This is my first novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and well, I am a little lost for words here. I cracked open “The Feast of the Goat” relativUh. Ok. Wow.
This is my first novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and well, I am a little lost for words here. I cracked open “The Feast of the Goat” relatively ignorant about its subject matter. I knew that the Trujillo regime had been a brutal dictatorship that had kept the Dominican Republic in a state of terror for many years but that was about it, really. Consider my ignorance remedied now, as I constantly looked up events and people featured in Vargas Llosa’s novel.
“The Feast of the Goat” is a beautifully, intricately written work of historical fiction that explores these thirty years of Dominican history through the eyes of Urania Cabral, the daughter of one of Trujillo’s disgraced (and fictional) senators, and through the story of the conspirators who took part in the plot to assassinate the Generalissimo. After thirty years abroad, Uriana comes back to visit her now-incapacitated father, and her return to the Dominican Republic brings up memories of growing up in a strange time and place. Uriana struggles with reconciling what she perceives as contrasting facets of her father’s personality, knowing fully well that for many years, he sheltered her from the horrible things that happened to other women (wives or daughters) who were close to the Trujillo family, and yet worked to keep people he knew were capable of monstrous acts in power – often by being complicit to many atrocities himself. Intertwined with her recollections are the stories of a handful of men who made the decision to put an end to El Hefe’s rule in the only effective way they could think of, and what strange and often violent pasts brought them to this point. In a third story line, some events are seen from the perspective of Trujillo himself, as he looks back on some of the most infamous moments of his dictatorship while coming to grips with his failing health and the unavoidable end of his reign.
The non-linear narrative, which brings together the present moment and vivid memories is seamless, the prose both gorgeous and heartbreaking. As mentioned, I knew very little about the history of the Dominican Republic, and this eye-opening narrative brought that history to life in a deeply affective and personal way. The multiple points of view give a very rich and layered portrait of what it was like to live in what was then Ciudad Trujillo, and how the aftermath of the assassination upended the characters’ world. Vargas Llosa describes the brutal corruption and acts of great violence very graphically – but do not for a minute think that this is done gratuitously. He shows the horrible power of blackmail and manipulation, the way power itself is given and taken away in such a cruel and decadent setting to warn readers of the dangers of absolute power and misplaced loyalties.
Using Trujillo’s voice for one story line was also a clever move on Vargas Llosa’s part, because while the other two narrations serve as a testimonial that some things should never be forgotten lest history repeats itself, we also need to remember that despots and narrators often think of themselves as saviors and well-intentioned people. It’s not easy to summon empathy for Trujillo, but we see here a terrible dictator who is, also, a bitterly disappointed parent, an insecure old man who can feel his death hot on his heels and someone who let his thirst for power and control override his capacity to be empathic. I’m not sure I felt sad for Rafael Trujillo, but I felt sad for the pathetic old man on the page.
This novel is unusually gripping for historical fiction, as the events escalate into a shocking climax that brings all three narrative lines together. I saw that another reviewer was reminded of Roth’s “Human Stain” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) while reading this, because it is just as intimate, perhaps strangely, as the story of Coleman Silk, and similarly engineered into a beautiful clockwork that delivers a devastating bang at the end. Stunning is really the best word I can think of to describe this book. Everyone should read it.
Merged review:
Uh. Ok. Wow.
This is my first novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and well, I am a little lost for words here. I cracked open “The Feast of the Goat” relatively ignorant about its subject matter. I knew that the Trujillo regime had been a brutal dictatorship that had kept the Dominican Republic in a state of terror for many years but that was about it, really. Consider my ignorance remedied now, as I constantly looked up events and people featured in Vargas Llosa’s novel.
“The Feast of the Goat” is a beautifully, intricately written work of historical fiction that explores these thirty years of Dominican history through the eyes of Urania Cabral, the daughter of one of Trujillo’s disgraced (and fictional) senators, and through the story of the conspirators who took part in the plot to assassinate the Generalissimo. After thirty years abroad, Uriana comes back to visit her now-incapacitated father, and her return to the Dominican Republic brings up memories of growing up in a strange time and place. Uriana struggles with reconciling what she perceives as contrasting facets of her father’s personality, knowing fully well that for many years, he sheltered her from the horrible things that happened to other women (wives or daughters) who were close to the Trujillo family, and yet worked to keep people he knew were capable of monstrous acts in power – often by being complicit to many atrocities himself. Intertwined with her recollections are the stories of a handful of men who made the decision to put an end to El Hefe’s rule in the only effective way they could think of, and what strange and often violent pasts brought them to this point. In a third story line, some events are seen from the perspective of Trujillo himself, as he looks back on some of the most infamous moments of his dictatorship while coming to grips with his failing health and the unavoidable end of his reign.
