alex
Read it! Some slightly questionable history but it is very well sourced for the most part and honestly nothing the vast majority of popular historians don't do, also the purpose of this book is not to provide a history of the world, it just looks at it through a trans lens and this it does really, really well. The historical bits (which are great) are interspersed with Feinberg's own story as well as testimonials (I guess you would describe them as?) by many individuals (these bits are great too). So read it.
flat, unlikable main character, banal prose (sparse but not in an exciting way, just seemed like he couldn't think of the words), sex scenes were gross and weird (the ones that were meant to be good were the same as the ones meant to be bad). plot was flat, predictable, unoriginal, hamfisted etc. etc.
shit sucks.
I tried a few endings, my favourite was the vultures. Good pick a path story but I am not the target demograph
Ok so. I do think this is her best book (so far!!), and that she has brought the best aspects from both The Secret History and The Little Friend here (The Little Friend is still my favourite buttt I can acknowledge that it is perhaps, technically, less ‘good'.....whatever that means.....) This book was a slow but wonderful read (as all of her books have been for me), beautifully written, absolutely sprawling, with probably the most developed and intricate characterisation in any of her books (The Little Friend though......but I concede I can have objective-ish viewpoints! Though I will stand by the fact the The Little Friend has the best main character (although she does not first person narrate the story) as I think that both Richard and Theo are most interesting in their relationships with others, particularly Theo because the characters in The Goldfinch are just so good!!!! Not that I dislike Richard and Theo: I'm very fond of them. Just much, much fond(er)/curious of, like, most other people in their books.) Having read them chronologically, it is amazing to see the distinct threads that cross over all of her stories while each still has such a lovely individual character........Donna Tartt, you insidious web-weaver, you've done it again!
So lovely especially when read as a ‘book about books', incredible form/content nexus (story is so well adapted to novel format, especially in the modern sense where reading is an individual activity). The limited feeling of Fantastica works so well considering how tied it is to the human world + the books of said world, existing only within the contains of a story with a beginning and end. It's not a fantasy world with super expansive world building (although it's people + places are interesting and inventive), but I don't think it should be, as the narrative + metanarrative of the book would be lessened by a more established setting. Nice translation, reads like a classic children's story despite being written in the 70s/80s, Good stuff loved it
origin story of every old man lecturer who is bad at his job (PT lived this I fear...). I get you, Stoner! realest man alive/dead
-3.5
-rlly rlly sweet
-i love food so it was lovely and there are relatable feelings
-the visceral image of her friend constantly carrying around 9 kilograms of porno mags was hilarious
enjoyed it! the plot twist scared me (not a bad thing!!) but yeah it was very fun to read
a very good book, perhaps the best. however, it does raise a few fascinating questions, such as: how close is too closely related to be romantically involved? is second cousins twice removed ok- after all, it's not illegal. does it enter weird territory when you become aware of the relation, perhaps to the point of having a shared, recognisable family ring? is the weirdness and the moral implications worse if you look very (very, very) similar, presumably because of your shared genetics? much to ponder.
it was okk but I kept finding myself wanting to skim the lists that she uses to express everything that can possibly be expressed. not awful though
pretty good, I liked how the dynamic between the sisters (something lots of kids, with or without siblings, can relate to) played a big part in the scarrry bits.....nice book
