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A review by naoki
Olive by Emma Gannon
2.0
It’s not often I read a book that I both like and dislike in equal measures. Where do I start? I was drawn to Olive because of the subject matter. It’s about a woman in her thirties named Olive who doesn't want kids. It’s a topic that doesn't get much air time, and one I’m currently seeking.
Olive got rave reviews, so I guess my expectations were high. But those expectations were dashed as soon as I started reading. The writing is *not* great. There are SO MANY inconsistencies and moments in the book that just don’t make sense. For example, in one scene a character is in the kitchen alone, then in the next paragraph (same scene), a completely different character is in the kitchen alone. Or Olive is said to be playing a podcast and then suddenly she’s only just turning the podcast on. Wasn't it already on? Things like that.
These inconsistencies were extremely off-putting and made me wonder if the book went through enough editing. I know this sounds elitist, but it also made me wonder if this is the standard of modern fiction. Do editors just let shit slide? The characters are also frustratingly one-dimensional.
Anyway, that’s the stuff I disliked.
What did I like? It’s a millennial read. I related to the pop culture references. And the overarching messages of the book are good ones:
〰️ We’re all on our own path and all decisions are valid.
〰️ No one's life is as great as it appears to be.
〰️ You can have two conflicting emotions at the same time e.g. you can love someone but know you have to let them go
The funny thing is, even though the whole way through I was like, “Wow, did they publish this” I actually started crying in one scene because it brought up some old feelings. I guess it wasn't that bad after all!
Do I recommend it? Yes and no. If you’re on a child-free journey and want to feel better about your life choices then it’s a validating read. If you’re into good, consistent, believable writing, maybe give it a miss!
Olive got rave reviews, so I guess my expectations were high. But those expectations were dashed as soon as I started reading. The writing is *not* great. There are SO MANY inconsistencies and moments in the book that just don’t make sense. For example, in one scene a character is in the kitchen alone, then in the next paragraph (same scene), a completely different character is in the kitchen alone. Or Olive is said to be playing a podcast and then suddenly she’s only just turning the podcast on. Wasn't it already on? Things like that.
These inconsistencies were extremely off-putting and made me wonder if the book went through enough editing. I know this sounds elitist, but it also made me wonder if this is the standard of modern fiction. Do editors just let shit slide? The characters are also frustratingly one-dimensional.
Anyway, that’s the stuff I disliked.
What did I like? It’s a millennial read. I related to the pop culture references. And the overarching messages of the book are good ones:
〰️ We’re all on our own path and all decisions are valid.
〰️ No one's life is as great as it appears to be.
〰️ You can have two conflicting emotions at the same time e.g. you can love someone but know you have to let them go
The funny thing is, even though the whole way through I was like, “Wow, did they publish this” I actually started crying in one scene because it brought up some old feelings. I guess it wasn't that bad after all!
Do I recommend it? Yes and no. If you’re on a child-free journey and want to feel better about your life choices then it’s a validating read. If you’re into good, consistent, believable writing, maybe give it a miss!