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The Manuscript: A story of revenge
Fast paced, funny and ferocious, The Manuscript is a novel about a novel, and the unexpected ways that life smacks you in the face.
When author Edith Scott finds herself free in many ways, she switches genres to write a book about war and men. As she learns hard lessons from the men in her life, who chew her up and spit her out, Edith writes them into the plot, killing them off with delight. But what she doesn't know is that real life is dealing with them in a parallel reality too brutal for words.
This is a sexy post-divorce coming-of-age blind-sider of a novel, which explores the delicate nature of new relationships, the ruthlessness of karma and the blurry line between truth and fiction.
When author Edith Scott finds herself free in many ways, she switches genres to write a book about war and men. As she learns hard lessons from the men in her life, who chew her up and spit her out, Edith writes them into the plot, killing them off with delight. But what she doesn't know is that real life is dealing with them in a parallel reality too brutal for words.
This is a sexy post-divorce coming-of-age blind-sider of a novel, which explores the delicate nature of new relationships, the ruthlessness of karma and the blurry line between truth and fiction.
- GenresFiction
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Bloom
17 books33 followersLUCY BLOOM is an international keynote speaker and consulting CEO with a background in advertising and international aid. She was born in Africa but grew up in Australia. She is the mother of three teens and lives by the beach in Sydney. Lucy is an Ambassador for Australia Reads, is a member of the Australian Society of Authors, the Australian Writer’s Guild and the Country Women’s Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
March 6, 2023
My initial rating for this novel was two stars. I have decided to change my rating considering the following exchange with the author which took place on my Instagram account where I have been reviewing books for over five years.
Bookstagram, Goodreads, TheStorygraph and any other reviewers' platform should be safe spaces for readers and reviewers to share their opinions about books.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpXIKlOrNb1/
Lucy Bloom: thumbs down emoji
Lucy Bloom: You don’t like a book because there’s a size 8 character? Yet there’s all shapes in this book. A soft and squishy best friend, a dad bod lover. You don’t like this book because the protagonist is perfect. But this is a book about her idiotic decisions 🤷♀️ Camila you say you can’t get past details but you’ve missed all the details that you criticise.
Me: Hi Lucy, do you mean my opinion of your book is invalid because I interpreted your work in the wrong way?
Lucy Bloom: Did I say it was invalid? I have said it is inaccurate. Two very different things. You say you’re big on details. But you’ve over looked the details to produce an inaccurate review.
Me: Do you think it is fair for you to determine the accuracy of my opinion? I am a reviewer, I share my opinion about books. I am not obliged to love every single book I read, which I am sure also happens to you. It is a shame that you got fixated in those comments but did not appreciate the compliments I gave you and your writing. Reading and appreciating art is subjective, we all interpret things in very different ways. There is no accuracy in appreciating novels.
Lucy Bloom: no you’ve misunderstood. I’ll leave you to your misunderstandings.
Me: I have not misunderstood Lucy. There were things that I liked about your book and things I did not, simple as that. You did not like my opinion and that’s on you. I invested time in reading and reviewing your book respectfully and I articulated the elements that I did not like. You also know that I invested time in attending to your launch and promote your book, even after I had read it and formed my opinion about it. I truly hope you don’t treat other readers like [you] have treated me. This speaks way more about you as an author, than me as a nobody reviewer who posted an opinion on a book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- thanks to @dmcprmedia for my #gifted copy
Lucy Bloom’s debut novel The Manuscript is an action-packed story full of purposeful coincidences, romance, sex and humorous commentary from beginning to end. The first fifty pages are a bit slow in pace, so it was a bit challenging to understand where the story was going. However, once most characters are laid out it’s quite effortless to follow the narrative. Every single storyline —and there are plenty— is interesting and inventive. I celebrate Bloom’s imaginative skills and her capacity to interweave each storyline in such amusing and clever ways.
Unfortunately, I cannot turn off my intuitive close-reading habit and, as a reader, I always get stuck on the details. What can I say? Old academic habits die hard. Or don’t die at all.
It was almost impossible for me to move from the issues I had with the characterisation and focus on anything else. Although I was able to appreciate the doubtless good intentions behind the fun take on the adventures of a White forty-something divorcee woman, I was still not convinced by the superficiality of the characters, especially Edith’s.
