Jessica

Probably really a 4.5. Descriptive language that transports you to another time and place. Nice interweaving of history and fiction. Opened quite a few wikipedia pages and dictionary entries, but worth it. This seems like it is very primed to become a movie for sure.

Frustrating. It is one thing to be opaque. But this just petered out. Very glad it was so short. 2 stars instead of 1 because the writing was lovely. Might try another book by the author if I can be assured of a satisfactory plot.

Very extremely meta. This is classified as a novel, but it is hard to believe that it is not highly autobiographical. Writer, NYC, COVID. Some of it reads like a copy paste exercise of all the cutesy quotes and musings that just couldn't be worked in any other way. Many nuggets of truth, just not very organically interwoven. That said, feels like bits will definitely stick with me. Fast read. Also, Vetch makes me sad.

This book has stuck with me for over a decade. Of course, I am never sure how these things will hold up on a re-read, but I feel like this book was prescient on a lot of issues. Strong female lead that is not a Mary Sue, good interweaving of misogyny, roots of social inequality, and the absolute corrosiveness of generational wealth.

I read this book only a week ago, and already this is me: https://www.instagram.com/p/C62WOqVL4jV/