Luster: A Novel
Irresistibly unruly and strikingly beautiful, razor-sharp and slyly comic, sexually charged and utterly absorbing, Raven Leilani’s Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life―her hunger, her anger―in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent, and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.
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Luster by Raven Leilani
227 pages
What’s it about?
Edie is a twenty something woman living in Bushwick and working at an administrative job that doesn't really interest her. As she tries to put her dreams of being an artist behind her, she finds herself making lots of inappropriate choices. One of these choices leads her to Eric, a middle aged married man who is in an open marriage. When she suddenly loses her job she finds herself living in Eric's home- by invitation of his wife.
What did it make me think about?
Race and the complexities of relationships- all relationships. "I think of my parents, not because I miss them, but because sometimes you see a black person walking down the street, and you just know they have seen some shit."
Should I read it?
Well I must say this novel was interesting. Edie was a character unlike any other I have read. Did I always get her? NO! But a glimpse into her world was illuminating. This novel has won high praise and I understand that. The writing is fresh and different. Having said that, this novel wasn't one of my favorites- it was however worth reading... I gave this book 4 stars because of a deep respect for the writing but not because I actually loved it.
Quote-
" 'Because I have to be honest, I'm having trouble reading you, and I'm usually great at that kind of thing.' I finish my beer and try not to show how overjoyed I am that none of my need and loathing have come across. 'You're kind of aloof', he says, and all the kids stacked underneath my trench coat rejoice. Aloof is a casual lean, a choice. It is not a girl from Bushwick, licking clean a can of tuna."
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Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Luster by Raven Leilani
227 pages
What’s it about?
Edie is a twenty something woman living in Bushwick and working at an administrative job that doesn't really interest her. As she tries to put her dreams of being an artist behind her, she finds herself making lots of inappropriate choices. One of these choices leads her to Eric, a middle aged married man who is in an open marriage. When she suddenly loses her job she finds herself living in Eric's home- by invitation of his wife.
What did it make me think about?
Race and the complexities of relationships- all relationships. "I think of my parents, not because I miss them, but because sometimes you see a black person walking down the street, and you just know they have seen some shit."
Should I read it?
Well I must say this novel was interesting. Edie was a character unlike any other I have read. Did I always get her? NO! But a glimpse into her world was illuminating. This novel has won high praise and I understand that. The writing is fresh and different. Having said that, this novel wasn't one of my favorites- it was however worth reading... I gave this book 4 stars because of a deep respect for the writing but not because I actually loved it.
Quote-
" 'Because I have to be honest, I'm having trouble reading you, and I'm usually great at that kind of thing.' I finish my beer and try not to show how overjoyed I am that none of my need and loathing have come across. 'You're kind of aloof', he says, and all the kids stacked underneath my trench coat rejoice. Aloof is a casual lean, a choice. It is not a girl from Bushwick, licking clean a can of tuna."
If you liked this try-
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday
Sweet bitter by Stephanie Danler
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
3.5 Excellent raw/honest inner dialogue. But with the exception of Akeela, I just didn’t like the characters.
This book was a huge disappointment. There was no character development, no plot, minimal dialogue, & a bunch of non sense in between. It read as if the author sat with a thesaurus to write the most basic sentences but because they had big words it depicted as if it was so profound.
DNF @ Chapter 4.
The description of the book definitely intrigued me, but I couldn't get past the coldness of the main character (though I do understand why she is written that way.) The writing itself was also not my personal favorite and it just seemed to revolve way too much around sex without really giving much to the reader (again, it was detached and cold, but maybe that was the point.)
I know others will love it but it just was not for me.
The description of the book definitely intrigued me, but I couldn't get past the coldness of the main character (though I do understand why she is written that way.) The writing itself was also not my personal favorite and it just seemed to revolve way too much around sex without really giving much to the reader (again, it was detached and cold, but maybe that was the point.)
I know others will love it but it just was not for me.
So much of the book is poetry. Storytelling in poetry. Beautifully written descriptions. And I'm really wanting the protagonist to be ok. I want them all to be ok. Being human is really hard. Raven Leilani does a beautiful job capturing that. Even if you aren't connected to the premise, you can't deny that this story is fresh. We've never heard it before. At least, it's never been written down before. That deserves praise.
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