The utter perfection of Edith did not sit well with me. Apart from the brief mention of her workaholic years that lead to her ultimate divorce, nothing made Edith relatable at any level. At a first glance, I concluded that the protagonist simply had no flaws, but with further reflection I realised that she did not have any substantial personality traits beyond how good she is at everything and to everyone. Other characters are continuously remarking on how amazing Edith is: she is smart, capable, independent, rich, a skilled writer and luckily at forty-something, still size 8. The fact that nearly all characters are described as lean and fit also left a bitter taste.
Overall, The Manuscript is an entertaining, fast-paced novel that will be a perfect fit for readers that, unlike me, do not get stuck on the minutiae. Unfortunately, I was unable to appreciate it more given my personal preferences when it comes to characterisation and relatability.
Bookstagram, Goodreads, TheStorygraph and any other reviewers' platform should be safe spaces for readers and reviewers to share their opinions about books.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpXIKlOrNb1/
Lucy Bloom: thumbs down emoji
Lucy Bloom: You don’t like a book because there’s a size 8 character? Yet there’s all shapes in this book. A soft and squishy best friend, a dad bod lover. You don’t like this book because the protagonist is perfect. But this is a book about her idiotic decisions 🤷♀️ Camila you say you can’t get past details but you’ve missed all the details that you criticise.
Me: Hi Lucy, do you mean my opinion of your book is invalid because I interpreted your work in the wrong way?
Lucy Bloom: Did I say it was invalid? I have said it is inaccurate. Two very different things. You say you’re big on details. But you’ve over looked the details to produce an inaccurate review.
Me: Do you think it is fair for you to determine the accuracy of my opinion? I am a reviewer, I share my opinion about books. I am not obliged to love every single book I read, which I am sure also happens to you. It is a shame that you got fixated in those comments but did not appreciate the compliments I gave you and your writing. Reading and appreciating art is subjective, we all interpret things in very different ways. There is no accuracy in appreciating novels.
Lucy Bloom: no you’ve misunderstood. I’ll leave you to your misunderstandings.
Me: I have not misunderstood Lucy. There were things that I liked about your book and things I did not, simple as that. You did not like my opinion and that’s on you. I invested time in reading and reviewing your book respectfully and I articulated the elements that I did not like. You also know that I invested time in attending to your launch and promote your book, even after I had read it and formed my opinion about it. I truly hope you don’t treat other readers like [you] have treated me. This speaks way more about you as an author, than me as a nobody reviewer who posted an opinion on a book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- thanks to @dmcprmedia for my #gifted copy
Lucy Bloom’s debut novel The Manuscript is an action-packed story full of purposeful coincidences, romance, sex and humorous commentary from beginning to end. The first fifty pages are a bit slow in pace, so it was a bit challenging to understand where the story was going. However, once most characters are laid out it’s quite effortless to follow the narrative. Every single storyline —and there are plenty— is interesting and inventive. I celebrate Bloom’s imaginative skills and her capacity to interweave each storyline in such amusing and clever ways.
Unfortunately, I cannot turn off my intuitive close-reading habit and, as a reader, I always get stuck on the details. What can I say? Old academic habits die hard. Or don’t die at all.
It was almost impossible for me to move from the issues I had with the characterisation and focus on anything else. Although I was able to appreciate the doubtless good intentions behind the fun take on the adventures of a White forty-something divorcee woman, I was still not convinced by the superficiality of the characters, especially Edith’s.
The utter perfection of Edith did not sit well with me. Apart from the brief mention of her workaholic years that lead to her ultimate divorce, nothing made Edith relatable at any level. At a first glance, I concluded that the protagonist simply had no flaws, but with further reflection I realised that she did not have any substantial personality traits beyond how good she is at everything and to everyone. Other characters are continuously remarking on how amazing Edith is: she is smart, capable, independent, rich, a skilled writer and luckily at forty-something, still size 8. The fact that nearly all characters are described as lean and fit also left a bitter taste.
Overall, The Manuscript is an entertaining, fast-paced novel that will be a perfect fit for readers that, unlike me, do not get stuck on the minutiae. Unfortunately, I was unable to appreciate it more given my personal preferences when it comes to characterisation and relatability.
April 14, 2023
This review and my face are still on her Facebook page - where you can see her true personality.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
What a flop
Boring plot
Boring characters
Poor writing
This would be the perfect book to use when you run out of toilet paper
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
What a flop
Boring plot
Boring characters
Poor writing
This would be the perfect book to use when you run out of toilet paper
March 10, 2023
Is there a dislike button? Negative stars?
