You could happily read this book just for the repartee and the way Ava expresses her thoughts. Witty and funny, sure, but she also expresses the ordinary in such original ways: after a compliment, “He seemed closer to me on the couch than he had a moment ago, although he hadn’t moved.” Julia is an appealing character, though probably not to everyone. She is bright, analytical, reflective, insecure, fundamentally decent, resistant to self-justification, in search of her own way in the world; she is also a bit too prone to feeling sorry for herself. She has close relationships with Julian and Edith. Interestingly, while the author shows the basis for the former, and it evolves, you have to accept what the characters say about the latter, it is not entirely convincing.
One thing bothers me. There are references to past experiences which are presumably intended to cast light on the current personalities of the 3 main characters, but it does not work very well for Ava and Julian; is Julian really reacting so strongly to past rejection, and has Ava also really suffered acutely from past rejection?
Following are some examples of the writing which I enjoyed. “Edith had come into my life just when there was a vacancy.” “I felt superior to people like Scott and Madison, but really the three of us were hollow. They filled themselves with a little bit of everyone’s approval, whereas I was more discerning. When I met someone I liked, I wanted all of them, and fast.” “He doesn’t want anyone to like him just for him,’ I said. ‘He wouldn’t know what to do with the information.” “Are they giving you a raise?’ I said. ‘Yes.’ This news was consoling. At least he wasn’t abandoning me for the same money (do not take this as a spoiler).”
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Cliente Kindle
Exciting Times não é um livro empolgante!
Reviewed in Brazil on April 5, 2023
Cliente Kindle
Reviewed in Brazil on April 5, 2023
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Silvi
Non male, ma dello stesso genere c'è di meglio
Reviewed in Italy on June 13, 2022