The Paper Wasp didn't work for me. It's not that it's badly written--the writing is fine, although not spectacular.
For me, it didn't work because of the premise--adoration of and proximity to a famous female movie star through the eyes of a psychologically damaged and only-going-to-be-more-so *and* economically and socially disadvantaged female.
That scenario was was done so well-- astonishingly so-- in the recent novel Looker (by Laura Sims) that The Paper Wasp felt too familiar and not nearly as powerful as it wanted to be.
The Paper Wasp has its differences, of course, but they weren't strong enough to make the novel gel as it should (so more of a weakness, really) and ultimately they certainly weren't enough for me.
For me, it didn't work because of the premise--adoration of and proximity to a famous female movie star through the eyes of a psychologically damaged and only-going-to-be-more-so *and* economically and socially disadvantaged female.
That scenario was was done so well-- astonishingly so-- in the recent novel Looker (by Laura Sims) that The Paper Wasp felt too familiar and not nearly as powerful as it wanted to be.
The Paper Wasp has its differences, of course, but they weren't strong enough to make the novel gel as it should (so more of a weakness, really) and ultimately they certainly weren't enough for me.