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sygritte 's review for:
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.
by Adelle Waldman
I have split feelings on this book. The first time I read it was at the beginning of last year, and I was a bit disappointed. It seemed to me slightly pretentious, I didn't like the writing style and thought that the author didn't actually have anything to say.
I enjoyed it much better the second time. Maybe it was just the right timing now (I'm binge watching SATC at the moment, so I'm really into shallow/dating-related/NYC stuff now), maybe it was that I knew what to expect, I can't really pinpoint it. I'm sticking with my 3-stars-rating, but I might have rated it better if this were the first time I'd read it.
So what do I think about the book now? It's a story about dating in New York, (in the literary circle). It's about modern day relationships; about the relationship, the dynamic between two people. What makes people start to date, continue a relationship, break up, stay friends?
What I didn't like but simultaneously makes the book work, are the stereotypical characters. "He" is untidy, egoistical, passive-agressive, and thinks women slightly shallow. "She" is seemingly rational and intelligent, but underneath that mask hides an over-emotional, irrational being, who wants to "talk" about everything. The friends are pretty much the same.
Lena Dunham said the book would "inspire [...] flights into lesbianism" and the main character, our "he", is being called an anti-hero, but I don't agree. I, a woman, could relate much more to "his" side, than to these hysterical, over-analysing women. They just got in my nerves.
Something positive: The people in there are seemingly smart, talking about politics and reading classical Russian literature. It gave the book a "sophisticated" vibe.
I don't want to start a rant here, so let me just say this:
The book is entertaining, and I did enjoy reading it. But it's somewhat superficial and I wouldn't take it too seriously.
I enjoyed it much better the second time. Maybe it was just the right timing now (I'm binge watching SATC at the moment, so I'm really into shallow/dating-related/NYC stuff now), maybe it was that I knew what to expect, I can't really pinpoint it. I'm sticking with my 3-stars-rating, but I might have rated it better if this were the first time I'd read it.
So what do I think about the book now? It's a story about dating in New York, (in the literary circle). It's about modern day relationships; about the relationship, the dynamic between two people. What makes people start to date, continue a relationship, break up, stay friends?
What I didn't like but simultaneously makes the book work, are the stereotypical characters. "He" is untidy, egoistical, passive-agressive, and thinks women slightly shallow. "She" is seemingly rational and intelligent, but underneath that mask hides an over-emotional, irrational being, who wants to "talk" about everything. The friends are pretty much the same.
Lena Dunham said the book would "inspire [...] flights into lesbianism" and the main character, our "he", is being called an anti-hero, but I don't agree. I, a woman, could relate much more to "his" side, than to these hysterical, over-analysing women. They just got in my nerves.
Something positive: The people in there are seemingly smart, talking about politics and reading classical Russian literature. It gave the book a "sophisticated" vibe.
I don't want to start a rant here, so let me just say this:
The book is entertaining, and I did enjoy reading it. But it's somewhat superficial and I wouldn't take it too seriously.