pickThis is a heartbreaking account of the codependent relationship between a sexually repressed spinster and a queer woman with (unnamed) bipolar disorder during WWII. De Jong succinctly teaches readers that it is absurd to deny who you are and what you we want from life just so you don't bother anyone. She also depicts textbook examples of codependency and bipolar illness before either was a known psychological condition. I loved it.
pickMy old Kindle broke a couple years back; by the time I replaced it, I forgot I had started using Litsy. This amnesia lifted today! I am delighted to be back, and I do have fond memories of this book. My memory is shaky on the specifics, so I'll leave it there.
Trying to re-learn how to be a close reader today. And procrastinating by reading about writing instead of actually working on my short story. #multitasker
This is such an impressive character sketch of the put upon Middle Eastern guy who I assume only exists on 9 pages, but I have such empathy for him after these 2 paragraphs in particular.
Really loving this book so far, just wrapped up part 1.
so-soAs someone who did live out her 20s in NY and didn't quite feel right in my skin then, I was drawn to this book right away, but it wasn't everything I hoped. The characters are well drawn, depiction of the city felt truthful, definitely funny at times, but I didn't like spending so much time with the father and daughter, who didn't really have fleshed out arcs or growth. I was more into Kate's self discovery, and this felt short-shrifted.
