A review by bookedbymadeline
I Have Some Questions for You: A Novel by Rebecca Makkai

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Pulled in by the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down! This is told in first person narration, as we follow our FMC Bodie reflecting on the past as well as her own culpability in having a career around true crime. 

She says “you” often which was both confusing and intriguing at first but eventually we learn who she’s talking to. Really thought provoking and complicated characters. There’s so much gray area and unlikeable moments that I had mixed feelings about the characters, especially Bodie herself! 

Some things did feel unnecessary? Like the MC romance with an Israeli guy was so random and the film class descriptions with references to classic films; It felt like the book was trying to do too much at once.

One of the subplots involving Bodie’s hypocrisy around victim hood and assault made me uncomfortable but was such an interesting exploration on things like “how do you define abuse? What would you do if a loved one was accused? How ethical is true crime as a genre?” Because for Bodie it’s literally her job to look at young women killed in Hollywood and mistreated/abused by men and she’s reflecting on the past where a young girl is killed by an older man she’s rumored to be involved with, so it positions how she views these things as wrong but then gets angry and defensive at the accusations against her sort of husband and accusing people of not understanding what “ACTUAL assault” looks like.

Intriguing, complicated explorations on grooming, abuse/assault of women, ethical issues around true crime, the US justice system and reliability on our collective memories! So many gray areas that make you think, and feel uncomfortable, but so important as well.

Overall I really enjoyed the issues brought up and even though I very often didn’t like Bodie, I couldn’t put this down! 
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