This was a very well-written character-driven novel. This is a very difficult topic to write about and I think the author did a great job. I thought that the author's decision to make it character driven was a great choice. I liked the characters and I did feel for them, but I didn't get that gut-wrenching heartache feeling for them that I should have had given that it is a difficult topic and character-driven.
One detail I liked was that the story was told mostly in 1st person for Anna's present-day time at 17 Swann street, but there were times when it switched to the past. When the narration switched to the past, the narration switched to 3rd person. As if Anna was referring to someone else, even though it was her. I liked that addition because it was showing how Anna felt distant from her past self as if she no longer knew who that person was and couldn't imagine ever being that person. I thought that was a nice touch.
I didn't hate my time reading this but I also didn't love it. I think that a person who loves character-driven novels and/or literary fiction would enjoy this a lot more than I did.
content warning: eating disorder, panic attack, suicide
One detail I liked was that the story was told mostly in 1st person for Anna's present-day time at 17 Swann street, but there were times when it switched to the past. When the narration switched to the past, the narration switched to 3rd person. As if Anna was referring to someone else, even though it was her. I liked that addition because it was showing how Anna felt distant from her past self as if she no longer knew who that person was and couldn't imagine ever being that person. I thought that was a nice touch.
I didn't hate my time reading this but I also didn't love it. I think that a person who loves character-driven novels and/or literary fiction would enjoy this a lot more than I did.
content warning: eating disorder, panic attack, suicide