March 8, 2023
One of the worst books of the year. More details to come.
November 22, 2024
Goodreads has deleted two of my previous reviews so far (for condemning the author's behaviour), so I'll refrain from mentioning her at all.
This book is poorly written, the characters aren't interesting or complex, there's practically no character development, and the entire plot feels flat.
All in all, I'd rather panini-press my right foot than have a repeat of the experience I've had with this book.
This book is poorly written, the characters aren't interesting or complex, there's practically no character development, and the entire plot feels flat.
All in all, I'd rather panini-press my right foot than have a repeat of the experience I've had with this book.
March 8, 2023
Trite
March 31, 2023
Sometimes it’s okay to not realize dreams. It’s okay that not everyone is cut out to be a writer. As an avid book lover just no. I picked this one up and doing what I always do, I tried separating the book from the problematic author. Just no the writing was juvenile and strep throat would’ve been more enjoyable. Also, it’s 2023 let’s not use the word exotic as the primary word to describe Asian women and a size 8 aus is size 4 in the US which is skinny. Stop with soft squishy best friend trope. It’s the duff all over again.
April 25, 2023
I dislike leaving one star reviews, however I do think it's important to elaborate on why I gave this particular book such a low rating.
● The misogyny: despite the novel's very obvious feminist (albeit the middle-aged white variety) slant, a significant portion of the prose is dedicated to belittling and undermining young women. While the MC recounts her exploits and adventures post divorce, an underlying message threads itself throughout the narrative, covertly implying that young women pair well with toxic and abusive men because they will accept the abuse, while older women (such as the MC) are smart enough to avoid or pull themselves out of such traps. The horrors of said implication aside, the constant hate geared towards younger women belies the so-called message of empowerment and unity. Instead, it reads more as bitter and borderline school-yard levels of petty bullying, as women who happen to exist below a certain threshold simply aren't worthy of the respect and dignity afforded to the older characters.
● The racism: a potential love interest from Mozambique is referred to as dangerous, unstable, violent, and "unmedicated", and throughout the book Congolese men are described as looking indistinguishable from one another as they all look the same. Asian characters are repeatedly called "exotic". The way that non-white characters are categorised, particularly non-white men, made me deeply uncomfortable. Racial stereotypes, objectification, and dehumanisation should not be acceptable forms of representation in 2023. There is a stark difference between the portrayal of the white characters and POC, and while the latter are reduced to one dimensional (and often exceedingly negative) stereotypes, the former are allowed to flourish.
● The sizeism: the MC (who is a skinny and conventionally attractive white woman) has a friend who is described as "soft and squishy", and rots away in the "chubby best friend" role. Almost every other character is described as fit, thin, lean, athletic, skinny, etc., so much so that I began playing a game of bingo in my head, while the aforementioned friend's descriptions centre on her "squishiness". In 2023, I'd have hoped the "chubby best friend" trope would have died, and that plus sized characters would be able to flourish outside of their thin friends' shadows, but here we are.
● The perfect "Imperfect MC": we're led to believe that the MC is flawed, and that her journey is not a perfect one. However, the MC is constantly fawned upon by those around her. She's hot, successful, and people are drawn to her. Other characters are constantly falling all over her, marvelling at how good she looks, how lean she is, how talented. Her main "flaws" seem to be that she is a workaholic (which is not a bad thing in and of itself, and throughout the text workaholic traits are framed as positives, undermining authorial intent), and that she is a divorcee (please don't get me started on the "ruined woman" divorcee trope, even if it isn't so blatant here). The MC is unrelatable; even when we're told she has flaws, she is shown in a completely different light.
● The HP references: I don't think it needs to be said that the wizard books have become synonymous with the hateful ideologies of their author. Even attempting to seperate the art from the artist, the author has bragged online about royalty checks funding her views. The existence and safety of trans people is far more improtant than nostalgia, especially when aforementioned author has been cited in legislation actively attacking and stripping the rights of trans people across the globe. And when said author has been praised as a hero by politicians and people in positions of power who have explicitly called for trans genocide. And where do I even begin with the antisemitism (particularly in relation to the latest chunk of lore that was dropped with the recent game). There are so many other authors, books, nostalgia references that could have been made, and aren't connected to an author and franchise now firmly allied and associated with hateful ideologies. As a queer person the HP references weren't just unnecessary, but jarring in a way that immediately had my hackles raised.
