Wow. I have not read anything like this book in a very long time. The closest thing I can think of is The Unbearable Lightness of Being, but I read that five years ago, so it is hard to say. In Sheila Heti's Afterword, she writes that "the obstacle in this book is that we may be unfit for love, plain and simple: because we haven't lived in such a way that we have let ourselves be fit for it; we haven't even lived in such a way that we have made ourselves fit for life." This is a beautiful and perfect way to summarize this book. When I started reading An Apprecinticeshhip, I did not like the dynamic between Ulisses and Lori because I felt that he was controlling her-- what made him the judge of whether or not she was ready to receive love? Why is he calling all of the shots? At first glance, this novel is steeped in misogyny, but as I reflect on my reading experience, I realize it is really a novel about self-discovery and learning how to live. At times, the novel expresses very dated, gender-essentialist views on the relationships between men and women; once one is able to get past it, the novel unfolds as a story of the desire to better oneself in order to be capable of loving and being loved. Despite this,  I think it is incorrect to market this book as a romance. Although the driving force of the plot is Lori's desire to be with Ulisses, her "guide" (which, yes, lol), I really did not find the relationship itself to be romantic. Instead, I found Lori's desire to better herself to be beautiful. Maybe I am too much of a romantic cynic and, therefore, am unable to fully let go of my reservations and appreciate Lori and Ulesses' unconventional romance. The writing was so intricate and beautiful and complicated-- Lispector could give a Modernist writer a run for their money. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read that has left me with more questions about the way I live my life and how I love than answers.