One of my favorite things to read about are toxic women friendships. It's sort of like book crack to me and it brings to mind last years Social Creature or more recently Necessary People which are two books that have become favorites of mine so requesting The Paper Wasp really was a no brainer for me.
We have two childhood best friends that grow up in a small town in Michigan, Abby and Elise. As high school approaches the two begin to drift apart as Elise decides to pursue her dream of acting. Eventually the two no longer speak at all but that doesn't stop Abby from obsessing over Elise.
Fast forward several years and we find that Elisa is now a very successful actress living in Los Angeles while Abby is a supermarket cashier that still lives at home with her parents creating art in her bedroom. She hoards every magazine and article she can find on Elise and follows her life with a close yet critical eye.
Abby's mother convinces her to attend her 10 year high school reunion and here she reacquaints with Elise who, while tipsy on wine, tells Abby next time your in LA, look me up and we'll catch up. Much to Elise's surprise when Abby calls to tell her she's at LAX with nowhere to go. Elise reluctantly takes her in for what she believes to be one night.
As Elise and Abby catch up over dinner and wine Elise is reminded of how close they once were and how lonely her life has now become and convinces Abby to stay, live with her, and to be her personal assistant and Abby is over the moon. This is what she has wanted for all these years but sometimes you should be careful what you wish for.
This had all the elements that I love but I'll be honest and say that this one fell flat for me and I know exactly why it did. The dream sequences. These just didn't work for me at all. Abby is a believer in lucid dreaming and she takes these dreams and then creates pictures and stories from them but, my gawd, reading about her dreams was like dropping acid and having a really bad trip and I just couldn't wait to be done. The ending I also found unsatisfying. 3 stars!
This isn't a case of quality but more of a book not being a good fit for me. Acampora's writing is impeccable and I will gladly seek out more of her work.
We have two childhood best friends that grow up in a small town in Michigan, Abby and Elise. As high school approaches the two begin to drift apart as Elise decides to pursue her dream of acting. Eventually the two no longer speak at all but that doesn't stop Abby from obsessing over Elise.
Fast forward several years and we find that Elisa is now a very successful actress living in Los Angeles while Abby is a supermarket cashier that still lives at home with her parents creating art in her bedroom. She hoards every magazine and article she can find on Elise and follows her life with a close yet critical eye.
Abby's mother convinces her to attend her 10 year high school reunion and here she reacquaints with Elise who, while tipsy on wine, tells Abby next time your in LA, look me up and we'll catch up. Much to Elise's surprise when Abby calls to tell her she's at LAX with nowhere to go. Elise reluctantly takes her in for what she believes to be one night.
As Elise and Abby catch up over dinner and wine Elise is reminded of how close they once were and how lonely her life has now become and convinces Abby to stay, live with her, and to be her personal assistant and Abby is over the moon. This is what she has wanted for all these years but sometimes you should be careful what you wish for.
This had all the elements that I love but I'll be honest and say that this one fell flat for me and I know exactly why it did. The dream sequences. These just didn't work for me at all. Abby is a believer in lucid dreaming and she takes these dreams and then creates pictures and stories from them but, my gawd, reading about her dreams was like dropping acid and having a really bad trip and I just couldn't wait to be done. The ending I also found unsatisfying. 3 stars!
This isn't a case of quality but more of a book not being a good fit for me. Acampora's writing is impeccable and I will gladly seek out more of her work.