A review by prachidayal
Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

  • Medium read (8 hours)
  • I had really high expectations for this book considering the glowing reviews, which is why it was a letdown. It started off great but the discussion surrounding wearing the dog was circular which made it a drag to finish the book. Every one of Judy's thoughts and experiences felt so repetitive, and there is no subtlety in getting her feelings across. Further, some plotlines were very odd and redundant (for example, the animal activists.) Due to all of these side plots, the book became less and less cohesive and I had no idea where it was going. 
  • The idea was very new and quirky. I'm very impressed with Zigman's creativity. I liked how it followed the lives of rather average people and explored relatable struggles. In a lot of books, struggles like aging, separating, disconnecting from children, and more do not get picked for the main plotline, so I can appreciate the consistent focus on a few themes. I also really liked the "bird on my head" motif which made Judy's character very well thought out.
    I like how the book didn't end on a perfect note; it's not like Judy wrote another extremely successful book. Her understanding of the things that are important to her was not a perfect ending, it was a realistic one.
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