● The text itself: the novel isn't poorly written, and from a technical standpoint, it is decent. In fact, this was the only thing preventing me from DNFing. The story simply isn't all that compelling. Some threads drag on and on until I eventually lost interest, whereas other plot lines are resolved (or ignored) so quickly there's no satisfaction in it. There is a lot of repetition, most of it falling into the above complaints, and I found myself skimming more often than not.
● The author : at this point, the 0 to 100 level of infamy is inescable. Receiving negative reviews will always be a blow to the ego, no matter how well you think you've prepared yourself. However, responding to reviews with such vitriol, harassing those who have read your book, in unacceptable behaviour. Reviews are not for authors. Sure, authors can (and often do) sift through negative reviews to utilise as con-crit; discovering what worked, what didn't work, and using reader feedback to improve their craft for next time. However, this is a secondary function. The primary function of reviews is to inform other readers. To help them decide whether or not this novel is for them, to warn them about potential triggers.
Overall, I think a lot of reflection needs to be done in order to move forward. I would definitely recommend hiring a few sensitivity readers to help avoid the same harmful tropes in the future, and to understand why these tropes are harmful in the first place. Listen to the voices of those who have been hurt or offended by certain choices made within this text, and make positive changes in the future. Diversity is meaningless if it is offensive, rooted in derogatory caricature, objectifying, or inaccurate.
● The misogyny: despite the novel's very obvious feminist (albeit the middle-aged white variety) slant, a significant portion of the prose is dedicated to belittling and undermining young women. While the MC recounts her exploits and adventures post divorce, an underlying message threads itself throughout the narrative, covertly implying that young women pair well with toxic and abusive men because they will accept the abuse, while older women (such as the MC) are smart enough to avoid or pull themselves out of such traps. The horrors of said implication aside, the constant hate geared towards younger women belies the so-called message of empowerment and unity. Instead, it reads more as bitter and borderline school-yard levels of petty bullying, as women who happen to exist below a certain threshold simply aren't worthy of the respect and dignity afforded to the older characters.
● The racism: a potential love interest from Mozambique is referred to as dangerous, unstable, violent, and "unmedicated", and throughout the book Congolese men are described as looking indistinguishable from one another as they all look the same. Asian characters are repeatedly called "exotic". The way that non-white characters are categorised, particularly non-white men, made me deeply uncomfortable. Racial stereotypes, objectification, and dehumanisation should not be acceptable forms of representation in 2023. There is a stark difference between the portrayal of the white characters and POC, and while the latter are reduced to one dimensional (and often exceedingly negative) stereotypes, the former are allowed to flourish.
● The sizeism: the MC (who is a skinny and conventionally attractive white woman) has a friend who is described as "soft and squishy", and rots away in the "chubby best friend" role. Almost every other character is described as fit, thin, lean, athletic, skinny, etc., so much so that I began playing a game of bingo in my head, while the aforementioned friend's descriptions centre on her "squishiness". In 2023, I'd have hoped the "chubby best friend" trope would have died, and that plus sized characters would be able to flourish outside of their thin friends' shadows, but here we are.
● The perfect "Imperfect MC": we're led to believe that the MC is flawed, and that her journey is not a perfect one. However, the MC is constantly fawned upon by those around her. She's hot, successful, and people are drawn to her. Other characters are constantly falling all over her, marvelling at how good she looks, how lean she is, how talented. Her main "flaws" seem to be that she is a workaholic (which is not a bad thing in and of itself, and throughout the text workaholic traits are framed as positives, undermining authorial intent), and that she is a divorcee (please don't get me started on the "ruined woman" divorcee trope, even if it isn't so blatant here). The MC is unrelatable; even when we're told she has flaws, she is shown in a completely different light.
● The HP references: I don't think it needs to be said that the wizard books have become synonymous with the hateful ideologies of their author. Even attempting to seperate the art from the artist, the author has bragged online about royalty checks funding her views. The existence and safety of trans people is far more improtant than nostalgia, especially when aforementioned author has been cited in legislation actively attacking and stripping the rights of trans people across the globe. And when said author has been praised as a hero by politicians and people in positions of power who have explicitly called for trans genocide. And where do I even begin with the antisemitism (particularly in relation to the latest chunk of lore that was dropped with the recent game). There are so many other authors, books, nostalgia references that could have been made, and aren't connected to an author and franchise now firmly allied and associated with hateful ideologies. As a queer person the HP references weren't just unnecessary, but jarring in a way that immediately had my hackles raised.
