I agree about the #MeToo, but felt that was buried under all the other stories. The whole thing just made me angry because aspects were clever, but she seemed so determined to show off her literary storytelling skills.

All good points, whether limincello induced or not! I’ve seen Glassybaby in the airport and in Old Ballard but have never gone in. They’re stuff looks gorgeous, but I’m afraid I’d buy and I’m really trying to streamline now.

I saw Shannon’s contrary thoughts, which make me all the more curious. To be honest, sometimes negative reviews make me more curious about a work than a glowing review. Something that someone else found pushed their boundaries too far or was otherwise not working, but they can provide great examples as to why, make me more inclined to check something out. Because I know it’s real. A glow is a glow is a glow. Not that I discount them entirely, but you know what I mean. This is a much harder review to write. So since you’ve piqued my curiosity more than squelched it, publishers should have no problem with it. People talking about things is the key, I think, whether we’re disagreeing or not. (But I’ve had a limincello and soda, so this may all be a big, incoherent ramble). Have you been to Seattle Glassybaby? Holy shit that place (I go to the studio in Berkeley) is awesome but so not awesome. I had a free “styling” appointment with Julie at our local studio today and we had SO much fun.

I get it! I think the same thing about negative reviews by others. They’re not easy to write, though, and I worry about blowback from publishers, but this one just burned me. The tone and so much rhetoric felt condescending. I don’t think it’s a long book (it just felt interminable) so read it and let me know what you think. I know Shannon (used to have River City reading blog) is calling it a best book of the year so far.

No, but I will. I know the book has gotten rave reviews from all the big publications, but however important the themes in the novel may have been, they were completely lost in the format and style. I felt this book was written for the critics and not the readers. I should have DNFed it.

It had promise and touched on important themes, but she covered it in so much wasted verbiage. As if she were trying to prove how smart she is.