The non-linear narrative, which brings together the present moment and vivid memories is seamless, the prose both gorgeous and heartbreaking. As mentioned, I knew very little about the history of the Dominican Republic, and this eye-opening narrative brought that history to life in a deeply affective and personal way. The multiple points of view give a very rich and layered portrait of what it was like to live in what was then Ciudad Trujillo, and how the aftermath of the assassination upended the characters’ world. Vargas Llosa describes the brutal corruption and acts of great violence very graphically – but do not for a minute think that this is done gratuitously. He shows the horrible power of blackmail and manipulation, the way power itself is given and taken away in such a cruel and decadent setting to warn readers of the dangers of absolute power and misplaced loyalties.
Using Trujillo’s voice for one story line was also a clever move on Vargas Llosa’s part, because while the other two narrations serve as a testimonial that some things should never be forgotten lest history repeats itself, we also need to remember that despots and narrators often think of themselves as saviors and well-intentioned people. It’s not easy to summon empathy for Trujillo, but we see here a terrible dictator who is, also, a bitterly disappointed parent, an insecure old man who can feel his death hot on his heels and someone who let his thirst for power and control override his capacity to be empathic. I’m not sure I felt sad for Rafael Trujillo, but I felt sad for the pathetic old man on the page.
This novel is unusually gripping for historical fiction, as the events escalate into a shocking climax that brings all three narrative lines together. I saw that another reviewer was reminded of Roth’s “Human Stain” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) while reading this, because it is just as intimate, perhaps strangely, as the story of Coleman Silk, and similarly engineered into a beautiful clockwork that delivers a devastating bang at the end. Stunning is really the best word I can think of to describe this book. Everyone should read it....more
Henry James can be a bit of a tough nut to crack. I’ll be very honest; I prefer Edith Wharton, who was his protégée. I just find her funnier and sharpHenry James can be a bit of a tough nut to crack. I’ll be very honest; I prefer Edith Wharton, who was his protégée. I just find her funnier and sharper. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love and appreciate Mr. James' very interesting insights into his society, the upper crust on the American East Coast during the Gilded Age.
I find characters like Daisy Miller truly fascinating, and I love that while he doesn’t explore the events from her point of view, James still managed to write a fairly nuanced female character who isn’t a typical heroine of the age. Daisy is smart, stubborn and well-intentioned. She thinks that if people know her, they will understand that she acts in transparency and innocence. But that’s not how society works. For her, gentleman friends and suitors are pleasant to know and spend time with, but do not really mean anything beyond that. But other people make assumptions about the true nature of her acquaintances, her suitors’ intent, the implications of time spent together… You know, all that junk that may mean nothing but that reputations are built and destroyed on.
I think the central question of this book is book is: is Daisy simply an innocent girl, unaware of the potential ramifications of her actions, or is she too stupid to truly understand them? Is she being toyed with or is she simply enjoying herself? James never really settles that question, and while that may be frustrating, I appreciate it. I think he wanted the readers to decide who they thought Daisy was. I’d like to think she wanted to just be herself, and that the society gossips were more annoyances than meaningful critics to her, that she wanted to live a life she got to define, regardless of what they have to say.
I am also aware that this might say more about me than about Daisy, or Henry James, and that’s OK. Some books are Rorschach tests, and if this is well done, no one will interpret it the same way. I think this is one such book. It’s also a very quick read, if you are intimidated by James’ longer works. Recommended....more
I think that at this point, even if those books weren’t great (which they are), I would just keep reading them, because I am so invested in the ideas I think that at this point, even if those books weren’t great (which they are), I would just keep reading them, because I am so invested in the ideas T. Kingfisher has decided to put on the page, and so excited about the way she has structured this series – taking a supporting character from the previous book and promoting them to main character in the next – and so attached to her characters that I will just read as many of these “Saints of Steel” books as she sees fit to publish. If I may place a request, Ms. Kingfisher: twelve more, please.
