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A review by isabellanaish
Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman
5.0
‘we love what disturbs us if it chooses us and tells us how we matter.’
through closely examining the intricacies of a three-way relationship, this novel is offers a poignant analysis of feminine desire, male power, and the dynamic which exist between.
eve’s sexuality lies at the heart of her personality. the role she plays with nathan and olivia reinforces this; after all it is her body which lays the foundation upon which their relationship is built. nathan is the main driver of ths dynamic, responding to her statement that all women are made to serve the male gaze with the words ‘not like you’. eve often sees her sexuality as a source of autonomy, but with her purpose obviously poisitioned at the hands of nathan, fishman asks us to consider the age-old question of ‘is a woman capitalising on her sexuality liberation from male power, or just a reinforcement of it’?
but eve is not that straightforward. she is aware of this dynamic, noting in the final chapter, ‘whether it’s a capitulation or rebellion, you know, you’re fucked either way’.
to put it simply, eve is a contradiction. whilst she feels that her body gives her a sense of power, she is aware that this may only be a fantasy. whilst she admires her girlfriend, romi, for her loyalty, eve still strains against the constraints of monogamy, wanting both freedom and security at once. whilst she feels a perverse sense pleasure in olivia’s subjugation - ‘yes, I was a woman capable of delight in being measured against other women’ - she feels a need to impress her, to be approved by her. these conflicted feelings towards olivia illustrate an unspoken but inevitable rivalry which exists between women as a result of masculine desire, and the subconscious yet conflicting emotions which can arise as a result: ‘was it true of all of us? how would we love each other, then?’ eve’s bisexuality adds another layer to this already complex relationship, and already complex discussion.
both shocking and familiar, the novel’s nuanced, candid narrative of desire, sexuality, and power reads like a revelation. i think i could write about this book for days. highly recommend!
through closely examining the intricacies of a three-way relationship, this novel is offers a poignant analysis of feminine desire, male power, and the dynamic which exist between.
eve’s sexuality lies at the heart of her personality. the role she plays with nathan and olivia reinforces this; after all it is her body which lays the foundation upon which their relationship is built. nathan is the main driver of ths dynamic, responding to her statement that all women are made to serve the male gaze with the words ‘not like you’. eve often sees her sexuality as a source of autonomy, but with her purpose obviously poisitioned at the hands of nathan, fishman asks us to consider the age-old question of ‘is a woman capitalising on her sexuality liberation from male power, or just a reinforcement of it’?
but eve is not that straightforward. she is aware of this dynamic, noting in the final chapter, ‘whether it’s a capitulation or rebellion, you know, you’re fucked either way’.
to put it simply, eve is a contradiction. whilst she feels that her body gives her a sense of power, she is aware that this may only be a fantasy. whilst she admires her girlfriend, romi, for her loyalty, eve still strains against the constraints of monogamy, wanting both freedom and security at once. whilst she feels a perverse sense pleasure in olivia’s subjugation - ‘yes, I was a woman capable of delight in being measured against other women’ - she feels a need to impress her, to be approved by her. these conflicted feelings towards olivia illustrate an unspoken but inevitable rivalry which exists between women as a result of masculine desire, and the subconscious yet conflicting emotions which can arise as a result: ‘was it true of all of us? how would we love each other, then?’ eve’s bisexuality adds another layer to this already complex relationship, and already complex discussion.
both shocking and familiar, the novel’s nuanced, candid narrative of desire, sexuality, and power reads like a revelation. i think i could write about this book for days. highly recommend!