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3 "the banality of affluent suburban feminism" stars !!

Thank you to the author, Netalley, and Farrar, Strauss & Giroux for providing me with an ecopy. I am providing an honest review. This will be released June 2024.

Vignette

J, a fervent Cuskophile and aspiring Cuskologist is feeling elated. Underneath his arm is the beloved Outline trilogy as well as the devilish Second Place. He is to meet R at a Viennese cafe for a discussion, a deep and fervent discussion. He is wearing his favorite lavender scarf and as he enters the cafe he is assaulted by the most heavely scents. Anxiously, he looks around and the bakery is full. Goodness gracious ! There is a painter, a writer, a poet, a sculptor, a film director and a few of each. Mostly white affluent women by their attire and a couple of goateed men that sort of look like women. They look forlorn, ever suffering, put upon. Pouting and grimacing and leering. The waitress comes across to greet me. Are you the doodler G ? You are expected. She loves my lavendar scarf. No no I am J ! The Cuskophile. She grimaces. There are no tables here for you...all are taken by G. The Gs stare. I am meeting R. She points to a small wobbly table. The Gs gasp and grimace. I notice the nametag of the waitress is also G. Phd in aesthestics studying the put upon genius of G.... aaaa i say.
The G next to me states where is Parade ? I don't wish to discuss Parade. A collective gasp. May I have some opera cake. The Gs have all ordered it. Pavlova please....eaten by the Gs. But but....The waitress G sneers....the desserts are for the put upon , oppressed Gs...not for the likes of you. The likes of me? Why yes....but wait you look off white, olive perhaps, and definitely queer, perhaps working class ? If you are nonbinary perhaps I can find you a croissant. Ummm no I am cismale but I would love the croissant. Harrumph say all the Gs even the goateed ones. A spot of tea only...just a spot and out you go....

Sparkling and intelligent prose reveal dated and currently irrelevant manufactured neurosis. Ummm my least favorite R and I hope she moves back to brilliance and effervescence.

The Gs look at me with their misplaced suspicion as I exit with my other beloved books.