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Daphne
Daphne suffers from a rare medical condition; her body shuts down when she feels strong emotions. As a result she has built strong walls between herself and the world, avoiding passion, anger, disappointment and surprise. But when she meets Ollie, who seems to see through her armour, who seems to want to know the real Daphne, her carefully built defences begin to crumble.
In this gripping and tender modern myth, Will Boast explores the unexamined assumptions we make about our bodies and our relationships through the prism of a soulful contemporary love story.
In this gripping and tender modern myth, Will Boast explores the unexamined assumptions we make about our bodies and our relationships through the prism of a soulful contemporary love story.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2018
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1948 people want to read
About the author
Will Boast
7 books26 followersWill Boast was born in England and grew up in Ireland and Wisconsin. His story collection, Power Ballads, won the 2011 Iowa Short Fiction Award. His fiction has appeared in Best New American Voices 2009, Narrative, Glimmer Train, The Southern Review, and The American Scholar, among other publications. From 2008-2010, he was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. He lives in San Francisco and moonlights as a musician around the Bay Area."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
May 26, 2019
Overachiever Daphne Irvine has an inconvenient disability: any strong emotion makes her keel over like a fainting goat.
Sometimes you get what you need.
(Mild emotion makes her stutter and twitch.)
Perhaps inevitably for an overachiever, she exerts enormous self-discipline to try to control or at least conceal her difference. It's the Aughties in San Francisco, and Daphne has a gorgeous Mission-district apartment, a successful (if emotionally harrowing) career in biotech, and a formidable reputation as a self-contained ice princess.
Since she's evolved to keep all emotion firmly in check, that wall's got to crumble, right? Author Will Boast is skillful enough to keep the story out of Lifetime Channel territory, even as friends, family, and support group all get involved. The few overly sentimental scenes are balanced by really powerful, memorable ones.
If you have a disability, disorder, or difference, or even just a good old case of 21st-century anxiety, you'll recognize a lot of Daphne's interior monologue as it veers between catastrophizing and soul-rallying. You'll probably also recognize her close scrutiny of others' responses to her. She's constantly scanning others' comments for cues that she's given herself away.
No one wants to be found out.
Sometimes you get what you need.
(Mild emotion makes her stutter and twitch.)
Perhaps inevitably for an overachiever, she exerts enormous self-discipline to try to control or at least conceal her difference. It's the Aughties in San Francisco, and Daphne has a gorgeous Mission-district apartment, a successful (if emotionally harrowing) career in biotech, and a formidable reputation as a self-contained ice princess.
Since she's evolved to keep all emotion firmly in check, that wall's got to crumble, right? Author Will Boast is skillful enough to keep the story out of Lifetime Channel territory, even as friends, family, and support group all get involved. The few overly sentimental scenes are balanced by really powerful, memorable ones.
If you have a disability, disorder, or difference, or even just a good old case of 21st-century anxiety, you'll recognize a lot of Daphne's interior monologue as it veers between catastrophizing and soul-rallying. You'll probably also recognize her close scrutiny of others' responses to her. She's constantly scanning others' comments for cues that she's given herself away.
No one wants to be found out.
March 11, 2018
Inspired by the myth of Daphne and Apollo, Will Boast created this novel about a woman with a rare (but real) condition who suffers paralysis when she experiences deep emotions.
At the risk of sounding insensitive, I expected to feel emotion when reading this book, but just really could not connect with the characters; therefore, the book fell flat for me. I think that part of the issue may have been that the author was trying to cover a lot of ground in the book. In addition to having this debilitating condition, Daphne also has a controversial job and there's a mystery surrounding her father's death. The book began to feel like a soap opera with all of the drama.
2 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton and Company for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At the risk of sounding insensitive, I expected to feel emotion when reading this book, but just really could not connect with the characters; therefore, the book fell flat for me. I think that part of the issue may have been that the author was trying to cover a lot of ground in the book. In addition to having this debilitating condition, Daphne also has a controversial job and there's a mystery surrounding her father's death. The book began to feel like a soap opera with all of the drama.
2 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton and Company for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2017
When thirteen-year-old Daphne was reading The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy she was overcome with the wild passion of teenage imagination; first a buzzing sensation lit her body and then she dropped the book and was unable to move.
It happened, too, with sudden noises, fear, or strong emotions. She hid her affliction as best she could, for Dr. Bell's infinite tests brought no cure, only an unwelcome explanation: an autoimmune disorder had attacked part of her brain.
Daphne became an expert in tightly controlling her life--no unexpected jolts allowed, no passion--just routine, and her mantra and calming images to ward off the attacks that left her immobile and vulnerable.
Until into her life came a man, sweet and kind and patient. But can Daphne allow him into her life?
I read this short novel in a day. The inspiration is the myth of Daphne, a nymph pursed by Apollo who was saved from his lust when the river god turned her into the Laurel tree.
Daphne grapples with numerous challenges along with her disability. Her father died when she was only five. Her mother has finally met a man and is ready to move on with her life. Daphne feels responsibility to her support group members, her childhood best friend who takes big risks for business contacts, and to her staff at her job in a lab which uses dogs as test subjects studies in longevity. She tries to keep boundaries up and yet she would also like to free the dogs.
When life seems to much to bear, she considers her options. Should she, like her support group friend, end it all? Return home, vanquished, admitting she failed at having a life of her own? Or accept that no one is perfect?
Daphne by Will Boast is a beautifully written book that caught me by surprise. I understood Daphne's weariness at being 'different', having grown up with a mother with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; Mom once asked me if I had been ashamed of her. For all the pain and isolation of Daphne's life, the disappointment that no one can ever really understand her reality, she is resilient.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
It happened, too, with sudden noises, fear, or strong emotions. She hid her affliction as best she could, for Dr. Bell's infinite tests brought no cure, only an unwelcome explanation: an autoimmune disorder had attacked part of her brain.
Daphne became an expert in tightly controlling her life--no unexpected jolts allowed, no passion--just routine, and her mantra and calming images to ward off the attacks that left her immobile and vulnerable.