● The text itself: the novel isn't poorly written, and from a technical standpoint, it is decent. In fact, this was the only thing preventing me from DNFing. The story simply isn't all that compelling. Some threads drag on and on until I eventually lost interest, whereas other plot lines are resolved (or ignored) so quickly there's no satisfaction in it. There is a lot of repetition, most of it falling into the above complaints, and I found myself skimming more often than not.
● The author : at this point, the 0 to 100 level of infamy is inescable. Receiving negative reviews will always be a blow to the ego, no matter how well you think you've prepared yourself. However, responding to reviews with such vitriol, harassing those who have read your book, in unacceptable behaviour. Reviews are not for authors. Sure, authors can (and often do) sift through negative reviews to utilise as con-crit; discovering what worked, what didn't work, and using reader feedback to improve their craft for next time. However, this is a secondary function. The primary function of reviews is to inform other readers. To help them decide whether or not this novel is for them, to warn them about potential triggers.
Overall, I think a lot of reflection needs to be done in order to move forward. I would definitely recommend hiring a few sensitivity readers to help avoid the same harmful tropes in the future, and to understand why these tropes are harmful in the first place. Listen to the voices of those who have been hurt or offended by certain choices made within this text, and make positive changes in the future. Diversity is meaningless if it is offensive, rooted in derogatory caricature, objectifying, or inaccurate.
March 6, 2023
The simplistic and straightforward writing style is charming, and as a big fan of fantasy myself, I find the lead to be right at home among many of my other favourites.
March 9, 2023
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
The Manuscript wasn't at all what I expected, although it was still an entertaining read.
Accomplished author Edith Scott, recently divorced, wishes to shake-up her life. She starts meeting men through dating apps and also decides to switch her writing genre from historical drama to thriller.
She goes on many dates, falling for some and simply befriending others. When some of the men in her life treat her badly she decides to kill them off through her characters, obtaining a literary revenge. Little does she know that karma is dealing with them in real life.
Bloom is an advocate for women and there is quite a feminist lean to the story but not all Edith's male interests are cads. There are those that simply make wrong decisions and one that is totally chivalrous.
Cleverly plotted with interweaving loops and connections that will leave you speechless. No character is safe from Bloom's authorial sword.
The Manuscript is candid, raw and intriguing; filled with laugh-out-loud moments it also has depth, with a lot of fact mixed in with the fiction.
I did however find it hard to connect with Edith, she came across as self-centred. Edith's best friend Rachel was a fabulous supporting character; married with children she lived vicariously through Edith's adventures.
The Manuscript wasn't at all what I expected, although it was still an entertaining read.
Accomplished author Edith Scott, recently divorced, wishes to shake-up her life. She starts meeting men through dating apps and also decides to switch her writing genre from historical drama to thriller.
She goes on many dates, falling for some and simply befriending others. When some of the men in her life treat her badly she decides to kill them off through her characters, obtaining a literary revenge. Little does she know that karma is dealing with them in real life.
Bloom is an advocate for women and there is quite a feminist lean to the story but not all Edith's male interests are cads. There are those that simply make wrong decisions and one that is totally chivalrous.
Cleverly plotted with interweaving loops and connections that will leave you speechless. No character is safe from Bloom's authorial sword.
The Manuscript is candid, raw and intriguing; filled with laugh-out-loud moments it also has depth, with a lot of fact mixed in with the fiction.
I did however find it hard to connect with Edith, she came across as self-centred. Edith's best friend Rachel was a fabulous supporting character; married with children she lived vicariously through Edith's adventures.
January 21, 2023
I wrote this book so I highly recommend.
March 30, 2023
Yawn. A yawn fest of epic proportions. Just don’t bother and don’t waste your money. Fat friend as the side character? Check. Main character is a one dimensional projection of the author? Check. Racist undertones? Check Check. Just a big, hard no.
November 14, 2023
Couldn’t get into this at all, the writing is just not me for me.
November 18, 2023
Goodreads can't give us half stars but they have time to go around removing 1 star reviews ?? they really need to get their priorities straight lol
April 27, 2023
Third time's the charm...if Goodreads decides to actually place value on my opinion and stop taking my review down. I've said it twice, and I WILL say it again:
I would give this book zero stars if that were a real choice. As any reader can see from the reviews about the content of this book, it is not worth your time. Body shaming, microaggressions, and practically a self insert for the author--this book had the potential to be good...if the author wasn't obviously in need of a reality check. This book is not worth your time, even to see just what all the fuss is about.
