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jaysim79's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
floatwiththesticks's review against another edition
5.0
The first five star read of the year always comes with slight relief. This reminded me how much I adore “nothing” stories about human relationships and inner turmoil. Lucy’s narrative voice is fierce (perfectly performed on the audiobook) and unsympathetic: the most alluring kind of protagonist. I need to read it physically one day and underline my favourite metaphors and observations. The writing is just, yes, yes yes.
jennatasovac's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sageyoung's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful writing great commentary on womanhood and the world
flamepea's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
A beautiful book about existing in the liminal and coming of age as a woman of colour from the Carribbean islands. At times a brutal questioning of the colonial and gender foundations of US society & tainted mother-daughter relations.
The ending had me quite emotional but I had felt as if lucy had found herself, her love through herself.
The “queer” moment - I hated how lucy admits to “practicing” kissing with a girl as if, queerness is less serious then straight relationships and just a “stepping stone” to a man. Whilst experimentation is valid I feel like this book just reinforces sapphic love as an experimentation, less “serious” and or “practice for men” rather than valid. You definitely could do a queer reading of Lucy and I wish it was proper bisexual representation.
A beautiful book about existing in the liminal and coming of age as a woman of colour from the Carribbean islands. At times a brutal questioning of the colonial and gender foundations of US society & tainted mother-daughter relations.
The ending had me quite emotional but I had felt as if lucy had found herself, her love through herself.
The “queer” moment - I hated how lucy admits to “practicing” kissing with a girl as if, queerness is less serious then straight relationships and just a “stepping stone” to a man. Whilst experimentation is valid I feel like this book just reinforces sapphic love as an experimentation, less “serious” and or “practice for men” rather than valid. You definitely could do a queer reading of Lucy and I wish it was proper bisexual representation.
lavrendy's review against another edition
5.0
This one is dedicated to the girls who think moving to a new country will fix them
(Apparently it won’t lol!)
There was so much to love about this book. Lucy’s voice is sharp and so fun to read. Her hilarious jabs at America’s upper class is mixed with really thought-provoking insights on womanhood and identity and mother-daughter relationships. I couldn’t get enough and was sad when it was over so quickly.
(Apparently it won’t lol!)
There was so much to love about this book. Lucy’s voice is sharp and so fun to read. Her hilarious jabs at America’s upper class is mixed with really thought-provoking insights on womanhood and identity and mother-daughter relationships. I couldn’t get enough and was sad when it was over so quickly.
sereenaro's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
greyemk's review against another edition
4.75
LOVED this. Maybe I’m not over millennial fiction after all 🤔 (yes this was published in 1990 by a writer in her 40s but thematically it’s millennial fiction)
The prose here was really the standout for me. It was sparse yet poetic, inviting and easy to read yet full of profundity. Lucy is just perceptive enough, as a 19 year old. She pays attention, she knows she is naive, yet she still has her incisive opinions that she feels no need to sugarcoat (in the narrative, and occasionally in life).
I found this very refreshing. It is focused, clear, beautiful.
The prose here was really the standout for me. It was sparse yet poetic, inviting and easy to read yet full of profundity. Lucy is just perceptive enough, as a 19 year old. She pays attention, she knows she is naive, yet she still has her incisive opinions that she feels no need to sugarcoat (in the narrative, and occasionally in life).
I found this very refreshing. It is focused, clear, beautiful.