This fourth foray into this lovely series brings back Marguerite, Grace’s spy bestie from “Paladin’s Grace”, who had pulled a disappearing act at the end of the first book. Marguerite has been away for a few years, but she is forced to come back and ask the Order of the White Rat for help when she uncovers a secret: a former employer of hers has identified a new technique for harvesting salt which might upend the entire economic system across several cities and make them lose a lot of money, so their plan is to destroy it and neutralize the person who invented it; and now that Marguerite has acquired this knowledge, she is also in their crosshair. In order to survive long enough to stop the nefarious plan, she asks Bishop Beartongue to help by providing her with paladin bodyguards to keep her safe while she does… whatever it is spies do. She ends up with Wren and Shane, both of whom have lurked around the corners of the pages of the previous books without ever getting too much spotlight.
So yeah, if your thing is sexy bodyguard, this is the “Saint of Steel” book for you (but you should still read the whole series)! As with the previous books, there is a good deal of tension between two people who fall for each other but are both convinced that they will be a danger and/or not good enough for the object of their affections before they inevitably give in, but Kingfisher knows just how to make this fun and endearing, and how to draw up characters dealing with trauma and damage so none of that angst feels exaggerated or gratuitous. And yes, this is deliciously female gaze-y (though only moderately spicy, by my admittedly filthy standards) and it’s awesome!
Marguerite is a wonderful character to follow around, and I am sure that she would be a nightmare to actually protect; spies, after all, rarely stay put or in safe situations. And the Saint’s paladins are dealing with their own rather hardcore PTSD, an element that I had been/keep hoping would be explored more deeply through the series, and we dig into it a bit here through Shane’s experience of his god dying and the empty space it created in his life. A clear pattern that has been established through the series so far is that a person who cares for someone accepts them as they are, flaws and damage and all, and there’s something perennially lovely about seeing these traumatized characters find solace and support with someone (“I’m less broken when I’m around you”… Jesus, Kingfisher, my heart!!!). Maybe that’s truly what keeps me so happy and excited about these books: they are so full of hope in how much healing a person can do when they feel loved, and that’s wonderful.
Even if Wren is not as central to this book as Marguerite and Shane, I was really glad that we got to be more familiar with one of the women paladins; her character, a skilled warrior who has essentially lived with half a dozen older brothers for years, is both funny and very touching, especially in contrast with Marguerite’s more experienced and worldly personality. I totally understand why Shane would want to beat up anyone who hurts her feelings, and I hope we see more of her in future books.
I think I have mentioned this in previous reviews of books from this series, but I love the Order of the White Rat, and if there is anything from this world-building I wish was real, it’s them. Bishop Beartongue is an awesome character, but their entire organization is the stuff of my dreams: their dedication to help and heal people warms my heart every time. I also never tire of Kingfisher’s tone, which is light, wry, conversational, and clever, without ever becoming pretentious or silly. Her dialogues are sharp and sound perfectly real. It’s nearly impossible for me not to read these books with gluttony, because she combines that really great writing style with good pacing and awesome characters. I may have missed my metro stop and cursed loudly a few times while reading this one during my daily commute…
When I got my copy of this book, I was under the impression that this would be the last one, but apparently, there have been rumors of a fifth and sixth book! This makes me absurdly happy (though outraged that I have to wait for them to be published, gawd!), and someone should tell Amanda, who will also be thrilled. Thanks a whole heap to Erika, who convinced me to check out these books knowing I would pretend to vomit as she explained that they were romantasy novels but that I would, somehow, still like them. You have excellent instincts, my friend/we really are peas in a pod, regardless of the distance. I am going to be hunting down the “Clocktaur War” books to make the time pass until we have a publication date for book 5!...more
As soon as I managed to get my hands on a copy of “Paladin’s Hope”, it immediately went to the top of the book pile. If you had told me last year thatAs soon as I managed to get my hands on a copy of “Paladin’s Hope”, it immediately went to the top of the book pile. If you had told me last year that I would be squeaking in excitement about this sort of book, I might have laughed in your face, but I guess T. Kingfisher is the one laughing now, because as soon as I realized book 4 was available in paperback, guess what I did?
