Sandra reviewed Motion of the Body Through Space by Lionel Shriver
Review of 'Motion of the Body Through Space' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This book infuriated me. Nobody creates such loathsome characters quite like Lionel Shriver unless, of course it's Jami Attenberg. Goddamn, I wanted to slap the shit out of these people. These were truly despicable self-asorbed jerks and it was hard to feel any sympathy whatsoever towards them. The first time the ridiculous "Bambi" entered my home and treated me like she did the main character in this story would also have been the last. I would have told my husband in no uncertain terms that his trainer was not welcome because she was an obnoxious bitch. If my husband let someone talk like that to me in my own home... so disrespectful for a husband to allow that just because he wanted something from that woman.
But though I kind of hated this in a way, there is a compelling story about addiction, acceptance, striving towards and letting go. Of …
This book infuriated me. Nobody creates such loathsome characters quite like Lionel Shriver unless, of course it's Jami Attenberg. Goddamn, I wanted to slap the shit out of these people. These were truly despicable self-asorbed jerks and it was hard to feel any sympathy whatsoever towards them. The first time the ridiculous "Bambi" entered my home and treated me like she did the main character in this story would also have been the last. I would have told my husband in no uncertain terms that his trainer was not welcome because she was an obnoxious bitch. If my husband let someone talk like that to me in my own home... so disrespectful for a husband to allow that just because he wanted something from that woman.
But though I kind of hated this in a way, there is a compelling story about addiction, acceptance, striving towards and letting go. Of course there is a good reason to embrace physical fitness. People like to look good; people like to feel good. But when does staying fit enter the realm of the mentally unhealthy obsession? An addiction to physical fitness can ruin family relationships just like substance abuse does. An addiction to exercise can ruin your body. Letting go of something that ruled your life for so many years can be difficult- it can also be liberating. The inevitable passage of time and the ravages that ensue can come as a shock when one realizes they are now considered "OLD". No longer merely middle aged or mature, but actually old. The body starts to break down just like any machine run long enough starts to wear out. We can only fight for so long. And what for? It all ends the same for every one of us no matter what the level of physical fitness and good genes. No one gets out of this alive.
So there IS all that here too. Only you will be pissed off most of the time by these horrendous characters and the stupid things they do and the way they treat each other, omg.