Until into her life came a man, sweet and kind and patient. But can Daphne allow him into her life?
I read this short novel in a day. The inspiration is the myth of Daphne, a nymph pursed by Apollo who was saved from his lust when the river god turned her into the Laurel tree.
Daphne grapples with numerous challenges along with her disability. Her father died when she was only five. Her mother has finally met a man and is ready to move on with her life. Daphne feels responsibility to her support group members, her childhood best friend who takes big risks for business contacts, and to her staff at her job in a lab which uses dogs as test subjects studies in longevity. She tries to keep boundaries up and yet she would also like to free the dogs.
When life seems to much to bear, she considers her options. Should she, like her support group friend, end it all? Return home, vanquished, admitting she failed at having a life of her own? Or accept that no one is perfect?
Daphne by Will Boast is a beautifully written book that caught me by surprise. I understood Daphne's weariness at being 'different', having grown up with a mother with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; Mom once asked me if I had been ashamed of her. For all the pain and isolation of Daphne's life, the disappointment that no one can ever really understand her reality, she is resilient.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
January 23, 2021
Dnf at 30%
This was so bad on so many levels lmao...............i really wanted to finish this bcus i bought it but it was genuinely intolerable🤮🤮🤮
First off i was already skeptical bcus the main character (daphne) is a woman and the author is a man. Ofc men can write good/convincing characters who r women but for a novel that centres so much on daphne’s interior world n experience with the disease i expected a lot more emotional depth. But i couldn’t see her as a real person at all? Lmao? And same with all the other characters? I also hated ollie lol......
Also the idea of daphne/the author fetishising civil conflict n war in other countries... the scenes where daphne would turn the video clips of these on and watch them to try and get an emotional reaction? That was inherently jus so gross to me, especially because the author (up to the point where i finished) didn’t seem to have any intention of unpacking the complexities of the situations he was co-opting just to make daphne Quirky lmao. The same went with the protests largely occurring in the backdrop of the novel. I jus didn’t get it.
There is also a taiwanese character in the book. Earlier on there is an instance of covert racism towards them which is very swept under the rug and i gave it the benefit of the doubt - a lot of covert/casual racism is generally swept under the rug in lots of social situations and i was like, ok, i can’t be mad bcus that’s actually pretty true to life. But then i had to stop reading because later on in the book the same character actually gets some dialogue and it is just so..........racist lmao!!!!! Whennnnn will white authors STOP using the trope of Asian Person With Bad English for comedic relief or mild amusement? It was not, is not, and never will be funny!!!! It is also jus plain unnecessary. Gawd
So disappointing because the premise is interesting and i wanted to see where it went. Too bad i literally couldn’t stand it. It was literally the most infuriating book i have ever tried to read ever
This was so bad on so many levels lmao...............i really wanted to finish this bcus i bought it but it was genuinely intolerable🤮🤮🤮
First off i was already skeptical bcus the main character (daphne) is a woman and the author is a man. Ofc men can write good/convincing characters who r women but for a novel that centres so much on daphne’s interior world n experience with the disease i expected a lot more emotional depth. But i couldn’t see her as a real person at all? Lmao? And same with all the other characters? I also hated ollie lol......
Also the idea of daphne/the author fetishising civil conflict n war in other countries... the scenes where daphne would turn the video clips of these on and watch them to try and get an emotional reaction? That was inherently jus so gross to me, especially because the author (up to the point where i finished) didn’t seem to have any intention of unpacking the complexities of the situations he was co-opting just to make daphne Quirky lmao. The same went with the protests largely occurring in the backdrop of the novel. I jus didn’t get it.
There is also a taiwanese character in the book. Earlier on there is an instance of covert racism towards them which is very swept under the rug and i gave it the benefit of the doubt - a lot of covert/casual racism is generally swept under the rug in lots of social situations and i was like, ok, i can’t be mad bcus that’s actually pretty true to life. But then i had to stop reading because later on in the book the same character actually gets some dialogue and it is just so..........racist lmao!!!!! Whennnnn will white authors STOP using the trope of Asian Person With Bad English for comedic relief or mild amusement? It was not, is not, and never will be funny!!!! It is also jus plain unnecessary. Gawd
So disappointing because the premise is interesting and i wanted to see where it went. Too bad i literally couldn’t stand it. It was literally the most infuriating book i have ever tried to read ever
December 1, 2017
***I received an ARC of this book from a librarian event.***
Definitely intriguing but far less than it could've been. This book fits squarely under the header of "okay" with mainly mediocre moments and the occasional exception one (like Daphne realizing that her calming memory was actually the memory of the day her father died). There's some rather weak writing throughout, particularly in the dialogue, and particularly in Brook's dialogue ("lady," ugh). A lot of the characterization felt very flat to me, the chief offender being Ollie. I couldn't help but feel that Boast really didn't use the myth of Daphne and Apollo to its best effect; San Francisco felt more like a love interest than Ollie ever did.
I will say that I really did love Daphne, and that this was in parts very engaging, but it was definitely lacking something to push it up over the header of "okay."
Definitely intriguing but far less than it could've been. This book fits squarely under the header of "okay" with mainly mediocre moments and the occasional exception one (like Daphne realizing that her calming memory was actually the memory of the day her father died). There's some rather weak writing throughout, particularly in the dialogue, and particularly in Brook's dialogue ("lady," ugh). A lot of the characterization felt very flat to me, the chief offender being Ollie. I couldn't help but feel that Boast really didn't use the myth of Daphne and Apollo to its best effect; San Francisco felt more like a love interest than Ollie ever did.
I will say that I really did love Daphne, and that this was in parts very engaging, but it was definitely lacking something to push it up over the header of "okay."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2018
SPOILERSSSSSSS
From the outset, this book was mesmerizing. I was surprised to drop into a world that looked so familiar, but also very different from my own life.
My only complaint is that because of the cover design, I kept thinking the title of the book was "Daphne will Boast," not "Daphne" by Will Boast, and I like the first one better.
