A review by cwalsh
The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride
5.0
At first glance, I found the style of this book to be challenging; it's entirely composed of fragmented sentences and there are no quotations to suggest when dialogue begins or ends. However, as I made my way through the novel, I realized how much the style of the book influenced the reader. To me, each fragment of a sentence - especially those relating to self-esteem and blatant uncertainty - felt like the real, natural reaction to the situation at hand. Also, let me just put it out there: the sex in this book is the best sex I've ever read; it was awkward, it was vulnerable, it was steamy, and it felt real.
We follow Eily, an 18 year old student studying theater in London, who meets an older gentleman, Matthew, at a pub in town. At first she is a bit weary about their 20 year age difference, but gradually warms up to the idea of being intimate with a man with experience who appears to have it all together. She eventually learns more about Matthew and the two begin to see each other frequently. As the book progresses, it's clear that both Eily and Matthew have troubled pasts that are negatively influencing their current relationship.
I won't lie, this book really threw me for a loop; I was so surprised to see how emotionally invested I was in a story that exhibited the well overused "young girl falls for an older man" trope. I actually had to stop and put the book down a few times to cry... there was just something that was so beautifully intimate and vulnerable about the experimental writing in this book that completely tugged at my heartstrings.
We follow Eily, an 18 year old student studying theater in London, who meets an older gentleman, Matthew, at a pub in town. At first she is a bit weary about their 20 year age difference, but gradually warms up to the idea of being intimate with a man with experience who appears to have it all together. She eventually learns more about Matthew and the two begin to see each other frequently. As the book progresses, it's clear that both Eily and Matthew have troubled pasts that are negatively influencing their current relationship.
I won't lie, this book really threw me for a loop; I was so surprised to see how emotionally invested I was in a story that exhibited the well overused "young girl falls for an older man" trope. I actually had to stop and put the book down a few times to cry... there was just something that was so beautifully intimate and vulnerable about the experimental writing in this book that completely tugged at my heartstrings.