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Lark Benobi's Reviews > Piglet
Piglet
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This remarkable story is told almost entirely through 1) dialogue and 2) descriptions of food. I think it shouldn't work, but it does. I was rapt. The protagonist's attention to food, her relationship with food, her history of covering for her anorexic sister, the class divides between two families, the ambitions of the characters...it's all there, and much more, revealed to us in conversations and also in menu plans, and the relationships between the characters seem deeply complicated and tangled and human. The details of these lives are revealed to us in a breezy style where there is much left up to me as a reader to infer, or to trust in. Maybe a good word for this book is "deft." It's skillfully told, the author is as skillful at storytelling as the protagonist is at cooking up elaborate meals. The writing and storytelling are perfect for a story that is in one way small in scope and in another way is meant to answer a very big question: "why do we live?"...Good.
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Terrie
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 03, 2023 10:10PM
Your review makes me very curious about this one, Claire! Hmmm�
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Terrie wrote: "Your review makes me very curious about this one, Claire! Hmmm�"It’s a uniquely told story. I fell slightly into an arms� length analytical frame of mind where I was thinking about the author’s choices rather than the story itself, a bit like watching an art film, I guess, as I read along, but I enjoyed that feeling because the author’s choices about what to reveal, and what to hide, and how to advance the story are unusual.
It piques my interest, as well! I'm very glad to have read your interesting review! Thanks!🙏
Yes, I think that is a key talent for authors that I like to read - ones who allow you to fill in - it's a very pleasant reading experience when you're allowed to conjecture.
I think you’d like this novel then, Laura.
Sounds fascinating Lark...thanks for putting this on my radar ...added.
Jaidee wrote: "Sounds fascinating Lark...thanks for putting this on my radar ...added."The author makes an interesting choice right about in the middle of the novel. I had to let go of my expectation to keep going. I'll be interested in hearing what you think when you get to it.
The food descriptions were amazing! I really enjoyed this one.
Bookish wrote: "The food descriptions were amazing! I really enjoyed this one."I'm glad you liked it! I'm just seeing your note now, Bookish. This is a book where I wasn't sure other people would like it as much as I did, and it delights me when I see a good review for it. It's unexpected.
Have avoided this til seeing your review. . .my relationship with food is a troubled one, but into the breach go I . . .
I love this review, spot on!
Moonkiszt wrote: "Have avoided this til seeing your review. . .my relationship with food is a troubled one, but into the breach go I . . ."Moonkiszt, i didn’t emphasize in my review but the novel is definitely about troubled relationships with food. What I found most interesting was (view spoiler)
This review is bang on
Interesting review. This book is going to be rated all over scale. It started for me a 2, dipped to a 1, rose to a 4.
Spot on review with terrific observations. I wish I could write a review as you did here, Lark!
Christine, I write reviews immediately after I finish a book and it leads to a certain kind of slapdash feeling sometimes but it’s fun and stress free and leads to surprising revelations now and then. Try it!
Lark, I am so grateful that you wrote this glowing review - I wouldn't have picked this book up otherwise. I am so glad I did, I can't remember the last time a book made me feel so many feels.
Lark, Thank you for putting this book on my reading radar. I read your review, got the book, read the book (quickly), and feel like a changed person! This is what I love about GR! The way one person’s review can open another person’s mind to a new writer. Thank you!😊
Royce, I feel the same about goodreads! I'm glad you liked this novel. It surprised me how much I liked it because of the (view spoiler)
Lark I had the same reaction. At first, I thought I want to know specifically what he did to her. But, as I read the novel, the specifics were irrelevant, what mattered is how she felt by his betrayal of her. I also loved the food, cooking descriptions!
I enjoyed this one too! Great review!