I found the characters to be really strong and believable, from tenure-shy Miranda to Italy-happy Alden. Even though we don't get to know a lot about them, we are meeting them through Daphne's eyes. She sees more truth than she can feel, and it is heartbreaking.
By the end, especially at Sherman's funeral and when Ollie was kneeling on the sidewalk, I was feeling intense grief-like emotions and relating them to the numbness that Daphne and the rest of the support group have to survive by. I was drawn in to the paradox of Daphne's frustration and strength, and happy for the open ending, a moment of hope for her.
What Boast has done with his words is remarkable - to show us, the readers, what Daphne can't see about herself, from her own experiences. Every moment and feeling is so layered. I am not familiar with the inspiration story of Daphne and Apollo, but I feel that I could easily read this one again and get new things out of it. Especially because I didn't give myself time to reflect on this reading - I couldn't put it down. I look forward to a slow digestion of the book sometime in the future. Well done, Will!
From the outset, this book was mesmerizing. I was surprised to drop into a world that looked so familiar, but also very different from my own life.
My only complaint is that because of the cover design, I kept thinking the title of the book was "Daphne will Boast," not "Daphne" by Will Boast, and I like the first one better.
I found the characters to be really strong and believable, from tenure-shy Miranda to Italy-happy Alden. Even though we don't get to know a lot about them, we are meeting them through Daphne's eyes. She sees more truth than she can feel, and it is heartbreaking.
By the end, especially at Sherman's funeral and when Ollie was kneeling on the sidewalk, I was feeling intense grief-like emotions and relating them to the numbness that Daphne and the rest of the support group have to survive by. I was drawn in to the paradox of Daphne's frustration and strength, and happy for the open ending, a moment of hope for her.
What Boast has done with his words is remarkable - to show us, the readers, what Daphne can't see about herself, from her own experiences. Every moment and feeling is so layered. I am not familiar with the inspiration story of Daphne and Apollo, but I feel that I could easily read this one again and get new things out of it. Especially because I didn't give myself time to reflect on this reading - I couldn't put it down. I look forward to a slow digestion of the book sometime in the future. Well done, Will!
February 8, 2018
Daphne, in myth, transforms into a laurel tree when pursued by Apollo, while Daphne in Will Boast's arresting new novel similarly freezes when overcome by emotion. Boast's Daphne suffers from cataplexy, a rare condition that causes strong emotions to paralyze her muscles. She's forged a life in bustling contemporary San Francisco by keeping her days regimented to guard against hits of feeling and surprise, which cause her muscles to give out and land her in a heap on the ground. Boast's crystalline, visceral writing, and Daphne's winning, no-nonsense attitude are transfixing. She's on constant guard against love and other perturbations in a city that relentlessly churns the spirit and presents people who may be worth the trouble of loving them.
December 15, 2017
So much initial potential followed by such a lackluster ending ...
Daphne strangely gripped me from the start with the author's lyrical style and mysterious out of nowhere beginning that combined perfectly with the unique and fascinating leading lady. By the close of the novel, however, I felt no emotional attachment to the parade of cutout characters introduced nor any interest in their fates. The ending felt less like closure, and more like the author just ambled away as bored with his creations as I was with them. Though I have to say this whole "non-ending" thing does seem to be gaining traction in modern literature as if providing any real resolution would lessen an author's credibility as a serious writer. An epilogue wouldn't kill these writers though!!!
Besides the lack of character development and a shoddy second half, which does a great disservice to the first half, the author's transitions are Cheshire Cat like. You never know quite where the story will be on the next page ... it could be a week has gone by or a few hours. Sometimes the style even changes. It can be disorientating, and feels more like those parts were part of a rough draft that missed the editing process.
Overall, not terrible and it is a quick read ... but not really a must read nor will you find anything new within these pages.
Daphne strangely gripped me from the start with the author's lyrical style and mysterious out of nowhere beginning that combined perfectly with the unique and fascinating leading lady. By the close of the novel, however, I felt no emotional attachment to the parade of cutout characters introduced nor any interest in their fates. The ending felt less like closure, and more like the author just ambled away as bored with his creations as I was with them. Though I have to say this whole "non-ending" thing does seem to be gaining traction in modern literature as if providing any real resolution would lessen an author's credibility as a serious writer. An epilogue wouldn't kill these writers though!!!
Besides the lack of character development and a shoddy second half, which does a great disservice to the first half, the author's transitions are Cheshire Cat like. You never know quite where the story will be on the next page ... it could be a week has gone by or a few hours. Sometimes the style even changes. It can be disorientating, and feels more like those parts were part of a rough draft that missed the editing process.
Overall, not terrible and it is a quick read ... but not really a must read nor will you find anything new within these pages.
April 9, 2018
Forty seven pages in I bailed. At first, I thought the writing style was fresh and interesting, although choppy. But there's no need to beat the reader over the head with the MC's medical condition. We get it. The first time it was explained, we got it. Then, it would have been fine, since it's obviously the focus of the book, to illustrate the details of living with it; the daily strife. But it became repetitive and boring after a while to keep making sure we understood that emotion is the trigger to this malaise. We get it.
And then...the introduction of animal cruelty via having the MC work in a lab that conducts experimentation. The wallowing in dogs who clearly have personalities and souls and know they're in for a world of terror and hurt? No thanks. This quickly became worthy of the sewer in my humble opinion.
And, BTW, the font size on the cover doesn't differ enough between title and author. I thought the book was "Daphne Will Boast" and wondered what she was so proud of that boasting became an issue. Doesn't matter, though. I'll actively avoid this author in future thanks to the tired cesspool of using animal torture to manipulate the reader. Sick waste of possible talent.
And then...the introduction of animal cruelty via having the MC work in a lab that conducts experimentation. The wallowing in dogs who clearly have personalities and souls and know they're in for a world of terror and hurt? No thanks. This quickly became worthy of the sewer in my humble opinion.
And, BTW, the font size on the cover doesn't differ enough between title and author. I thought the book was "Daphne Will Boast" and wondered what she was so proud of that boasting became an issue. Doesn't matter, though. I'll actively avoid this author in future thanks to the tired cesspool of using animal torture to manipulate the reader. Sick waste of possible talent.
