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A review by readingwithmygoldens
Right After the Weather by Carol Anshaw
4.0
3.5 Rounded Up
I think I read Carol Anshaw's previous book, but I can't be certain. So let's just call me a novice. Initially, I was going to pass on reading this, but a publicist sent it to me so I felt obligated to give it a try. Quite honestly, based on the early reviews I had seen, I was expecting this to go in the DNF pile. At the beginning, I thought this was going to be too 'high brow' for me. As you can see, it wasn't and I actually liked it. However, I can't see myself recommending this to anyone though, either. Yeah, I know...that makes no sense. I'll try to explain....
Ms. Anshaw is without a doubt, a very gifted writer. There were parts that I really, really liked. I also felt that this was a challenge for me as a reader and I'm glad I took on that challenge. The story is told from the perspective of Cate who is a set designer, in her 40's and gay. The setting is Chicago in the fall of 2016. I had no idea this book was going to discuss the election so much, but it served as an ominous backdrop through out. (I would skip the book right away if this isn't your cup of tea or if you just can't handle it right now. It's not really avoidable.)
Cate is struggling. Her ex-husband and his dog are staying with her while he goes through a breakup with his then wife. She is also trying to get over a massively damaging relationship that just ended by moving forward with a new relationship that she would normally have passed on, but now is trying to convince herself to stay in. Her career is kind of at a standstill and she only has her best friend Neale, to get her through. Everything kind of ho-hum's along until it doesn't. Then everything is so turned upside down that Cate has no where to go, but up. I don't have much in common with the main character, but boy did I relate to how she felt about some things. Ms. Anshaw's eloquent prose struck several chords with me and her resilience was easy to root for.
While I thought this was a worthwhile read, it is definitely a different read. There is a lot going on. You're plodding along, you've got the lay of the land and then boom, out of nowhere comes a different story injected into it. It's jarring and it's meant to be jarring. But then the event happens more than half way through the book and then that perspective disappears. So I don't quite understand the point of putting that alternate perspective in the book to begin with. I'm fine with it being put in there, but to me it feels like it was just abandoned after the event took place.
Second, I don't know if this was on purpose, but there were things in here (particularly with the current gf storyline) that were just plain strange and even gross. You'll know what I'm talking about if you read it. I know that was the point (the shock factor as a plot device), but really? I dunno, that almost turned me off completely and I could see it happening to many others.
So to surmise, I don't have a neat and tidy "read this!" or "skip it" at the end of this review. I guess the best way to put it was this was kind of like reading something for AP English that I never would have picked up myself, (and I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would), but I wouldn't run out and buy a copy for a friend. This book is for a particular mindset and reader; not for the masses. If I were to guess, I think the author would be okay with that and I guess that's all that really matters.
Thank you to Isabel DaSilva, Atria Books and Carol Anshaw for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Review Date: 10/7/19
Publication Date: 10/1/19
I think I read Carol Anshaw's previous book, but I can't be certain. So let's just call me a novice. Initially, I was going to pass on reading this, but a publicist sent it to me so I felt obligated to give it a try. Quite honestly, based on the early reviews I had seen, I was expecting this to go in the DNF pile. At the beginning, I thought this was going to be too 'high brow' for me. As you can see, it wasn't and I actually liked it. However, I can't see myself recommending this to anyone though, either. Yeah, I know...that makes no sense. I'll try to explain....
Ms. Anshaw is without a doubt, a very gifted writer. There were parts that I really, really liked. I also felt that this was a challenge for me as a reader and I'm glad I took on that challenge. The story is told from the perspective of Cate who is a set designer, in her 40's and gay. The setting is Chicago in the fall of 2016. I had no idea this book was going to discuss the election so much, but it served as an ominous backdrop through out. (I would skip the book right away if this isn't your cup of tea or if you just can't handle it right now. It's not really avoidable.)
Cate is struggling. Her ex-husband and his dog are staying with her while he goes through a breakup with his then wife. She is also trying to get over a massively damaging relationship that just ended by moving forward with a new relationship that she would normally have passed on, but now is trying to convince herself to stay in. Her career is kind of at a standstill and she only has her best friend Neale, to get her through. Everything kind of ho-hum's along until it doesn't. Then everything is so turned upside down that Cate has no where to go, but up. I don't have much in common with the main character, but boy did I relate to how she felt about some things. Ms. Anshaw's eloquent prose struck several chords with me and her resilience was easy to root for.
While I thought this was a worthwhile read, it is definitely a different read. There is a lot going on. You're plodding along, you've got the lay of the land and then boom, out of nowhere comes a different story injected into it. It's jarring and it's meant to be jarring. But then the event happens more than half way through the book and then that perspective disappears. So I don't quite understand the point of putting that alternate perspective in the book to begin with. I'm fine with it being put in there, but to me it feels like it was just abandoned after the event took place.
Second, I don't know if this was on purpose, but there were things in here (particularly with the current gf storyline) that were just plain strange and even gross. You'll know what I'm talking about if you read it. I know that was the point (the shock factor as a plot device), but really? I dunno, that almost turned me off completely and I could see it happening to many others.
So to surmise, I don't have a neat and tidy "read this!" or "skip it" at the end of this review. I guess the best way to put it was this was kind of like reading something for AP English that I never would have picked up myself, (and I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would), but I wouldn't run out and buy a copy for a friend. This book is for a particular mindset and reader; not for the masses. If I were to guess, I think the author would be okay with that and I guess that's all that really matters.
Thank you to Isabel DaSilva, Atria Books and Carol Anshaw for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Review Date: 10/7/19
Publication Date: 10/1/19