The Blindfold

so-so

After being blown away by What I Loved and The Blazing World, my expectations may have been a tad high going in. This has 4 parts that take place while the MC Iris is in grad school, but they aren't chronological and feel more like linked short stories. For me, Pt 1 was the most interesting and it was a little disappointing that nothing from it reemerges later. Lots of intriguing ideas, but some parts dragged and it didn't quite hang together.

Suet624 Oh, that's too bad. I've liked the ones I've read of hers. 5y

Billypar @Suet624 I'd hasten to add that her 'not so great' is still probably better than many authors' best. 5y

Suet624 Good point. 5y

37 likes3 comments

Billypar

The Blindfold | Siri Hustvedt

#bookhaul from Indy Bookstore Appreciation day Saturday.
Freshwater is a complete #blameitonlitsy pick - the reviews I've been seeing have been too intriguing to pass up.
The bookstore: McNally Jackson in NYC. It's a popular one, but only my 2nd time there, and have to say...pretty fabulous! Fiction shelved by world regions, staff recommendations everywhere, two floors, a cafe, bargain book corner: an all-around great experience ☺️

Billypar Funny story about picking out the Hustvedt: I was trying to decide between several, and behind me I hear a woman talking to her friend: "Ugh, Siri Hustvedt- she's so bad. Like, throw it across the room bad." To each her own, but it was awkward- I was right there, clearly interested. I repressed the urge to argue ?? 6y

Leniverse That's funny. I have one Siri Hustvedt on my shelves, "What I Loved". I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but I bought it because I've never heard anyone dislike her! I've only heard good things. Actually I've only heard superlatives, and expressions like "life changing". Which worries me a bit, because there's no such thing as universal life altering appeal. So I'm glad there's at least one hater out there. ? 6y

Billypar @Leniverse Wow- 'life changing'- talk about setting expectations impossibly high! I did really like What I Loved, but I won't oversell it any more than it has been already 😁 6y

saresmoore When people tell me they hate books, it usually makes me want to read them more. 6y

Billypar @saresmoore Oh yeah, me too: especially when one book gets a mix of raves and pans: it's so interesting to me when you see intense, opposing reactions. 6y

48 likes5 comments

mdermansky

The Blindfold | Siri Hustvedt

pick

I love this novel. This is a book I read again and again in order to understand how well it all worked. Simple and perfect. I loved Iris and the weird jobs she had to take, her life in New York.

14 likes3 stack adds

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books