3.5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Feast Your Eyes" by Myla Goldberg 

“Picture or no picture, people will keep killing each other using methods old and new—day after day, year after year, centuries of killing—until one way or another we’re all dead, and all the guns and cameras of the world are just so much garbage lying in the dirt.”

As someone who typically sticks to certain genres, I was intrigued by The American Library Association's recommendation to read this book in my 2023 reading planner.

The novel is presented as a collection of photographs and commentary, chronicling the life and work of Lillian Preston, a photographer whose controversial work was both celebrated and reviled during her lifetime. 

It gave me a glimpse into Lillian's complex and sometimes heartbreaking personal life, as well as her creative process and the reactions to her work.

One of the things I appreciated most about it was the way it challenged my expectations of what a novel could be. The format was unconventional, but it worked to draw me in and keep me engaged. I found myself invested in Lillian's story and eager to see what would happen next.

The writing itself was also excellent, with beautiful descriptions and a strong sense of voice. Myla Goldberg has crafted a memorable and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of art, motherhood, and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

My only real complaint was that it was at times hard to keep track of the “who and when” of the timeline as it bounced around to different people and times fairly often.

Overall, I am glad I branched out and gave this one a chance.