Reviews

The Life of the Mind by Christine Smallwood

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quiteliterary's review against another edition

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So much was said. So little mattered.

pennygodiva's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

katie_skean's review against another edition

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Wasn't what I was expecting. I should have realized that the title is at least slightly ironic. The miseries of academic life! I felt really bad for the protagonist and her boyfriend. I'm glad this book was written, but for me, I could have skipped it. I wasn't in the intended audience, and felt bad even chuckling at the wry, self-deprecating humor.

ser427's review against another edition

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medium-paced

5.0

literarycrushes's review against another edition

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3.0

The Life of the Mind by Christine Smallwood is centered on the stream of consciousness-style, inner monologue of a listless, young-ish Dorothy. There is little plot to speak of- the major thread of the novel focuses on Dorothy’s miscarriage, and the resulting weeks of bleeding– but Smallwood’s quippy and concise character descriptions and little details were well worth the read. She can tell you all you need to know about a character or a place with a simple, expertly crafted sentence. The book’s best quality, in my opinion, was its commentary on human communication, and the myriad ways we communicate (or try to) just below the surface, through the things we don’t say.
I am also impressed when a novel can use modern technology as a literary tool without cheapening it. Smallwood had a lot of interesting things to say about the dangers of a life lived through the lens of social media (particularly, the peculiarities of how someone else’s happiness, when posted online, can feel like an affront to your own happiness). This book is definitely not for everyone, especially those readers who prefer a narrative-driven story. There were parts of it that I struggled with, or felt my eyes begin to glaze over with the continuous, long-winded descriptions of clumps of blood found in her underwear, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing what this writer comes up with next!