jessicaxmaria's Reviews (1.04k)

I read this book for months, and though there were some slower parts, I really liked the novel overall. I feel very accomplished, to be honest! It's a classic that's been on my to-read list for far too long.

Regarding the book itself, I think there were some areas that were beyond my interest regarding smalltown life (aka farming, politics) in England in the 1800s, but her characters had so much life in them. They were well-rounded and I understood them completely; I liked some, I hated others (though I never hated reading about the loathsome ones, of course). And there were many notions Eliot wrote about in terms of men and women that still stand today. For instance, Eliot basically calls out that terrible term that is known as "friendzoning":

"And to me it is one of the most odious things in a girl’s life, that there must always be some supposition of falling in love coming between her and any man who is kind to her, and to whom she is grateful."

And the last thirty percent or so of the novel really flew by - I started this week at 70% on my Kindle and now it's complete. The ending found me sad to say goodbye to characters like Dorothea (aka "Dodo") and Dr. Lydgate.

I read one of Roxane Gay's essays online, then I started following her on Twitter, and when I learned I would be able to read more of her insights and thoughts in a collection of essays, I walked to the nearest bookseller and bought this. I was halfway through it when I found out she'd be in town for a reading, and you can bet I was there. I think she has a great voice, an important voice, in contemporary discourse -- on feminism, pop culture, race, and much more. Also, she's funny. Like, there are parts that I laughed out loud. There are also parts that made my eyes well. Highly recommend.

I can't wait to read her fiction novel...

Tolstoy's epic, often referred to as the greatest novel of all time, did not let down. Sometimes reading like the best fiction ever, other times like a historical textbook with a decided point of view, the book never ceased to surprise me with its insight. I can't wait to re-read this in a decade or two: it's relevant to me, my life, my world today and I'm sure it will be then as well.

This novel took me quite some time to read. I think I read the first few pages about three or four times; I should have known when the bookseller said to me, "Great book, but, it's bigger that it seems." The slim book came with many surprises - complicated characters, lesbian love triangles, a cross-dressing (but not unsympathetic) doctor, and this was all published in the 1920s. The writing is dense, packed, and missing a sentence could mean missing a whole chapter's meaning. At times I felt I had to steel myself to continue on, but I did, and I'm glad I did so though it feels like reading a fever dream sometimes. It's beautiful in a dark, lyrical way -- love, pain, brutal truth, human nature in all it's prettiness and ugliness -- it's all there. Recommend if you enjoy a worthwhile challenge.

I liked the experimental play with structure and revelation, but the story did not do much for me. The Natalie Blake section was most interesting with the little slices of her life from adolesence to adulthood... but overall it felt less like a novel and more like writing exercises. And as a writer I enjoyed that aspect, and I liked the book, but I didn't quite enjoy the narrative.

I wish I could call up Cheryl Strayed whenever I find myself in a conundrum and ask her what I should do, just so that she can shift my perspective with an on-point, articulate answer but if that were to happen I'd probably die after the first one from my mind being blown to smithereens.

Having the honor of being the last book I read in New York before moving to California, I wept multiple times on my subway commute (#traditions), sometimes because of an unbelievably sad letter or an amazing, uplifting answer in the form of a personal story from Cheryl's past. I wanted to hug Sugar, those writing the letters, everybody everywhere while reading.

A good, inspiring guide for life in general.

Oh, also: WRITE LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!

It took me quite some time to finally read this, picking it up after I read Diaz's short story collection "This is How You Lose Her," not realizing the narrator for both is the character Yunior. A truly cativating novel from beginning to end -- the writing and descriptions, the characters, the history, and the Latino point-of-view, all great. A new favorte, that stayed with me some time after finishing (perhaps a reason I'm writing this review two months later...)

A great short book that spawned many frightful images and costumes with its words. Indeed at times it's horrifying, and part of it is the behavior of human beings when catching a glimpse of something monstrously ugly. By the end this is ugliness goes hand in hand with ugly behavior - but it was created by the shunning of and shame of the creature. The best part of the book is when Frankenstein's monster tells his creator what he has been doing for two years through his POV. It's a bit heartbreaking, and from there the book descends into horror. A great read, and sad.

Reading this book from the viewpoint of the titular Nathaniel P. makes me think the author did some lengthy interviews with men in New York in their 20s--it must have been torture. Because I recognize Nathaniel in many men I've known and met in passing when I lived in New York in my 20s, and she gets them spot on. She delves even deeper than I thought possible, and sometimes that recognition made me shudder in my own memories. Especially that specific angle of men who believe they are not sexist, and yet treat women as utterly below themselves and don't have enough self-reflection to see it. Nathaniel P. tries, he really does, but he's still terrible and awful and I rolled my eyes so many times while reading this. There's a slew of unlikable but recognizable characters, and yes, some of the women reminded me of myself then. Also worth many shudders. A fascinating book, though I'm not sure how I'd feel about it I hadn't lived in New York at a certain time. Perhaps exactly the same, but I can't know.

Great, visceral writing. This book gave me goosebumps but also made me laugh out loud. It's sick and entertaining and sad and lovely. I haven't read anything quite like these demented stories, and I look forward to reading more Amelia Gray.