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A review by ribbitingreads
The View Was Exhausting by Onjuli Datta, Mikaella Clements
4.0
This is the equivalent of [b:Normal People|41057294|Normal People|Sally Rooney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571423190l/41057294._SY75_.jpg|59141209], but with Hollywood, racism, and daunting side of the media. The story follows Whitman Tagore, a British Indian actress, and her fake on-and-off again playboy boyfriend, Leo Milanowski. We follow their relationship after Win is caught in a scandal (thanks to her ex-boyfriend) and she needs his help to distract the media.
I really enjoyed the last 75% of the book or rather the moment she is in London. I loved that Win was honest about how the media treats her different because of her skin color. That she can not ever really be "her" because she is either seen as a door to opportunity for others like her or that she should shut up and look pretty. We see how much that takes a toll on her throughout the book. Specifically, with her relationships.
Leo's character was interesting to read about. He is essentially a trust-fund baby who struggles to pursue his passion out of fear of criticism by the media. So, instead he parties and pretends to be someone he isn't. However, I enjoyed watching him address his own notions on how he different the media treats him versus Win.
I would not say their relationship was the healthiest, but I do think they deserve to be together. I think that Clements did a great job portraying the ups and downs of their inner turmoil and how it affected their relationship with each other. They hurt each other a lot with their words And still they managed to find time to be there when the other one needed them. Their relationship was messy, but it was also beautiful.
We are reminded how celebrities are really just people who make mistakes yet those mistakes are held higher because of the amount of zeros on their checks. It brings attention to how the media truly shapes most of society mind through a simple article title. How quick we as humans are so eager (at times) to watch someone fall. So quick to attack and berate an individual we do not really know or know the full story.
I really enjoyed the last 75% of the book or rather the moment she is in London. I loved that Win was honest about how the media treats her different because of her skin color. That she can not ever really be "her" because she is either seen as a door to opportunity for others like her or that she should shut up and look pretty. We see how much that takes a toll on her throughout the book. Specifically, with her relationships.
Leo's character was interesting to read about. He is essentially a trust-fund baby who struggles to pursue his passion out of fear of criticism by the media. So, instead he parties and pretends to be someone he isn't. However, I enjoyed watching him address his own notions on how he different the media treats him versus Win.
I would not say their relationship was the healthiest, but I do think they deserve to be together. I think that Clements did a great job portraying the ups and downs of their inner turmoil and how it affected their relationship with each other. They hurt each other a lot with their words And still they managed to find time to be there when the other one needed them. Their relationship was messy, but it was also beautiful.
We are reminded how celebrities are really just people who make mistakes yet those mistakes are held higher because of the amount of zeros on their checks. It brings attention to how the media truly shapes most of society mind through a simple article title. How quick we as humans are so eager (at times) to watch someone fall. So quick to attack and berate an individual we do not really know or know the full story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism