Reviews

Blue Angel by Francine Prose

autumngore's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this was a tough read but oh so rewarding. mind reeling w all the themes. especially love that this book seems to combine all the best parts of other campus novels i've read over the last few years, despite this book predating every one of those. this author rly is a master satirist + commentator. so much nuance here! 

lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition

3.0

Entertaining, witty, and sometimes stressful. I couldn't put it down when the Professor became absolutely delusional. Fun and interesting read.

book_concierge's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars.
The professor thinks he has a good marriage but he lives in a fantasy world where women all adore him and listen attentively to his pearls of wisdom. When he succumbs to the temptation of a talented young student (Angela) his life quickly spirals out of control. I liked the way the author used so many writing styles so effectively. (I learned more about the art of writing.) But I found the book as a whole disappointing.

bsmorris's review against another edition

3.0

Another book about a middle aged person screwing up his life trying to feel attractive. I'm not sure how I feel about it - it was simultaneously frustrating and humorous to see how obvious his mistakes were.

misfitmoxie's review against another edition

1.0

This has to be one of the worst books I've read. Ever. In fact I so throughly wanted to forget that it took me months to remember the name so I could kvetch about it properly. I was told there was this great twist so I kept reading thinking that would redeem it. Like anything could, but to make it more unendurable there wasn't even a little twist. Ergh. What a waste of my life. I want it back.

alisonlacivita's review against another edition

3.0

Entirely unsure how I feel about any of this book.

angie4451's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

vanth's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

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

3.0

salicat's review against another edition

4.0

This was a great read. My first Francine Prose novel, and I thought her writing style and character development were well-done. It's rare to find a book where none of the characters are particularly likable and still get incentive to turn the pages. But it happened. I'm very glad she wrote this book, so we can at least see how ridiculous political correctness/gender blame games have gotten at this point. The ending left much to be desired, though. I had the urge to just write my own ending in, but that would've been kinda pointless.

ferris_mx's review against another edition

5.0

Five stars because anything less would be a crime, but there are some aspects here that are VERY troubling.

First, the book is widely described as a satire, and I did discover online that some of the details parallel what happened to a colleague of Ms. Prose's who was dismissed from her department in similar fashion. But with a lens of 2020+, I fail to see the satire. And I have no sympathy for Ms. Prose's colleague or the protagonist.

Second, and I can now see that this is probably related, the book is cruel to Angela and it is uncalled for. Angela is called "a self-involved, wounded baby bird who knows her way around a computer". What? She is so much more than that. And there are more examples in this vein.

So I'd say it's an important book, but it is angering, and for the wrong reasons.