May 25, 2018
In this absolutely atrocious appropriation of Ovid’s myth of Daphne and Apollo we are plunged into a story of hideous symptoms without plot or rhyme or reason, just a few sharp critiques of the way we live now. Can we forgive the author? I cannot. Falling myth zone: you have been warned.
February 2, 2018
Since reading Will Boast's Daphne, I will never be able to use the phrase "overcome by emotion" again.
Boast's Daphne, quite literally, becomes overcome by emotion. She has a rare and debilitating condition that affects her ability to function when experiencing any kind of emotion. Her body response to emotions varies; the more powerful the emotion, the more crippling the response. Mild annoyances, discomfort or even joy cause her jaw to slack and for her to mumble her words. Big emotions, like fear, surprise and ecstasy cause paralysis. It's incurable. The medication carries its own set of problems. And, although they didn't have a name for it then, her father who died when she was five (SPOILER) had it too.
What must it be like to have to shield yourself from emotions? Is it even possible? How can you experience love, compassion, and joy when building diffusing your emotions is a matter of survival?
Daphne's struggle becomes all that much more real when the lovable, kind-hearted and persistent Ollie comes into her life. Much like the Apollo/Daphne inspiration, Ollie won't take "no" for an answer. Thus, Daphne finds herself further and further from the well-structured and tightly controlled life she built to insulate herself from the feelings that ultimately cause her such embarrassment, pain, and helplessness. Daphne and Ollie's relationship was intriguing and had more depth and insights than the other plot lines.
Boast takes us on Daphne's journey as she struggles with learning to give and receive love, establish boundaries with her reckless best friend, deal with the realities of her father's life and death, and accept her mother's new love interest. Boast's debut novel is a quick read and thought-provoking discussion book.
Boast's Daphne, quite literally, becomes overcome by emotion. She has a rare and debilitating condition that affects her ability to function when experiencing any kind of emotion. Her body response to emotions varies; the more powerful the emotion, the more crippling the response. Mild annoyances, discomfort or even joy cause her jaw to slack and for her to mumble her words. Big emotions, like fear, surprise and ecstasy cause paralysis. It's incurable. The medication carries its own set of problems. And, although they didn't have a name for it then, her father who died when she was five (SPOILER) had it too.
What must it be like to have to shield yourself from emotions? Is it even possible? How can you experience love, compassion, and joy when building diffusing your emotions is a matter of survival?
Daphne's struggle becomes all that much more real when the lovable, kind-hearted and persistent Ollie comes into her life. Much like the Apollo/Daphne inspiration, Ollie won't take "no" for an answer. Thus, Daphne finds herself further and further from the well-structured and tightly controlled life she built to insulate herself from the feelings that ultimately cause her such embarrassment, pain, and helplessness. Daphne and Ollie's relationship was intriguing and had more depth and insights than the other plot lines.
Boast takes us on Daphne's journey as she struggles with learning to give and receive love, establish boundaries with her reckless best friend, deal with the realities of her father's life and death, and accept her mother's new love interest. Boast's debut novel is a quick read and thought-provoking discussion book.
July 13, 2018
2.5, maybe. I didn't hate it, just incredibly underwhelming.
April 20, 2018
First half of Daphne, 4 stars. I loved the idea of the problems that afflicted the main female protagonist and was very interested to see how the author would portray someone with this very rare (but very real) affliction and how they carried on with a day-to-day life. Rather quickly I found myself relating in some small ways to Daphne and some of her anxieties. I had no trouble with relationships between characters, and their importance to the story. I loved the San Francisco setting. I liked the idea of the working situation for Daphne less (quite a few times I found what her career was a bit on the "ummm, are you sure?" side) than everything else, but I found it to be a good 'surprise' once the reader is brought up to speed. I thought the characters were fairly well developed and the writing to be smooth and easy to enjoyably read. Not too many fluffy adjectives or over-explaining-details.
And then, like a light switching off -- the second half happened. The second half was just a "meh", 2 stars. It felt like the author gave up on the entire story and the characters the second half of the book. I found myself forcing myself to finish the chapter and move to the next. Each time I moved a step further, I found myself caring less and less for what actually was happening. By the very end I really didn't care at all about the story. It all felt so...shallow. Almost like a daytime soap opera (my father what?! ) that I was more than willing to turn off.
Overall, it would be a great book-club selection. The story gives a few nods to some controversial topics, which could spark lots of conversation, possibly some heated discussion.
And then, like a light switching off -- the second half happened. The second half was just a "meh", 2 stars. It felt like the author gave up on the entire story and the characters the second half of the book. I found myself forcing myself to finish the chapter and move to the next. Each time I moved a step further, I found myself caring less and less for what actually was happening. By the very end I really didn't care at all about the story. It all felt so...shallow. Almost like a daytime soap opera (my father what?! ) that I was more than willing to turn off.
Overall, it would be a great book-club selection. The story gives a few nods to some controversial topics, which could spark lots of conversation, possibly some heated discussion.
December 2, 2022
Daphne took me for some twists and turns and even now, to be honest, not sure what to think about the evolution that the MC went through.
The book went through some twists and turns as Daphne, told in the first perfective of the MC, as we meet her and learn of her rare and sometimes life-threatening condition in which she suffers varying degrees of paralysis when faced with intense emotions, which makes for a small set of people who are aware of it.
Upon a chance with charming Ollie, she takes a chance to let someone new in which seemed like a positive change for her but as the book progressed, Daphne's true colors also started to showcase and she's a lot darker than she first seemed.
As the book is from her perspective, we get a lot of her inner turmoil in which her condition is front and center and she uses it as an excuse for different moments throughout the book the further I listened. I realized her inner turmoil was shaping her decisions and how she saw herself within her friendships and had a lightbulb moment as to how many times people do this similar thing on the daily.
By the halfway mark, as Daphne started to let her darker thoughts get the better of her, it felt like whatever progression for her betterment was for nothing, and she hid back into how she might have been before. Daphne regressed and almost gladly, let go of the pretense of intimacy.