And if this review gets taken down by Goodreads again, don't worry, I'll probably go ahead and delete my account myself and permanently move on from this site--no need to do it for me.
I would give this book zero stars if that were a real choice. As any reader can see from the reviews about the content of this book, it is not worth your time. Body shaming, microaggressions, and practically a self insert for the author--this book had the potential to be good...if the author wasn't obviously in need of a reality check. This book is not worth your time, even to see just what all the fuss is about.
And if this review gets taken down by Goodreads again, don't worry, I'll probably go ahead and delete my account myself and permanently move on from this site--no need to do it for me.
March 2, 2023
Thank you for sending us a copy to read and review.
Take a ride on the wild side with Edith Scott, a journey covering her escapades, conquests and her writing career.
A character that will leave an impression.
When fiction becomes fact and the story written is unravelling in real life, it makes a unique twist.
Edith was born to a strong intellectual mother and this paved the way for her becoming the woman she became.
After a short marriage she finds her groove and enjoys the perks of single life.
Meeting and sleeping with all sorts of handsome guys from around the world.
Each encounter has its own flavour and drama.
Like sliding door’s, two scenarios sometimes play out piquing outcomes.
What a great and intriguing book.
Loved the raw and flawed characters and the journey to places not many of us have been.
A white pages phonebook and an atlas are required to keep up with cast and places. This contributing to a fast paced and clever read with many twists and turns.
I found this comedic throughout and shocking in places as masculine toxicity was exposed.
Not only is Lucy generous in entertaining us, she is donating all proceeds of this book to providing birth kits for those around the world in need.
Take a ride on the wild side with Edith Scott, a journey covering her escapades, conquests and her writing career.
A character that will leave an impression.
When fiction becomes fact and the story written is unravelling in real life, it makes a unique twist.
Edith was born to a strong intellectual mother and this paved the way for her becoming the woman she became.
After a short marriage she finds her groove and enjoys the perks of single life.
Meeting and sleeping with all sorts of handsome guys from around the world.
Each encounter has its own flavour and drama.
Like sliding door’s, two scenarios sometimes play out piquing outcomes.
What a great and intriguing book.
Loved the raw and flawed characters and the journey to places not many of us have been.
A white pages phonebook and an atlas are required to keep up with cast and places. This contributing to a fast paced and clever read with many twists and turns.
I found this comedic throughout and shocking in places as masculine toxicity was exposed.
Not only is Lucy generous in entertaining us, she is donating all proceeds of this book to providing birth kits for those around the world in need.
March 22, 2023
Some people should not be granted the ability to write, Lucy Bloom is one of them. Total waste of paper, stop abusing the mother nature Lucy!
June 6, 2023
3-3.5* (but I'll round up to 4*, as I'm aware that the book has been the subject of malicious down-rating on Goodreads).
The Manuscript is a curious read, and somewhat difficult to pin down in terms of genre and intended message. I was initially drawn by its enticing premise - a woman in her 40s exacts revenge on the men who have let her down via incorporating their characters into her fiction writing, while unbeknownst to her, their fictional fates are manifesting in the factual realm... I think in The Manuscript I had expected something more akin to the tightly interwoven metafiction of Sulari Gentill's brilliant Crossing the Lines (a.k.a. After She Wrote Him) and The Woman in the Library. But that wasn't what this book was at all, and I was left feeling a little ambivalent after I finished reading.
The plot follows a year in the life of 48-year-old Edith, a Sydney-based fiction writer who shares custody of her twelve-year-old daughter Jazzy with ex-husband Nate. Left wounded after the end of her ten-year marriage, Edith embarks on a series of torrid affairs with various partners met through online dating apps. She also begins working on a new manuscript, a departure in style and genre from her existing work. As Edith feels unfairly spurned by successive men, she incorporates nasty ends for characters based upon them in her fictional narrative, oblivious to the fact that her former paramours are dropping like flies in real life... The plot takes Edith from Australia to the UK and continental Europe, then to Africa as she works on her new book and chases the romantic and sexual fulfilment that she feels is her due.
I found the central protagonist, Edith a rather unconvincing heroine. Repeatedly throughout the narrative, her character seems to be unnecessarily idealised, both in the physical and personal senses. This started to become quite irritating.
