Luster

I didn’t know much about this going into it and was under a vague impression it was going to be fluffier or something. But it was heartbreaking at times and uncomfortable and I’m glad I read it. That dude though.

3.5 stars. I felt similar to On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous about this book. Very intentional word choices that were a little wasted on me. This was a weird, aimless, painful story. I think the short length worked given that. The narrator’s voice was very effective to me. She’s a depressed, detached person, and the voice reflects that. It might be off-putting to other readers.

I'm going to preface this book review by stating outright that I am not very good at writing book reviews. But I want to get better, so I'm practicing.

When my hold on "Luster" appeared yesterday morning, I almost put it off, but I'm glad that I didn't because I devoured it in just two sittings! I enjoyed falling into the twentysomething malaise of Edie, the protagonist, although I hated everyone around her as they consistently wallpapered over her personality with their own needs and desires. But that was intentional, of course, because the author is a magnificent writer. The prose was surprising and beautiful and so, so funny, although not in the ways I expected. I could say more about how deft a treatment of racism and classism this was, but I want you to read it already.