Let´s say that some books better would have not find me. At all. I am interested in books about relationships, dysfunctional, abusive (in books only, obviously). But not all those dysfunctional relationships are equal, especially if they are obsessively ideologic.
I´m a fan, the debut novel by Sheena Patel, was long listed for the 2023 Women´s Prize. I´ve read the book in the German translation by Annabelle Assaf, and at least from the language point of view it was definitely worth it. For the rest of the novel though, it didn´t resonate with me at all.
The unnamed woman main storyteller - in her 30s - is obsessed by a successful writer - whom she sent a fanmail - , but also by his influencer American influencer lover - one of them. She wants to be like her and be with him. Both of them are white, highly priviledged. She is brown, middle-class.
Instead of focusing on the relationship(s) dynamics and the obsession and the abusive dynamics between the two, the ideological is shortcuting the narrative without bringing anything else than stereotypes about race and power - which are fine, but in a work of fiction you expect to mix well with the facts of the story. A ´no go´ for me, no matter how many accolades and literary prizes this book was included.
Definitely, I´m not a fan.
Rating: 2.5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment