not impressed by this one either.

Absolutely bizarre and compelling and one of the wildest rides I’ve been on in a while (and so so good). Cultish snack foods with zero natural ingredients and incredibly surreal commercials. A version of The Newlywed Game for couples, where if they fail, they are forced to break up. Purposefully disorienting grocery stores with employees who are contractually obligated to not answer your questions. I dunno, you may hate it, but I freaking loved it.

Good quote: “That was how I ended up going out with B to the all-night Wally’s Supermarket 15 minutes away on a night when dozens of teenagers hung inexplicably around the parking lot, posed darkly like crows, staring and not saying a thing.”

I can’t remember why I put this book on my TBR, but I’m glad I did. It’s exactly what I was hoping for from a sad girl summer type of book. Mixed with a little bit of spookiness. It had body dysmorphia, allusions to EDs and cults. I think my biggest criticism would be that it felt like two books instead of one cohesive story. Otherwise, I enjoy this road to madness.

ugh. Forced myself to finish because I'd seen good reviews. Wish I hadn't wasted my time. Weird stuff happens, no character is likeable. Just boring.

man what the fuck. what the fuck was that supposed to be about. it’s midnight right now I cannot do this

Quiet, subtle, uncomfortable horror gnaws at the hem of the novel. Creeping in and out of surrealism. Dominating and suffocating consumerism. The pattern we often see of humans mimicking other humans. What is individual identity and how do we find comfort within? What do we do when someday, we realize we’re now sitting on the other side of the table? What do we see when in an effort to be ourselves, we actually become someone else entirely?

This was a fascinating, strange, work of literature. I liked it so much that I literally am starting over and reading it a second time, immediately after finishing it.

It reminded me of Haruki Murakami (in general) meets My Year of Rest and Relaxation (Ottessa Moshfegh), meets Cult X (Fuminori Nakamura).

I know there are some complaints about being undeveloped, vapid, or transparent. I would recommend reading this book with a broader sense in mind. The characters are really just props in a story - aren’t we all?

I would feel weird rating this because it's not that it's a bad book, or badly written, or there are cliches or something like that. I just didn't enjoy it or get much from it. I understand that not all books should be enjoyed, and some are here to expand your mind, but this just took me back to contemporary American literature with lost in the funhouse and if that's your bag, great go for it! This book is for you. It's all about stylistic choices and it's surrealism and it's about modern American life in such a weird way, and I think it accomplished those goals but like, I miss narrative. This may make me a bad English literature graduate but I never got into that- it's part of why I never went back into my masters. It always felt like clever for the sake of being clever, and Though that can often have a place, it's no near me. So! I mean, if you want more Copeland or Delillo or Barth and you're just wanting to read something that will make you feel like you had a dream while taking nyquil, and also feel oh I read something "award worthy", go right ahead. I did not mean this to sound so snarky, but I do sometimes get frustrated that books like this tend to be seen as more worthy of study or praise in some ways and yet if someone wants to read YA or fantasy some
Grad out there is going to raise their eyebrows at you because it's not real literature- and that really has nothing to do with this book and everything to do with baggage I have that I apparently need to
Drag out every once in a while.

I think I will form a larger overview on my blog. For now, just trigger warnings for anyone who has problems with disassociating or EDs. Because wow. This was hard to get through, but I did because I was surprised that even with the wacky happenings, I still really felt the emotion.

Easily the oddest book I have maybe ever read. At this moment, I am not sure if I loved it or hated it. I need a week to stew on it, and even then I can't promise I will feel any clarity. What the heck just happened?

*Updating to 4 stars. I am still confused, but a year later, I still think about this book all the time.