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Julie Ehlers's Reviews > The Pisces
The Pisces
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Okay, so, this book is bonkers. If you've read the description on Goodreads or elsewhere, you may have sussed out that, after an abrupt breakup with her longtime boyfriend, our heroine Lucy has a bit of a breakdown and escapes her home in Phoenix to house- and dog-sit in Venice Beach. (view spoiler)
For me, the (view spoiler)—perhaps because I was expecting him—was not the most bonkers part of the book. The most bonkers part was being inside Lucy's head all that time. She is perhaps understandably thrown for a loop by her breakup and the general lack of direction in her life, and she also may be just a teeny, tiny bit addicted to drama, and this leads to a lot of mood swings, rationalizations, deep and intelligent-seeming thoughts followed by undeniably dumb actions, and other unpredictabilities. I thought Lucy was very inconsistent as a character; some of it was undoubtedly intentional, but some of it seemed unrealistic to me—but after a couple days' reflection, I think this may just be one of the most unique characters I've ever encountered in contemporary fiction. The fact that there's no frame of reference for her can only be a good thing.
The first half of the book moved the most quickly for me; it was unique and funny and intriguing. Oddly, it became less exciting once (view spoiler), perhaps because it took away some of the rollicking unpredictability. But at this point the book also became more wise, with Lucy gradually, with many twists and turns and switchbacks, getting more of a grip on her life.
I would like to give this book four stars but for some reason it gave me kind of a grimy nauseated feeling that I still haven't gotten over. But if you can handle books that are very weird and graphic, I do sort of recommend this.
I won this ARC in a giveaway of some sort, either directly from the publisher or via Shelf Awareness. Thank you to Hogarth Press for my grimy nauseated feeling.
For me, the (view spoiler)—perhaps because I was expecting him—was not the most bonkers part of the book. The most bonkers part was being inside Lucy's head all that time. She is perhaps understandably thrown for a loop by her breakup and the general lack of direction in her life, and she also may be just a teeny, tiny bit addicted to drama, and this leads to a lot of mood swings, rationalizations, deep and intelligent-seeming thoughts followed by undeniably dumb actions, and other unpredictabilities. I thought Lucy was very inconsistent as a character; some of it was undoubtedly intentional, but some of it seemed unrealistic to me—but after a couple days' reflection, I think this may just be one of the most unique characters I've ever encountered in contemporary fiction. The fact that there's no frame of reference for her can only be a good thing.
The first half of the book moved the most quickly for me; it was unique and funny and intriguing. Oddly, it became less exciting once (view spoiler), perhaps because it took away some of the rollicking unpredictability. But at this point the book also became more wise, with Lucy gradually, with many twists and turns and switchbacks, getting more of a grip on her life.
I would like to give this book four stars but for some reason it gave me kind of a grimy nauseated feeling that I still haven't gotten over. But if you can handle books that are very weird and graphic, I do sort of recommend this.
I won this ARC in a giveaway of some sort, either directly from the publisher or via Shelf Awareness. Thank you to Hogarth Press for my grimy nauseated feeling.
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Reading Progress
March 14, 2018
– Shelved
March 14, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 3, 2018
–
Started Reading
May 9, 2018
–
70.37%
"This is really absorbing but it is A LOT of time to spend with this person."
page
190
May 9, 2018
– Shelved as:
galleys
May 9, 2018
– Shelved as:
shelf-awareness
May 9, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)
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Sarah
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rated it 3 stars
May 11, 2018 01:32PM
Will wait until I’ve finished to read your thoughts :)
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Sarah wrote: "Will wait until I’ve finished to read your thoughts :)"I'm really excited to hear what you think too!
I swear this book is haunting me!!! I am still feeling unsettled, DAYS LATER. I think it is very kind of you to say that Lucy ever got a grip on her life.
Oh my. I wasn’t a fan of her essays. I’ll pass.
Emily wrote: "I swear this book is haunting me!!! I am still feeling unsettled, DAYS LATER. I think it is very kind of you to say that Lucy ever got a grip on her life."
Well, I said "more of a grip." :) Definitely agree about the haunting feeling! After so much time in Lucy's head, she's hard to shake.
Kelli wrote: "Oh my. I wasn’t a fan of her essays. I’ll pass."I remember your review! I still don't want to read that one even though I was kind of a fan of this one.
"Thank you to Hogarth Press for my grimy nauseated feeling.":D :D
I think I'll pass on this.
Caroline wrote: "I think I'll pass on this."This book is so off the wall it's hard to even predict who might like it! If I had to guess I would say you wouldn't. But I don't know, you might! :)
Totally agree with your review! Glad I read it but there's something holding me back from giving it 4 stars.
Sarah wrote: "Totally agree with your review! Glad I read it but there's something holding me back from giving it 4 stars."Thanks, Sarah! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Love your review. You're right, it is really bonkers! I also agree that the first half of the book was more fun than what comes later.
Robin wrote: "Love your review. You're right, it is really bonkers! I also agree that the first half of the book was more fun than what comes later."Thanks, Robin! Yes, I almost posted the same thing on your review--agreeing about the first half being better. Even almost a year later I still remember exactly how I felt while reading this one. :) Definitely a unique experience.
Julie wrote: "Even almost a year later I still remember exactly how I felt while reading this one. :) Definitely a unique experience."THE BIKINI WAXING SCENE will forever live in my memory :D
