A review by tellthebeees
The Complicities by Stacey D'Erasmo

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

3.0

A fascinating experiment in what literary fiction can do: absolutely beautiful writing- the first fifty pages of this shook me to my core, just stunning and masterful. Then, the "plot" kicks in and it gets bizarre. I understand the whale as metaphor, I do not understand the 100 pages of describing the biology of the whale.
I loved the Lydia parts, I think D'Erasmo shined when it came to characterizing her and describing her circumstances. The Sylvia chapters were nonsensical and the book really careened off course in the last third.
I think definitely read this if you appreciate lovely writing and can handle plotless books. Otherwise, not sure I would rec.