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3.22 AVERAGE
3.22 AVERAGE
Interesting take on the way we sometimes try to use other people to fill a void in ourselves. It's comforting to think that there's some order, some rule book that we're following whether we're aware of it or not. (I don't really think there is, but it's nice to imagine.) Rather more sex in this novel than I'd prefer, but it makes sense with the plot.
This was 4-5 stars in the first half, fading to a 3-ish by the end.
This was 4-5 stars in the first half, fading to a 3-ish by the end.
An engrossing, bending and transgressing story of desire, death and haunting. Reminded me of Rooney’s handling of the interior, the limitless and unfiltered quality of the character’s psyche. I would read this five times over and still find things to underline and think about.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book cover to cover this morning. I can't remember the last book that drew that reaction from me. A woman and a spirit fall in love, despite the danger of "regrets." I couldn't stop turning the pages
Did not like it. Do not recommend.
This book did not grab or hold my interest. I didn't enjoy the content or the writing style. It's told from multiple perspectives, but I found all the characters to have the same pretentiously boring voice. I'm certain I missed understanding the deeper meaning behind the nonsense, but I just wasn't enjoying the story enough to care. It felt like a chore every time I picked up the book.
I'm kind of disappointed in myself for bothering to finish the story, but I was probably 60% of the way through when I finally decided it wasn't working for me and wasn't going to be for me regardless of how much I read and at that point I was seduced by a sunk cost fallacy.
This book did not grab or hold my interest. I didn't enjoy the content or the writing style. It's told from multiple perspectives, but I found all the characters to have the same pretentiously boring voice. I'm certain I missed understanding the deeper meaning behind the nonsense, but I just wasn't enjoying the story enough to care. It felt like a chore every time I picked up the book.
I'm kind of disappointed in myself for bothering to finish the story, but I was probably 60% of the way through when I finally decided it wasn't working for me and wasn't going to be for me regardless of how much I read and at that point I was seduced by a sunk cost fallacy.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Melancholy & erotic, strange. Animal, esoteric, & sad. Creepy. Funny and fucking weird. I read it on whimsy & liked it.
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 out of 5
Wow it’s really a shame the libra is closed and the three coworkers who put this on hold after I checked it out can’t get it from me because I would love for a book club scenario where someone explains to me what the hell this was about.
The Regrets by Amy Bonnaffons (#15 in 2020)
Every now and then, I'll read something and wonder what on EARTH I just read... and this is one of those times.
Pre-reading thoughts:
Hmmm... guy dies and winds up in some sort of purgatory between Earth and the afterlife. He has a 90 day period of time that he has to spend in this still-visible-not-totally-real state during which he has to follow a specific set of rules. Then he breaks the rules when he falls in love with a living girl.
Sounded like: a Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore situation... perhaps a Ghost of Christmas past sort of deal... maybe a Zac Efron in Charlie St. Cloud kind of arrangement.
During reading:
- This is satirical... witty... clever...
- He meets the girl he's had his eye on... that's cute.
- This girl is getting a little too physical with this half-dead guy.
- This is... sexual and strange...
- ... the couple remains very... physical.
- ... more parties have gotten involved.
- What did I just read?
Thoughts after reading:
Well that was interesting. It certainly wasn't what I expected, but I somehow made it through. The storytelling was actually quite good at times, but I felt that the steamy scenes were unnecessary. In another plot, the intimate parts may have worked well, but in this case the steam took away from the quality of the story. 2 stars
Am I the only one who has read this? Please comment below if you have thoughts!
Every now and then, I'll read something and wonder what on EARTH I just read... and this is one of those times.
Pre-reading thoughts:
Hmmm... guy dies and winds up in some sort of purgatory between Earth and the afterlife. He has a 90 day period of time that he has to spend in this still-visible-not-totally-real state during which he has to follow a specific set of rules. Then he breaks the rules when he falls in love with a living girl.
Sounded like: a Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore situation... perhaps a Ghost of Christmas past sort of deal... maybe a Zac Efron in Charlie St. Cloud kind of arrangement.
During reading:
- This is satirical... witty... clever...
- He meets the girl he's had his eye on... that's cute.
- This girl is getting a little too physical with this half-dead guy.
- This is... sexual and strange...
- ... the couple remains very... physical.
- ... more parties have gotten involved.
- What did I just read?
Thoughts after reading:
Well that was interesting. It certainly wasn't what I expected, but I somehow made it through. The storytelling was actually quite good at times, but I felt that the steamy scenes were unnecessary. In another plot, the intimate parts may have worked well, but in this case the steam took away from the quality of the story. 2 stars
Am I the only one who has read this? Please comment below if you have thoughts!