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overlove
After a moment of possible eye contact at a gig, my attraction to the band's drummer - Curt - snowballed into limerent obsession. The unsent letters documenting my crush form the basis of a non-fiction novella concerned with love, boundaries, leaky jars and the female gaze in today's context of digital communication, millennial malaise and searching online for something 'more'.
**now also a feature length web series viewable on YouTube and geraldinesnell.com/overlove**
“A striking tale of obsession and self-discovery. Lust meets distance, imagination meets boundaries, touch meets data. An exciting and meaningful mixture raising capital questions on the modern human condition and its challenges.” - Slow Culture EU
"In short, this is a book that feels like a sensual archive as much as a nonfiction novella. Snell’s lively, chatty tone precludes us from thinking we’ve discovered her overlove feels too generous, too directive towards the Other, to fit in a simple journal category... It’s like she wants us to catch this lust. In its extremity, it’s as exhilarating as it is relatably exhausting. This is a study in self-expression and the possibility of communication, of what it might take to bridge that gap towards the Other, and then not care if it lands or not. Is it possible to find yourself addicted to someone else’s crush?” - Maria Sledmere, SPAM Zine
"overlove is an account of what it is like to fall into a private inner world shaped by the power of fantasy and attraction. Stunning prose takes us deeper into a transgressive desire than we have any right to expect, pushing beyond the boundaries of safety to an open plane of divergent thinking. overlove finds literary peers among only the most intense psychological journeys, but makes works based on paranoia look flat-footed in comparison to the nuance of its intricate fixation. Perfect People who feel their blood hammer as the rush of attraction shakes the ground under their feet. Or really anyone ready for a good vicarious swoon." - Folly X.O.
“overlove asks ‘is this OK’, but what it finds is power where shame is anticipated. It is nerd love of an amplitude that, when it breaks, eradicates past rejections as inconsequential. That in the last resort gives no fucks about propriety. As an emotion, overlove allows Snell to exult in her desire, regardless of the incapacity of others to follow. We follow in their place.” - Dustin Kennedy, New Flag Media
**now also a feature length web series viewable on YouTube and geraldinesnell.com/overlove**
“A striking tale of obsession and self-discovery. Lust meets distance, imagination meets boundaries, touch meets data. An exciting and meaningful mixture raising capital questions on the modern human condition and its challenges.” - Slow Culture EU
"In short, this is a book that feels like a sensual archive as much as a nonfiction novella. Snell’s lively, chatty tone precludes us from thinking we’ve discovered her overlove feels too generous, too directive towards the Other, to fit in a simple journal category... It’s like she wants us to catch this lust. In its extremity, it’s as exhilarating as it is relatably exhausting. This is a study in self-expression and the possibility of communication, of what it might take to bridge that gap towards the Other, and then not care if it lands or not. Is it possible to find yourself addicted to someone else’s crush?” - Maria Sledmere, SPAM Zine
"overlove is an account of what it is like to fall into a private inner world shaped by the power of fantasy and attraction. Stunning prose takes us deeper into a transgressive desire than we have any right to expect, pushing beyond the boundaries of safety to an open plane of divergent thinking. overlove finds literary peers among only the most intense psychological journeys, but makes works based on paranoia look flat-footed in comparison to the nuance of its intricate fixation. Perfect People who feel their blood hammer as the rush of attraction shakes the ground under their feet. Or really anyone ready for a good vicarious swoon." - Folly X.O.
“overlove asks ‘is this OK’, but what it finds is power where shame is anticipated. It is nerd love of an amplitude that, when it breaks, eradicates past rejections as inconsequential. That in the last resort gives no fucks about propriety. As an emotion, overlove allows Snell to exult in her desire, regardless of the incapacity of others to follow. We follow in their place.” - Dustin Kennedy, New Flag Media
106 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2018
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 13, 2019
obviously i wrote it so i like it i wouldn't write what i didn't like to read myself.. lol 5*
March 30, 2020
One of my favourite ficition books of the year - lots of local pride points with it being set in West Yorkshire, but this one really struck a chord with its exploration of what the blurb calls "milennial malaise"
October 17, 2020
I will admit, this isn't the usual thing I would go for. I adore Dostoyevsky Wannabe as a publisher, and this book was recommended to me by a close friend, so there was a lot of trust there, going into this novel.
Unfortunately, while there are parts of this that are very compelling - such as the unhealthy, unspoken feelings of lust we keep to ourselves - but ultimately, I found this book extremely tedious and annoying. Mainly because of it's teenage diary tone, its incessant overuse of punctuation, and random (and sort of aggressive) capitalisation of full words.
However, as a male in their early 20s, I am aware that I may not be the targeted audience!
Unfortunately, while there are parts of this that are very compelling - such as the unhealthy, unspoken feelings of lust we keep to ourselves - but ultimately, I found this book extremely tedious and annoying. Mainly because of it's teenage diary tone, its incessant overuse of punctuation, and random (and sort of aggressive) capitalisation of full words.
However, as a male in their early 20s, I am aware that I may not be the targeted audience!
February 28, 2023
First, overlove is a phenomenal title, and this was a wild little ride through obsession, lust, anxiety and bravery, and stalking. Like she was legit stalking this guy but it made for a very interesting and dare I say thought provoking read. At least she’s self aware?
The best part of the book was at the club event, I wanted to be thereeeeeeee omg.
Great writing and am excited to watch the video series!
The best part of the book was at the club event, I wanted to be thereeeeeeee omg.
Great writing and am excited to watch the video series!
February 20, 2020
Lust meets distance, imagination meets boundaries, touch meets data. An exciting and meaningful mixture raising capital questions on the modern human condition and its challenges.
More on Slow Culture.
More on Slow Culture.
October 26, 2022
I absolutely loved this book, and have now finished it for the second time. I found that it satisfied a desire for a type of book which I didn't know I had because I didn't know this type of book could exist. It's a bit like "I love Dick" but way funnier.
October 27, 2022
Written with a casual but excellently engaging and passionate tone, Overlove is easy to dip into and an accurate, contemporary reflection of the search for that special "other" in the big city
February 3, 2024
The sheer level of self induced emotion and obsession is something that I heavy relate to,
‘How is this tired ground? Fuck up the novel: lay it bear. THE FEMALE GAZE IS JUST RAMPING UP, M888’
‘How is this tired ground? Fuck up the novel: lay it bear. THE FEMALE GAZE IS JUST RAMPING UP, M888’
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews