This was a DNF. I made it about 120 pages and then skipped to the end to see if it compelled me to continue and it did not. It made a couple year-end This was a DNF. I made it about 120 pages and then skipped to the end to see if it compelled me to continue and it did not. It made a couple year-end lists but it never hooked me comedically or emotionally. ...more
5 stars for content, 2 stars for presentation. Dispenza has much to share and is an enthusiastic communicator, but he can be repetitive (after awhile,5 stars for content, 2 stars for presentation. Dispenza has much to share and is an enthusiastic communicator, but he can be repetitive (after awhile, I started skimming chapters). This book could use a copy editor. Still, the information is incredibly valuable and I plan to do the meditations in the book and report back with an updated review....more
**spoiler alert** My opinion on this novel, more than usual, is colored by the fact that I am a heterosexual female.
I imagine that a bisexual or homo**spoiler alert** My opinion on this novel, more than usual, is colored by the fact that I am a heterosexual female.
I imagine that a bisexual or homosexual female would have an entirely different perspective on Ava, Edith and Julian, but since I can only review this novel through my own perspective, here it is: I mostly liked it.
It didn't seem like much of a love triangle until almost the end because, if we take Ava's narration at face value, Julian DGAF about what she's doing and has no interest in being her boyfriend. This is a read-between-the-lines type of situation. Edith, being an outside party, is able to see things clearly and states that Julian has feelings for her.
This was exciting to me, as a heterosexual female who obsessed about men's feelings in the past (and wanted to hear YES! HE HAS FEELINGS FOR ME! in my own situation), but my excitement was tempered by the wisdom that Julian is a mess, Edith is not a mess, and Ava is not ready for an emotionally mature, uncomplicated relationship.
The end is intentionally vague and readers are left to fill in the rest. I believe that Ava said goodbye to Edith and went to Frankfurt with Julian. Ava did not really change, but the relationship between Ava and Julian did, for the better. It's unclear if they bring out the best in each other or are simply the same level of emotional mess.
I enjoyed this less than Normal People and Conversations with Friends. Though Dolan's novel shares a lot of similarities with Sally Rooney's novels. Exciting Times did not make my heart race the same way those other two did--though I am writing a very long review for Dolan's novel, which means something.
In another instance of reading between the lines, I believe Ava is probably stunningly beautiful. Her self-obsession and detachment would turn off a lot of people, but she has two attractive, financially sound romantic options. I look forward to the likely TV adaptation....more
This is a technically dazzling novel that I kept reading despite being unable to pinpoint why I was doing so. There isn't really a plot and several ofThis is a technically dazzling novel that I kept reading despite being unable to pinpoint why I was doing so. There isn't really a plot and several of the sections are difficult to read, and yet...
I can only conclude that Mitchell is some type of literary wizard.
It gets two stars for being clever and written with an incredible ear for genre and language, but no more because it didn't feel like it amounted to much. Obviously, I am in the minority on this.
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