Kristen Arnett

For most of the book I found this family and its dynamics distressing and uncomfortable. That is a compliment to the writing, in that it so deftly evokes place and characters, but it was challenging. That said, I prefer that to the resolution. There's a turn in family dramas, generally, a moment where things hit a breaking point for the protagonist and they have to have a real conversation / make amends / find a new path. That turn didn't really work for me narratively, it didn't have the depth and the uncomfortable realness of the beginning. That doesn't even mean it's not true and real, just that I didn't feel it. Then again maybe I'd already disconnected from this boundary-less mess. Overall I think a talented writer, and a place and people I'll remember for quite a while.… (more)