Maybe falling in love isn't for all and Boast explored that in this debut book.
The book went through some twists and turns as Daphne, told in the first perfective of the MC, as we meet her and learn of her rare and sometimes life-threatening condition in which she suffers varying degrees of paralysis when faced with intense emotions, which makes for a small set of people who are aware of it.
Upon a chance with charming Ollie, she takes a chance to let someone new in which seemed like a positive change for her but as the book progressed, Daphne's true colors also started to showcase and she's a lot darker than she first seemed.
As the book is from her perspective, we get a lot of her inner turmoil in which her condition is front and center and she uses it as an excuse for different moments throughout the book the further I listened. I realized her inner turmoil was shaping her decisions and how she saw herself within her friendships and had a lightbulb moment as to how many times people do this similar thing on the daily.
By the halfway mark, as Daphne started to let her darker thoughts get the better of her, it felt like whatever progression for her betterment was for nothing, and she hid back into how she might have been before. Daphne regressed and almost gladly, let go of the pretense of intimacy.
Maybe falling in love isn't for all and Boast explored that in this debut book.
December 23, 2017
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you!
Daphne suffers from an illness that seizes up her body when she feels a strong emotion. This disease effects her career, friendships, romantic relationships, and her whole life. Will Daphne be able to find an equilibrium with the disease or will she allow it to control her?
This book is a reimaging of the myth of Daphne and Apollo, but really you don't need to know anything about that. For me, it was really the story of a woman struggling to live a "normal" life with a debilitating disease. Boast does an incredible job of showing us both Daphne's flaws and her strength. The love story is lovely, but even better is Daphne's growing realization of her own abilities to control her life. There's a beautiful metaphor suggested by the author of bending yourself around your problem like a tree could bend to grow around an obstacle. I think that's really the point of this book. It's really beautifully written and a fast read. Finally, the cover of the book is just gorgeous and is hands down one my favorites I've seen in a long time. I really enjoyed this book!
Daphne suffers from an illness that seizes up her body when she feels a strong emotion. This disease effects her career, friendships, romantic relationships, and her whole life. Will Daphne be able to find an equilibrium with the disease or will she allow it to control her?
This book is a reimaging of the myth of Daphne and Apollo, but really you don't need to know anything about that. For me, it was really the story of a woman struggling to live a "normal" life with a debilitating disease. Boast does an incredible job of showing us both Daphne's flaws and her strength. The love story is lovely, but even better is Daphne's growing realization of her own abilities to control her life. There's a beautiful metaphor suggested by the author of bending yourself around your problem like a tree could bend to grow around an obstacle. I think that's really the point of this book. It's really beautifully written and a fast read. Finally, the cover of the book is just gorgeous and is hands down one my favorites I've seen in a long time. I really enjoyed this book!
February 3, 2018
Fascinating. If you, like me, don't remember the myth, don't worry about it. Boast has created a memorable character in Daphne, a woman coping with more than living with cataplexy. She's put her life into small boxes, as one would if any emotion can leave one on the ground. No driving, no news, no lots of things. I almost gave up on this when we learned what Daphne does for a living- 17% through on the kindle- but that would have been a huge mistake. Ollie, who Daphne meets in a bar, shakes things up and she begins to live. I loved the characters- not only Daphne but also the members of her group, her coworkers, her mom, and her best (only) friend. San Francisco is also a character- Boast uses it effectively. There are wonderful details, such as the description of Daphne's apartment. Daphne's effort to avoid emotion leads to crisis in a way she did not expect and her way forward is, well, read it for yourself. This one has lingered in my mind. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Beautiful writing and a unique story make this a real winner.
June 8, 2022
Another reviewer already tackled the gross issue of fetishizing war and conflict, but this little gem caught my eye as I was flipping through, trying to see if the book was as bad as I thought it was going to be:
Call me shooketh, because WHO SAYS THAT?? The author could have used the more neutral "mushroom cloud" of smoke or any number of things that aren't the name of a place where people died en masse. When does covert racism become overt?
I was already upset by the thought of Daphne and Apollo being turned into a love story and not a "dear god save me from this man stalking me I would literally rather be a tree" story, so I'm going to call this irredeemable and move on.
He took an enormous drag, exhaled a Hiroshima of smoke.
Call me shooketh, because WHO SAYS THAT?? The author could have used the more neutral "mushroom cloud" of smoke or any number of things that aren't the name of a place where people died en masse. When does covert racism become overt?
I was already upset by the thought of Daphne and Apollo being turned into a love story and not a "dear god save me from this man stalking me I would literally rather be a tree" story, so I'm going to call this irredeemable and move on.
November 28, 2017
A deeply unlikable protagonist but very well written and humane and set in SF which is enjoyable
May 21, 2022
Only read due to the fact I went on a date with the author lol
February 12, 2018
Whether to live within the limits of our most fragile selves? Whether the safe harbor or the open ocean? A suffering mind or the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune?
These are core questions, urgent questions, in life and in literature. They were central for Hamlet and for Bilbo Baggins, and they remain so in the world around us – for astronauts, for Shark Tank contestants and for commercial fishermen. The questions are also central for Daphne, the protagonist in this insightful and completely lovely novel.
Daphne is chronically ill with cataplexy, a paralysis that will seize her for days if she’s touched by emotion any deeper than the waxy buildup on the floor in her mother’s Indiana kitchen. In her youth, Daphne once fell down paralyzed, then was ruled dead and put into cold storage to await an autopsy. The reader joins her as a young adult, when her world is a series of stratagems designed to outwit her condition, a ducking and weaving that permits a self-aware Midwesterner to survive an eventful life in San Francisco where she manages an animal research facility. Life means not getting too attached – not too attached to the whimpering puppies trembling in cages at her lab, not too attached to her struggling employees, not to the homeless beggars with stubs where arms and legs used to be, and only conditionally to the well-meaning eccentric who wants to be her boyfriend. Attachments bring spontaneous joy or bitter disappointment, either of which would shove her face first to the sidewalk, later waking in the ER without any front teeth.
