A review by versmonesprit
The Cracked Looking-Glass by Katherine Anne Porter

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

0.25

This is a story that requires perseverance. The first half made me want to cry in frustration due to how utterly boring and rambly it was. It got less bad in the second half, and only became alright in the last few pages. I don’t know the author enough to know whether the racism is her own, or just fictional, but I found it added nothing but another layer of antipathy to the story. I wish Porter had done what she did at the very end, through the entire story: the real dynamics of an age gap marriage, how it’s perceived, how it affects the younger partner… And again, without the racism, the main character could have been one that I’d feel tenderness for. In the end this persuaded me not to get a longer book by Porter, so I’d say I wouldn’t recommend this even at the price tag.