pickThis is a hard book to review/rate, but it‘s a pick for me.
This remarkable debut novel has themes of classism, racism, sexuality, and dominance of the wealthy, not to mention drug addiction, mental health issues, and a damaged justice system. I cannot speak too much to the actions in the book, as it would be very spoiler-ish, but it‘s a book to make you think about life and prejudice and what choice you would make, and living with that choice.⬇️
Librarybelle ⬆️ The story is told by Rachel, who in 1999 is a recent high school graduate. Rachel has baggage. Lots of baggage. She‘s had a falling out with her friends and feels very isolated. And bitter. Her bitterness is laced through this entire narrative. Rachel is also unlikeable, and her prejudices and perceived hurts at times make her an unreliable narrator. To escape her boredom at home before college, she agrees to spend the summer with her aunt‘s ⬇️ 1d
Librarybelle ⬆️ family in Greenwich, Connecticut. If you‘re not in the know, it‘s a high society landscape. Rachel befriends her young cousin‘s nanny, Claudia. But, from the very beginning, Rachel foreshadows a tragedy as she unfolds that summer for the reader. When tragedy does strike, Rachel is left with a choice, and it‘s the consequences with that choice that she continues to wrestle with for the rest of the book. Told in three parts, part one is a slow ⬇️ 1d
Librarybelle ⬆️ build to the tragedy. It‘s a perfect slow build of suspense. You kinda figure out what the outcome of the tragedy is with the breadcrumbs Rachel places in her narrative, but when the tragedy happens…just wow. Part two is the aftermath, told a little bit quicker, as Rachel blames everyone else for the choice she made and how she feels from it (she plays the victim well, though I had no sympathy for her). Part three, the shortest section, ⬇️ 1d
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Librarybelle ⬆️ is an epilogue that seems to want to tie things together, though it is a bit rushed. As I said, Rachel is bitter and feels like life has let her down. Personally, as a loner and introvert and one who feels isolated at times, Rachel‘s actions made me take a step back and examine how I perceive my actions. I do have bitterness, but I hope I handle it with more grace than Rachel does. I think I did like this book because of the narration. ⬇️ 1d
Librarybelle ⬆️ Imani Jade Powers does an amazing job with this book and really includes the bitter tone in Rachel‘s narration. Had I read this on my own rather than listen to it, I think I‘d have a different feel for the book. Thanks to #NetGalley for this #ALC , and I completed this during the #NetGalleyGroup #NetGalleyReadathon this past weekend. The book debuts today! @AllDebooks 1d
AllDebooks That's a great review. Thank you for joining us. Stacked! 📚 1d
Librarybelle Thanks, @AllDebooks ! 1d
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