Daphne’s story might leave an empathetic reader exhausted and perhaps quiet with gratitude that her life’s limits are far less severe.
Daphne’s first-person narrative, in Will Boast’s crisp prose, puts the reader behind the eyes of a protagonist who is defined by an imagination with a mean streak. Daphne’s spirit is often desperate for calm and sometimes desperate about being desperate, the result of her consuming need to balance self-preservation against the turbulence of ordinary life. She routinely denies herself life’s pleasures. She repeats placid mantras. She tranquilizes herself with wine.
She once seemed certain to turn inward and sour. In her childhood, “every sigh and groan in [her house], every draft and whimper, every scuff on the linoleum and worn-down wale on the corduroy couch … seemed eternal.” As a young adult, she is outwardly stoic. Seeing herself as brittle, she yields to the world and yet remains durably engaging. In her own way, she is succeeding.
The author invested considerable effort to create an appealing protagonist and he succeeded. Daphne is easy to admire for all that she has overcome. When she’s feeling overwhelmed and locks herself in her apartment, you are happy to be her companion, pleased that she’d confide in you. You will savor her moments of pleasure and self-discovery.
Daphne’s condition is never named, only described. It is ragged at the edges, a dangerous variable, the x in a badass equation. On paper, her condition is an intimidating and dark shade of violet that threatens to go black. It’s anxiety and depression in the extreme; it’s a whole life standing on a board set on a pointy fulcrum, hovering over venomous snakes slithering on quicksand. With his creation, Mr. Boast seems to have ignored the cliché write what you know, and instead gone with figure it out as you go along. It’s a ringing endorsement for wandering away from comfort zones, foregoing the comfortable and the familiar, daring not to worry. This book has the righteous feel of a writer and a protagonist who want to give a middle finger to their insecurities.
Mr. Boast knifes through early and meaningful back story with clipped descriptions that slice and sting as Daphne’s narrative moves forward. He lingers over the impact of her condition and presses hard enough to leave bruises and a tired vulnerability. Then he approaches like a prizefighter without gloves. Here comes Daphne’s dear friend and her poor life choices. Here come the members of the Animal Liberation Front with bolt cutters. Here come Daphne’s needy coworkers, people who enjoy wild swings of mood, who so often have “crested and troughed, thrilled and wallowed and came out strangely purified.”
“If only we could all stay a mystery to one another,” Daphne laments.
The writing is simple and not overdecorated. It contains passages that glow like burning coal. It’s the kind of earnest prose that will make you forget someone labored for months over a manuscript and leave you enchanted by characters, by plot and by humanity’s resilience.
The Daphne of Greek mythology was a beautiful nymph burdened by the affections of the revered Apollo, the god of poetry, art, music, light and knowledge. She ran from him, evaded him, hated him, felt powerless against him. (Apollo, have you met Harvey Weinstein?) Apollo was forceful, his pursuit resolute and he left mythological Daphne drained and limp. She pleaded to become a laurel tree, a perpetual virgin, and her wish was granted. She gave away personhood to escape the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
But our Daphne lives in the 21st Century. Notions of gender equity have changed since Apollo’s day. Appropriately, Daphne’s final choices are modern — and so gratifying.
These are core questions, urgent questions, in life and in literature. They were central for Hamlet and for Bilbo Baggins, and they remain so in the world around us – for astronauts, for Shark Tank contestants and for commercial fishermen. The questions are also central for Daphne, the protagonist in this insightful and completely lovely novel.
Daphne is chronically ill with cataplexy, a paralysis that will seize her for days if she’s touched by emotion any deeper than the waxy buildup on the floor in her mother’s Indiana kitchen. In her youth, Daphne once fell down paralyzed, then was ruled dead and put into cold storage to await an autopsy. The reader joins her as a young adult, when her world is a series of stratagems designed to outwit her condition, a ducking and weaving that permits a self-aware Midwesterner to survive an eventful life in San Francisco where she manages an animal research facility. Life means not getting too attached – not too attached to the whimpering puppies trembling in cages at her lab, not too attached to her struggling employees, not to the homeless beggars with stubs where arms and legs used to be, and only conditionally to the well-meaning eccentric who wants to be her boyfriend. Attachments bring spontaneous joy or bitter disappointment, either of which would shove her face first to the sidewalk, later waking in the ER without any front teeth.
Daphne’s story might leave an empathetic reader exhausted and perhaps quiet with gratitude that her life’s limits are far less severe.
Daphne’s first-person narrative, in Will Boast’s crisp prose, puts the reader behind the eyes of a protagonist who is defined by an imagination with a mean streak. Daphne’s spirit is often desperate for calm and sometimes desperate about being desperate, the result of her consuming need to balance self-preservation against the turbulence of ordinary life. She routinely denies herself life’s pleasures. She repeats placid mantras. She tranquilizes herself with wine.
She once seemed certain to turn inward and sour. In her childhood, “every sigh and groan in [her house], every draft and whimper, every scuff on the linoleum and worn-down wale on the corduroy couch … seemed eternal.” As a young adult, she is outwardly stoic. Seeing herself as brittle, she yields to the world and yet remains durably engaging. In her own way, she is succeeding.
The author invested considerable effort to create an appealing protagonist and he succeeded. Daphne is easy to admire for all that she has overcome. When she’s feeling overwhelmed and locks herself in her apartment, you are happy to be her companion, pleased that she’d confide in you. You will savor her moments of pleasure and self-discovery.
Daphne’s condition is never named, only described. It is ragged at the edges, a dangerous variable, the x in a badass equation. On paper, her condition is an intimidating and dark shade of violet that threatens to go black. It’s anxiety and depression in the extreme; it’s a whole life standing on a board set on a pointy fulcrum, hovering over venomous snakes slithering on quicksand. With his creation, Mr. Boast seems to have ignored the cliché write what you know, and instead gone with figure it out as you go along. It’s a ringing endorsement for wandering away from comfort zones, foregoing the comfortable and the familiar, daring not to worry. This book has the righteous feel of a writer and a protagonist who want to give a middle finger to their insecurities.