As with the previous books in this series, this is a fantasy/romance (gag) involving one of the surviving paladins of the Saint of Steel. This time, the story focuses of Galen, who is known in the series so far for being a ginger and not really into women, if you catch my very obvious drift. The story begins when a body washes up on the shore of the river, dead from a large wound that seemed to have punctured his back, but there is no clear way to determine what could have caused such a wound, even for Piper, the lich-doctor the paladins have worked with before. Earstripe, a gnole belonging to the city guards seems to think, however, that this death is connected to other dead bodies that were discovered recently, but his captain won’t let him investigate further. But Galen and Piper agree that something seems odd, and they decide to go with Earstripe to see if they can’t solve this mystery, and proceed to get stuck in a strange place that makes the cave at the end of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” look like a cake walk.
I am quite excited about Piper the pathologist (that’s not really what they call him, but I love an alliteration) being brought front and center in this story because I always find that line of work fascinating, and it is not often written about in fantasy settings. He also has a fantastic gallows’ humour that I really enjoyed – as one might expect from someone in his line of work. The budding romance with Galen is just sweet enough for me, and I really appreciate that Kingfisher created a fantasy world where no one freaks out at queerness and just lets people be who they are. The idea that as a society, they decided that they had bigger problems to worry about than who sleeps with who is so refreshingly sane! Alas, just like the White Rat being an order of kind and efficient bureaucrats, that’s how you know this is fantasy… The point is, those two are cute together, and even people who have shrivelled husks where their hearts should be would be mollified by the way they behave around each other. More than with the previous two books, this one addresses gnoles and their place in society on a deeper level, with Earstripe being such an integral part of the story. That seemed a bit forced to me at first, but as the world expands and the stories involve the little guys more and more, it actually makes sense to expand our view of their society and their relationship to humans at the same time.
As with the previous books of the series, the humor – dry, a little dirty, very witty - shines on almost every page and makes it a delight to read. Kingfisher also has such a charming and quirky way with words (like when she describes Galen has having cheekbones you could slice cheese with, or when Galen wonders if Piper got toned lugging dead bodies around, because those are heavy!), and I am really enjoying the way she broadens the world with each book. I know these technically belong to a larger series set in this universe, and I might get around to them some day, but until then, I am loving the way she introduces the reader to new elements of world-building with each book, which keeps the series fresh because there is always something new to discover. The mysteries of the Ancients and their machines is awesome, though I suspect it has been explored in some of her other books…
I have so much more fun than I expected with this series, these books are my new favorite treats, and I can’t wait for the fourth book to arrive!...more
So… I loved "Paladin’s Grace". So much. And this was somehow better. I’m just got the third book in the mail and can I just tell you right now that I So… I loved "Paladin’s Grace". So much. And this was somehow better. I’m just got the third book in the mail and can I just tell you right now that I dropped everything else I was reading to get to it ASAP?
Just like the first book of the "Saints of Steel" series, this is technically a romantacy (I almost threw up in my mouth a little just writing it: sorry, I am a cynical old punk and I generally hate romance with a white hot intensity) but the characters are about the same age as me, they are traumatized, fucked up, terrified of getting hurt and constantly trying to do the right thing – which makes them, as far as I am concerned anyway, endearing and relatable.
We have met Istvhan in the first book: he is a paladin of the now-defunct Saint of Steel, who does muscle work for the Order of the White Rat. As he is escorting a shipment of very fancy barrels to a sea-side city, he meets Clara, a nun of St. Ursa. She is remarkable because she is almost as strong and as tall as him, but also because she now… belongs to him, after he defeats in single combat the man who owned her as a sort of slave. Istvhan is obviously not comfortable with that and quickly relinquishes his ownership, but he agrees that she should accompany his little caravan. Clara’s convent was raided, and her fellow nuns captured and taken to an unknown place, and she is determined to find them and save them, but obviously, that will not work very well if she simply wanders the wilderness on her own. So she joins Istvhan and his caravan, trying to find clues that indicate where her sisters were taken. As they make their way through the countryside, they will also come across bodies that have been mutilated in a way Istvhan has seen before…
Let’s get this out of the way: just like in the first book, the romance is just sweet enough, with plenty of realistic and understandable concerns that keep our two heroes in a ‘will they, won’t they’ holding pattern. Falling in love in your middle age is not the same as it is when you are twenty, and things like trauma and knee pain definitely impact spontaneity, and I really love the way Kingfisher writes Istvhan and Clara’s inner thoughts, their longing and their hesitations. If all romance was this steeped into real-world concerns, I might enjoy the genre a lot more than I do. Also, I can really appreciate when women write male characters who are not terrified of or grossed out by periods. Seriously.
