karen's Reviews > The Animators
The Animators
by
by
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!
this is a straight-up monster of a book.
it’s like one of those carnivorous plants that secretes a delicious sticky nectar to lure in its prey which, once adhered, can be feasted upon at the plant’s leisure. it’s one of the most immersive books i’ve read in a long time, and i was utterly ensnared, but while i was devouring the pages, i could feel the story getting under my skin and digging into my brain where it’s going to stay for a long time.
i’d heard good things about this debut through the grapevine, but i didn’t know much about its content other than the wispy buzzwords of female friendship, art and the creative process, lesbian themes… and i feel so fortunate that i went into it more or less blind, because there are big, narrative-redirecting events here, and every one of them caught me off guard and made me do that shocked-pause thing that is the closest i get to experiencing an emotional response to a book. this is going to be a vague review, so i don’t take any of those discoveries away from other readers.
it’s a gutsy book, very unladylike in all the ways i appreciate. it’s kind of like the blowsy, dissipated older sister of Fangirl. these are characters who stick with you, as layered and complex as any ‘real’ women you know, and the trajectory of their relationship as friends and (business) partners is exquisite. it’s less of a novel and more of a presentation, where everything is all splayed out under unflattering lighting - the reader is exposed to an intense and frequently uncomfortable look at these ambitious, driven, occasionally cruel, characters, and the way the dark corners of their lives are used to fuel their psychological-striptease brand of visual art. it’s all the good stuff i crave: the white trash diaspora, family secrets, childhood trauma, bad romantic decisions, rage, fame and the negative side of celebrity (or notoriety), rivalry, self-doubt, co-dependence, self-destruction, and the fluctuations of a tremendously intense relationship over time.
it’s so damn assured for a debut, so confident, and while the pacing is a little hit-or-miss, and it’s maybe a little overpacked for its own good, for the most part, this is an emotionally explosive read that makes me want more more more and now now now from this author.
oh, and the annotations in this one were fantastic! i will post a couple of photos later when i get a second.
here are two of them. they're cute and funny and really give you a sense of her personality. and her awesome taste in film.
**********************************************
oh my god - i just got my SECOND quarterly literary fiction box from pagehabit, and it is amazing! somehow, against impossible odds, both boxes have had three books that i have neither read nor own yet, but that i still really really want to read. book angels do exist!
however, the physical box this time out is too small for maggie to sleep in, and she is displeased. displeased, but still determined to get in there.
incidentally, you can see that last box they sent in the upper-left hand corner, which maggie still sleeps in. but not this time, cat. not this time.
come to my blog!
this is a straight-up monster of a book.
it’s like one of those carnivorous plants that secretes a delicious sticky nectar to lure in its prey which, once adhered, can be feasted upon at the plant’s leisure. it’s one of the most immersive books i’ve read in a long time, and i was utterly ensnared, but while i was devouring the pages, i could feel the story getting under my skin and digging into my brain where it’s going to stay for a long time.
i’d heard good things about this debut through the grapevine, but i didn’t know much about its content other than the wispy buzzwords of female friendship, art and the creative process, lesbian themes… and i feel so fortunate that i went into it more or less blind, because there are big, narrative-redirecting events here, and every one of them caught me off guard and made me do that shocked-pause thing that is the closest i get to experiencing an emotional response to a book. this is going to be a vague review, so i don’t take any of those discoveries away from other readers.
it’s a gutsy book, very unladylike in all the ways i appreciate. it’s kind of like the blowsy, dissipated older sister of Fangirl. these are characters who stick with you, as layered and complex as any ‘real’ women you know, and the trajectory of their relationship as friends and (business) partners is exquisite. it’s less of a novel and more of a presentation, where everything is all splayed out under unflattering lighting - the reader is exposed to an intense and frequently uncomfortable look at these ambitious, driven, occasionally cruel, characters, and the way the dark corners of their lives are used to fuel their psychological-striptease brand of visual art. it’s all the good stuff i crave: the white trash diaspora, family secrets, childhood trauma, bad romantic decisions, rage, fame and the negative side of celebrity (or notoriety), rivalry, self-doubt, co-dependence, self-destruction, and the fluctuations of a tremendously intense relationship over time.
it’s so damn assured for a debut, so confident, and while the pacing is a little hit-or-miss, and it’s maybe a little overpacked for its own good, for the most part, this is an emotionally explosive read that makes me want more more more and now now now from this author.
oh, and the annotations in this one were fantastic! i will post a couple of photos later when i get a second.
here are two of them. they're cute and funny and really give you a sense of her personality. and her awesome taste in film.
**********************************************
oh my god - i just got my SECOND quarterly literary fiction box from pagehabit, and it is amazing! somehow, against impossible odds, both boxes have had three books that i have neither read nor own yet, but that i still really really want to read. book angels do exist!
however, the physical box this time out is too small for maggie to sleep in, and she is displeased. displeased, but still determined to get in there.
incidentally, you can see that last box they sent in the upper-left hand corner, which maggie still sleeps in. but not this time, cat. not this time.
come to my blog!
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Reading Progress
February 22, 2017
– Shelved
February 25, 2017
–
Started Reading
March 2, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-32 of 32 (32 new)
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she's okay, but disheartened that she has no new bed. but also - she gained a pound! which is great. but she's been kind of low-energy the past few days. i need to go give her many kisses!
i'm really happy that i got six books so far that weren't duplicates of stuff on my shelves, considering i have so damn many books. i need to get to these, but there's already this stack... grr - read faster, karen!
i'm really happy that i got six books so far that weren't duplicates of stuff on my shelves, considering i have so damn many books. i need to get to these, but there's already this stack... grr - read faster, karen!
Woah--I've never heard of Quarterly before. This is so cool! I know where I'll go the next time I want to treat myself...
Oooh, Karen! I couldn't resist. The AUTHOR annotates AND picks other fave books for us?!? April cannot come fast enough now! Thanks. So happy I signed up.
Karen wrote: "Loved the book, loved your review. Where did you learn to write?? Can you throw some of it my way?"
ha, thanks! i'm not a formally-trained person, just an enthusiastic one.
Basia wrote: "Oooh, Karen! I couldn't resist. The AUTHOR annotates AND picks other fave books for us?!? April cannot come fast enough now! Thanks. So happy I signed up."
it's such a fantastic idea!
ha, thanks! i'm not a formally-trained person, just an enthusiastic one.
Basia wrote: "Oooh, Karen! I couldn't resist. The AUTHOR annotates AND picks other fave books for us?!? April cannot come fast enough now! Thanks. So happy I signed up."
it's such a fantastic idea!
Amber wrote: "Hooray, have this on my bookshelf from BOTM club - excited to read it now!"
ee, hope you like it!
ee, hope you like it!
Karl wrote: "You ever heard of a period?"
i have! i make sure to experience them once a month because what a hoot they are!
i have! i make sure to experience them once a month because what a hoot they are!
I just don't understand. Your first sentence ends in a period. Also the rest of them. Does karl know what a period is??
yeah, i understand it when people bitch about my lazy capital-letter-eschewing typing, but periods? they are there, in use, ending my sentences.
What is Karl even talking about? Seemed like he was being a di*k. I don’t get it tho. Is he saying that your sentences are long?
Loving these mystery boxes of books!