Mr. Boast knifes through early and meaningful back story with clipped descriptions that slice and sting as Daphne’s narrative moves forward. He lingers over the impact of her condition and presses hard enough to leave bruises and a tired vulnerability. Then he approaches like a prizefighter without gloves. Here comes Daphne’s dear friend and her poor life choices. Here come the members of the Animal Liberation Front with bolt cutters. Here come Daphne’s needy coworkers, people who enjoy wild swings of mood, who so often have “crested and troughed, thrilled and wallowed and came out strangely purified.”
“If only we could all stay a mystery to one another,” Daphne laments.
The writing is simple and not overdecorated. It contains passages that glow like burning coal. It’s the kind of earnest prose that will make you forget someone labored for months over a manuscript and leave you enchanted by characters, by plot and by humanity’s resilience.
The Daphne of Greek mythology was a beautiful nymph burdened by the affections of the revered Apollo, the god of poetry, art, music, light and knowledge. She ran from him, evaded him, hated him, felt powerless against him. (Apollo, have you met Harvey Weinstein?) Apollo was forceful, his pursuit resolute and he left mythological Daphne drained and limp. She pleaded to become a laurel tree, a perpetual virgin, and her wish was granted. She gave away personhood to escape the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
But our Daphne lives in the 21st Century. Notions of gender equity have changed since Apollo’s day. Appropriately, Daphne’s final choices are modern — and so gratifying.
March 2, 2018
Let this be a crude reminder to all of us - every day - that we should not be judgmental, assumptive, or discompassionate to others when we do not know or truly understand what kind of burden other people might be carrying.
And so begins the story of our Daphne, a young girl with aspirations, hopes and dreams like any adolescent. She begins noticing a “buzzing” sensation in her body, a sensitivity to sounds-the louder, the worst her reaction is. She assumes a trancelike state or as things get worse, a “rag doll drop” of her body. Her helicopter mom takes her to a doctor and he seems to truly understand what her symptoms are.
A subtle exposure/experience like embarrassment, apprehension, envy, satiation, etc (etc includes an exhaustive list of our common human emotions and feelings) causes a benign minor attack. The eyelids may flutter, the jaw may drop, knees may slightly weaken. There is a partial paralysis. Over time, Daphne learns how to deftly cover up these symptoms so that only those close to her and those who know her diagnosis understand she is experiencing an attack. Her doctor advises her to educate everyone, however, Daphne holds her secret close. As a result, close relationships have suffered and ended with people’s fear and misunderstanding of this. Its a neurophysiology issue. It’s often compared to having a seizure where limbs get loose and drop and then afterwards the person is disoriented. More so, it’s closest in nature to narcolepsy. There is no cure or treatment for this malady, though there are clinical trials which Daphne does not want to try and she discourages people like her, in her support group, to not even bother...
Emotional paralysis is what this “disease” is called. So...Where does this actually come from? Is it a birth defect? A cause and effect during mothers pregnancy? Is it genetic? How many people are out there in the world who have this? How do they cope and live normal lives? Why is there not a cure or medication? Does it shorten life spans? Can you outgrow this?
The BIG attacks experienced are related to strong, primal feelings / emotions like rage, sorrow, laughter, horror, surprise, fear and...
Sex!
Daphne has had relationships with the opposite sex that have always gone bad - basically the guys were freaked out and ran off never to be heard of again. Her being embarrassed and ashamed.
Now an adult, she meets Ollie in a bar and there is some chemistry and the story takes you through their relationship, her apprehensions, his patience and it sounds so promising. Throughout the story, her mother is in the background, constantly keeping tabs on Daphne to make sure she is all right.
Daphne has a job at MedEval - it is unclear at first what it actually is - but we discover it in due time and we also figure out its a “safe” place of employment in that it’s working with testing of animals in a small secured facility with a small group of employees.
***ALERT***To all animal lovers out there, know that MedEval implants pacemaker-like devices in dogs and test and monitor the devices. There is a scene where protestors are involved and a small group breaks in to the facility to free the dogs. If this is something that will upset you or make you angry, THEN DON’T READ THIS BOOK OR SKIP THAT PART ENTiRELY.
We read about the individuals in Daphne’s support group who are having relationship problems, depression, denial, suicidal thoughts, serious injuries from falling down as a result of this emotional “let loose” disorder. We read about Daphne and Ollie’s relationship and that of mother/daughter finally moving on and forward with their lives. We read about Daphne - beating the odds thus far, coping as well as she can with meditation, removing herself quickly from situations that will disarm her emotional senses and trigger an attack.
Everything is not perfect in an imperfect world with an imperfect brain chemistry. Daphne is a survivor, and as we turn the last page of this book, remember, there is always HOPE and that the future is right NOW.
.
And so begins the story of our Daphne, a young girl with aspirations, hopes and dreams like any adolescent. She begins noticing a “buzzing” sensation in her body, a sensitivity to sounds-the louder, the worst her reaction is. She assumes a trancelike state or as things get worse, a “rag doll drop” of her body. Her helicopter mom takes her to a doctor and he seems to truly understand what her symptoms are.
A subtle exposure/experience like embarrassment, apprehension, envy, satiation, etc (etc includes an exhaustive list of our common human emotions and feelings) causes a benign minor attack. The eyelids may flutter, the jaw may drop, knees may slightly weaken. There is a partial paralysis. Over time, Daphne learns how to deftly cover up these symptoms so that only those close to her and those who know her diagnosis understand she is experiencing an attack. Her doctor advises her to educate everyone, however, Daphne holds her secret close. As a result, close relationships have suffered and ended with people’s fear and misunderstanding of this. Its a neurophysiology issue. It’s often compared to having a seizure where limbs get loose and drop and then afterwards the person is disoriented. More so, it’s closest in nature to narcolepsy. There is no cure or treatment for this malady, though there are clinical trials which Daphne does not want to try and she discourages people like her, in her support group, to not even bother...