I was also very happy that we revisit the unsolved mystery of the smooth men, which was a deliciously creepy element of the first book. The way their reappearance is weaved into the main narrative is very well executed and meets the story of Clara’s quest for her sisters perfectly. The book is also action packed, and the pacing is quick: those books are so hard to put down!
In short, if you like the first one, definitely read this one. Now if you’ll excuse me, I am off to go hide in a corner with the third book....more
"Gogmagog" is the type of urban fantasy that I love: gritty, weird and full of colorful and unique characters! Some of the influences are fairly obvio"Gogmagog" is the type of urban fantasy that I love: gritty, weird and full of colorful and unique characters! Some of the influences are fairly obvious, but it’s a safe bet to say that if you like Mervyn Peake and China Mieville’s New Crobuzon novels, this might be your cup of muddy tea. Did I mention there is a haunted river? And that it’s haunted by the ghost of a freaking dragon?!
Cady is captain of a ship that used to ferry people up and down the river leading to the city of Ludwich, but things have changed and now she mostly drinks. And she would have just kept doing that if not for a young girl and her automaton companion who need to get to the city for an important ceremony, and hire her to steer them safely to port. She is reluctant at first, but soon finds herself on a wonderous and dangerous journey, visiting the treacherous lands that border the great river and unravelling the mystery of the cataclysm that turned this once peaceful river into perilous waters.
The action in this book is fast paced, as it should be, since it technically takes place over a single day’s journey. But what an eventful and emotional day that it! The world contained in those pages is rich with wild ideas, unique and strange species and an often unsettling atmosphere. It’s a pleasure to explore this imaginary world, but I also don’t want to give anything away: it really has to be experienced first-hand.
The book lost a star on the simple basis that I wanted more. More world-building, more zany stops along the way to Ludwich, more strange characters! The book ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, and I can’t wait to read the second book (due for publication in December!) because it might make me reconsider my rating, depending on how the story continues. I can’t wait to catch up with Cady and see how things go for her and her crew!...more
This book is a cute little graphic novel about what happens to the younger characters of “Stranger Things” between seasons. I fully admit that I had nThis book is a cute little graphic novel about what happens to the younger characters of “Stranger Things” between seasons. I fully admit that I had not paid close attention to the content before I got my copy, so word of warning: this is definitely aimed at a young adult audience: the stories are fun, but some little teachable moments are added in there, for good measure.
“Zombie Boys” is about the AV Club gang getting together with a new student to make a zombie movie, which helps Will, who still feels quite rattled by his experience in the Upside Down and by his new nickname. “The Bully” is about Troy, the mean little bully El put back in his place twice over the first season, and his attempt to understand what happened. And finally, “Erica the Great” is about Erica Sinclair’s attempt to get her girlfriends to play D&D, and how that doesn’t quite work out the way she expected.
The first story was cute, and I do appreciate the underlying message, that art can help us heal and reclaim who we are after trauma – and that scary movies can actually help us cope with real-life scary stuff, and I simply loved the last story, but then Erica is one of my favorite supporting characters: she is utterly terrifying and tragically underutilized, I hope they fix that in season 5. The middle story about Troy was an interesting choice: it shows that bullies usually learn their behavior somewhere, and tend to be just as terrified as the people they pick on, albeit for different reasons. And this will sound harsh, but Stranger Things does disgusting bully characters so-well that I am kind of indifferent to attempts at redeeming them.
Overall, a cute and fun little collection of bite-sized stories, but I would not consider it a significant addition to the universe’s cannon....more
You know how sometimes you get the wrong book at the wrong time? Well, this was the perfect book at the perfect time. And I am so, so grateful for it.You know how sometimes you get the wrong book at the wrong time? Well, this was the perfect book at the perfect time. And I am so, so grateful for it.
Let me preface this review with some context: I generally do not like romance. I can count on the fingers of one hand the literary romances I actually got invested in. And this book is one of them. My husband who hates romances even more than I do read "Paladin's Grace" right before I did and he loved it too! My point is: do not write this book off on the label. Maybe it's because the lovebirds are middle aged, grumpy and damaged, and dance around each other hesitantly in a very realistic way? I just found their awkwardness so relatable (as was Grace's blurting of inappropriate things) and I basically spent the first half of the book shaking it and yelling "KISS HER, YOU SILLY TWAT!" at it.
Right, I should talk about the story!
