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A review by apostrophen
Tea by Stacey D'Erasmo
3.0
This book is a bit of a mixed bag. I liked it, let me say that before anything else, but I can see how many wouldn't. It is character driven to the point of being nearly plot-less, so if you're looking for some sort of complete story, it isn't here.
The tale follows the life of Isabel whose mother almost in passing, expresses a death wish. When Isabel's mother then commits suicide shortly thereafter, it spins Isabel's life in a new direction. Alternately free and flighty, grounded and lost, Isabel's life unfolds in sections titled after a day: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.
Tea is a theme, but not so central a one as to make the title self-evident. The others in Isabel's life seem nearly void of self confidence or self esteem or even self control at varying times, and her outsider point of view is both eloquent and sometimes infuriating. The book is written beautifully, and I found myself enjoying the way it was written more than the story itself.
A difficult review of a difficult book to pin down, but like I said, I did like it.
The tale follows the life of Isabel whose mother almost in passing, expresses a death wish. When Isabel's mother then commits suicide shortly thereafter, it spins Isabel's life in a new direction. Alternately free and flighty, grounded and lost, Isabel's life unfolds in sections titled after a day: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.
Tea is a theme, but not so central a one as to make the title self-evident. The others in Isabel's life seem nearly void of self confidence or self esteem or even self control at varying times, and her outsider point of view is both eloquent and sometimes infuriating. The book is written beautifully, and I found myself enjoying the way it was written more than the story itself.
A difficult review of a difficult book to pin down, but like I said, I did like it.