Emotional paralysis is what this “disease” is called. So...Where does this actually come from? Is it a birth defect? A cause and effect during mothers pregnancy? Is it genetic? How many people are out there in the world who have this? How do they cope and live normal lives? Why is there not a cure or medication? Does it shorten life spans? Can you outgrow this?
The BIG attacks experienced are related to strong, primal feelings / emotions like rage, sorrow, laughter, horror, surprise, fear and...
Sex!
Daphne has had relationships with the opposite sex that have always gone bad - basically the guys were freaked out and ran off never to be heard of again. Her being embarrassed and ashamed.
Now an adult, she meets Ollie in a bar and there is some chemistry and the story takes you through their relationship, her apprehensions, his patience and it sounds so promising. Throughout the story, her mother is in the background, constantly keeping tabs on Daphne to make sure she is all right.
Daphne has a job at MedEval - it is unclear at first what it actually is - but we discover it in due time and we also figure out its a “safe” place of employment in that it’s working with testing of animals in a small secured facility with a small group of employees.
***ALERT***To all animal lovers out there, know that MedEval implants pacemaker-like devices in dogs and test and monitor the devices. There is a scene where protestors are involved and a small group breaks in to the facility to free the dogs. If this is something that will upset you or make you angry, THEN DON’T READ THIS BOOK OR SKIP THAT PART ENTiRELY.
We read about the individuals in Daphne’s support group who are having relationship problems, depression, denial, suicidal thoughts, serious injuries from falling down as a result of this emotional “let loose” disorder. We read about Daphne and Ollie’s relationship and that of mother/daughter finally moving on and forward with their lives. We read about Daphne - beating the odds thus far, coping as well as she can with meditation, removing herself quickly from situations that will disarm her emotional senses and trigger an attack.
Everything is not perfect in an imperfect world with an imperfect brain chemistry. Daphne is a survivor, and as we turn the last page of this book, remember, there is always HOPE and that the future is right NOW.
.
March 23, 2018
I knew Daphne was a character from mythology, so I wondered if (Spoiler Alert!) Daphne's love interest in the book, Ollie, was a play on the name of (mythological) Daphne's love interest, and it is (Apollo) so that was kind of neat to learn.
So, the book wasn't terrible, but wasn't the best. I liked Daphne but could have done without the political overtones (Ollie, the march, some of their discussions, etc.). I really didn't care for Brook, and I didn't like Ollie too much, and (second Spoiler Alert!) was glad when he and Daphne went their separate ways (I hope that wasn't a reconciliation in the works at the end).
(Side note: Cara Cara oranges are mentioned early in the book. I recently had these for the first time so thought it was interesting that just a few weeks later I was reading about them here. If you have never had one, and you are a fan of citrus, you must try them. They are delicious, and seedless.
You're welcome.)
Interesting but also just sad overall, still: recommended.
So, the book wasn't terrible, but wasn't the best. I liked Daphne but could have done without the political overtones (Ollie, the march, some of their discussions, etc.). I really didn't care for Brook, and I didn't like Ollie too much, and (second Spoiler Alert!) was glad when he and Daphne went their separate ways (I hope that wasn't a reconciliation in the works at the end).
(Side note: Cara Cara oranges are mentioned early in the book. I recently had these for the first time so thought it was interesting that just a few weeks later I was reading about them here. If you have never had one, and you are a fan of citrus, you must try them. They are delicious, and seedless.
You're welcome.)
Interesting but also just sad overall, still: recommended.
March 7, 2018
I received an ARC from the publisher Liveright and its editor, Katie Adams. This well-written debut novel tells the story of Daphne who is physically overcome by her emotions due to a very real medical condition. She has learned to "manage" her life, living it mostly looking at it, rather than inhabiting it with all its messy feelings. She has moved from the Midwest to San Francisco and taken a job at a medical device company, managing their dog lab. Her apartment is equally sterile, a place of refuge where she keeps changing the furniture and taking pictures trying to get into her favorite interior design magazine. Then she meets Ollie and her life is upended. Will Boast takes you inside Daphne's head and body, feeling her stress and illness, providing insights into her decision making process which allows the reader to experience empathy for Daphne as well as others with debilitating illnesses.
October 29, 2018
This was so beautifully written. I really enjoyed the skillful prose, the strong sense of setting (especially since it's set in SF!), and the exploration of the role of emotion in our lives. As a strong feeler, I resonated with the main character's plight, even if I (thankfully!) am not physically paralyzed by my emotion as she is.
July 14, 2022
I loved this novel until about halfway through when it lost its way. It became overly dramatic while it meandered. Also, Daphne holding down that particular job given her condition was not believable. Despite its reach, I liked the surprise in the middle of the book but the reveal at the end didn’t work for me. Four stars for the writing
July 10, 2024
idk, the entire book was just kinda like "meh". i thought the author's writing was unique, so i appreciated that. but the plot was just so not engaging at all.
Read
November 10, 2024idk how to feel.. at least i can say i've read a book titled my name 🤷♀️
June 28, 2020
2.5
The ending helped save what was otherwise an underwhelming book.
The ending helped save what was otherwise an underwhelming book.
February 14, 2018
A very interesting read, different and unique.
June 20, 2019
I had my expectations set high(ish) for this. Set in San Francisco, and an update on Greek mythology, it had a lot of promise. Daphne has to suppress all emotion otherwise she suffers a sort of paralytic attack. So what happens when she meets a guy she might enjoy being with romantically (so many potential emotions!)? Turns out...not a lot. The characters are pretty one note and it's hard to see what they like about each other. There isn't a big storyline, which is too bad.
In the end, I thought this was fine, mostly because it was easy to digest and set in SF, but disappointing.
My book club met last night and several members gave thoughtful reviews of this book, especially regarding invisible illnesses and disabilities. They (as usual) helped me see this book a little differently.
In the end, I thought this was fine, mostly because it was easy to digest and set in SF, but disappointing.
My book club met last night and several members gave thoughtful reviews of this book, especially regarding invisible illnesses and disabilities. They (as usual) helped me see this book a little differently.
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