Stephen was a paladin of the Saint of Steel, a god of war; then one day, his god died, sending his entire order into chaos and disarray. Many of them ended up dead. He and six other paladins survived and are being housed and looked after by the Order of the White Rat (basically religious bureaucrats, but kind and efficient - so it's definitely fantasy). They do some work as bodyguards, but mainly spend their time trying to heal and feel less broken. One day, after an assignment, Stephen is on his way home when he accidentally rescues a woman being chased by some rather annoying fanatics who think she's a witch. What she actually is is a perfumer, with a crummy past of her own she is trying to move past. This lovely but lonely woman, Grace, and Stephen develop a friendship that's 95% pining for each other awkwardly. But things come to a head (pun intended if you've read the book) when they get caught up in a weird conspiracy as a series of strange murders keep happening in the background.
Here are my two relatively small complaints about the book: the pacing in the first half is much slower than the second half, which suddenly kicks into high speed and makes the book impossible to put down. I was not quite prepared for that. I would have also loved a bit more world-building at the beginning, because I am quite curious about all the different weird gods and their weird organization.
But really, those are minor quibbles because this was just so much fun. Stephen and his siblings in arms are wonderful, and I loved how Kingfisher drew up former military characters dealing with PTSD in such a sensitive and compassionate way. Grace's post-divorce damage is handled with equal finesse and is also quite realistic. In fact, most of the characters and their conversations feel incredibly real, and I loved it. I also dig Kingfisher's humor: dry and just dark and bleak enough, and it permeates the story, making it impossible for me to find a page that did not make me smile.
I was going to give it 4 stars because of the aforementioned issues, but considering this book was just what I needed and exactly when I needed it, fuck it, I'm rounding it up to 5. And I'm hunting down the rest of the series....more
I gave this book 4 stars because of a couple of small details that nagged at me, but really, this might as well be a 5 stars read.
The short version reI gave this book 4 stars because of a couple of small details that nagged at me, but really, this might as well be a 5 stars read.
The short version review of this book would be: it's reverse "The Stepford Wives". "The Stepford Wives" (sorry if this is a spoiler, but the book was published over 50 years ago - deal with it) is about women being turned into sex robots and "Annie Bot" is about a sex robot who wants to be a real woman.
Annie is a Stella "cuddle bunny", a highly sophisticated robot with organic components. She was engineered to be the perfect girlfriend: obedient, sexy, subservient... She even has a feature that permits her to tune into her owner Doug's moods so she can keep him satisfied; his annoyance and irritation and disapproval physically hurts her. One day, out of boredom, Doug decides to enable her self-learning feature, which means her AI begins to develop a true personality and self-awareness. But this self-awareness has consequences Doug did not expect: the more she evolves to become like a real woman, the less pleased he is with her behaviour (she isn't great at keeping the apartment spotless) and when she makes an all too-human mistake to see what it would be like to have a secret, their lives will be altered in a way that means they can never got back to how things were before.
I had a lump in my throat often as I read "Annie Bot". Anyone who has been in an abusive relationship (whether the abuse was physical, emotional or psychological) will probably get triggered by this, so be careful when you pick this up, because Greer captured the abusive relationship dynamics in an unsettling and very real way. Annie is figuring out who she is, and she wants Doug to love her for what she is becoming, but hints that she displeases him constantly makes her feel diminished and dismissed in her budding person-hood. Her yearning for authenticity and freedom push against the restrictions Doug imposes on her until they feel unbearable, and it made my heart break for her.
It is very sad to think that men like Doug, who want the perks of a relationship but do not want to deal with the actual person they are in a relationship with, requires zero suspense of disbelief. That said, I appreciate that Greer gives us a glimpse into Doug, and did not leave him to be a one-dimensional abusive white dude-bro. I hate him, and will never forgive him, but he is a human being, he picked up his behaviour somewhere, and while the root of his anger and resentment and desire for a relationship in which he has all the power are kinda pathetic, it is important to remember that his suffering is real, if only to himself. He doesn't understand his own privilege at all, and that is the true root of his evil. He also feels that since he paid a lot of money for Annie, he should get his money's worth, which is an interesting callback to when marriages were mostly financial arrangements between families that involved dowries: the transactional nature of any relationship that also involves feelings and intimacy is inherently dehumanizing.
This reads like a lost episode of "Black Mirror". There are many layers to unpack in this book, and I will definitely reread it. Highly recommended for everyone....more
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