If I Had Your Face

“But I grew up not knowing the difference between a bearable life and an unbearable life, and by the time I discovered there was such a thing, it was too late.”

I know lots of girls like these girls. I know women like these women. The ones who call me at any point of the 24 hours of the day asking if we can go out to eat, they are starving. Some who mention diets and trends in a nonchalant way, but who I can tell still care. Who chide another womans choices, joking and not joking.

And, like the women in this book, you gravitate towards the ones that understand your gears. Perhaps some of them don't like the way you work or the things you do but they get it. You both obsess over the same thing, you grew up in the same place and both got out, or maybe you both stayed. Maybe you have the same taste in shoes, eat the same take out. There is something you cling to that they know how to hold with you.

Anyway about the writing. Its lovely. Usually if there is a character who has sections that drag on me it changes the way I view the entire book, leaves me sour. While I disliked Miho, I think this is just because my own way of viewing trauma and art clashes with her characters personal opinions. I found What drove me wild about her was the way she said victim, how Kyuri is so silly to her sometimes, the way she says “Kyuri thinks she is a victim and it holds her back” that's not exactly what she says but I returned the book already.

Miho's sections were best when talking about her friend Ruby. Her paintings of Ruby are also interesting to me. On one hand, I understand this elaborate shrine of grief dedicate to her friend. On the other hand Miho is blinded by her world of art. She was so irritating to me because I know so many like her, and want to shake her by her shoulders. But she is well written despite my dislike for her.

There is a line where Kyuri is talking about how absurd it is for Miho to try to talk to people on the train, and be hurt when they are rude and suspicious in return. I found myself agreeing with Kyuri. I feel inclined to mention it just because how much this appalled me, Miho really just pushes all my buttons :p

I feel like I'm rambling but these are just my book thoughts as usual :p