might look like a shore but turn out to be a desert island, where you roamed alone, talking to yourself, trying to crack open coconuts with your shoe. So thirsty you drank the salt water. So hungry you ate the sand."
I found myself identifying with each of the characters in different ways. Eloise's nostalgia, Claire's debate about her future, Josh's hesitance to share, and Theo's general bitchiness. There was a quote toward the end (this doesn't spoil anything), that knocked me over with the way it resonated with me:
He said, “You like being in love with someone who’s not going to love you back.” She opened her eyes. He looked at her. “Why would I like that?” she asked. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
In a year I'll go back and re-read this one because I think it deserves a second read, just like "The Myth of You and Me" deserved a second, third, and twelfth read.