Meanwhile, the succession of deaths of several supporting characters who she perceives have wronged her occur outside Edith's consciousness and are curiously interlinked with each other. I was left wanting more explanation for what was going on, what the underlying meaning was, but none was ever forthcoming.
So how do I categorise The Manuscript? It's an intercontinental bonk-fest, certainly, but not really romance. It's not well written or immersive enough to qualify as literary fiction to my mind. There's a campness underlying the plot and Lucy Bloom employs a darkly humorous angle on many of the events, but Edith seems to take herself too seriously for this to be entirely convincing. It's thriller-ish in parts, and the plot is a roller-coaster of middle-aged female drama ... perhaps it's women's fantasy fiction? Neo-feminist hyper-realism?
I was left feeling that The Manuscript is based around a fantastically tantalising premise and an interesting basic structure, but had the potential to be a vastly superior book had the separate plot threads been tightened up and the central character been given greater depths.
The Manuscript is a curious read, and somewhat difficult to pin down in terms of genre and intended message. I was initially drawn by its enticing premise - a woman in her 40s exacts revenge on the men who have let her down via incorporating their characters into her fiction writing, while unbeknownst to her, their fictional fates are manifesting in the factual realm... I think in The Manuscript I had expected something more akin to the tightly interwoven metafiction of Sulari Gentill's brilliant Crossing the Lines (a.k.a. After She Wrote Him) and The Woman in the Library. But that wasn't what this book was at all, and I was left feeling a little ambivalent after I finished reading.
The plot follows a year in the life of 48-year-old Edith, a Sydney-based fiction writer who shares custody of her twelve-year-old daughter Jazzy with ex-husband Nate. Left wounded after the end of her ten-year marriage, Edith embarks on a series of torrid affairs with various partners met through online dating apps. She also begins working on a new manuscript, a departure in style and genre from her existing work. As Edith feels unfairly spurned by successive men, she incorporates nasty ends for characters based upon them in her fictional narrative, oblivious to the fact that her former paramours are dropping like flies in real life... The plot takes Edith from Australia to the UK and continental Europe, then to Africa as she works on her new book and chases the romantic and sexual fulfilment that she feels is her due.
I found the central protagonist, Edith a rather unconvincing heroine. Repeatedly throughout the narrative, her character seems to be unnecessarily idealised, both in the physical and personal senses. This started to become quite irritating.
"... she was more attractive than her pictures. Her apartment was stylish and neat ... And she was more: articulate, smart, well travelled, petite and, well, just lovely and a lot of fun. (p.75) ... she was such a delicate creature, even though she seemed so capable and robust. She loved easily and deeply, fully and wholeheartedly. She was adventurous and fun. (p.121) ... Not too smart, not too sexy. Appealing to both men and women. Good skin. Not too young, not too old. White. Slim. (p.215) ... She was still open-minded and willing to love the unloved and learn from the unlearned. (p.219) ... feminist writer with a broad mind and a gentle disposition who asks tricky questions. (p.226) ... She was delicate, focused and pretty. She had unusual green eyes and her skin was so very, very white. (p.247) ... her pretty, gentle voice and cleverly crafted words. (p.327)Despite the fact that the book is entirely centred around the character of Edith, her day to day life and sexual misadventures, I never felt her to be much more than a two-dimensional caricature of a fabulous, inspiring, independent, sexually liberated, hilarous, gorgeous woman. To borrow a cliche, I felt the pudding was over-egged and I was left wondering what author Lucy Bloom was trying to compensate for.
Meanwhile, the succession of deaths of several supporting characters who she perceives have wronged her occur outside Edith's consciousness and are curiously interlinked with each other. I was left wanting more explanation for what was going on, what the underlying meaning was, but none was ever forthcoming.
So how do I categorise The Manuscript? It's an intercontinental bonk-fest, certainly, but not really romance. It's not well written or immersive enough to qualify as literary fiction to my mind. There's a campness underlying the plot and Lucy Bloom employs a darkly humorous angle on many of the events, but Edith seems to take herself too seriously for this to be entirely convincing. It's thriller-ish in parts, and the plot is a roller-coaster of middle-aged female drama ... perhaps it's women's fantasy fiction? Neo-feminist hyper-realism?
I was left feeling that The Manuscript is based around a fantastically tantalising premise and an interesting basic structure, but had the potential to be a vastly superior book had the separate plot threads been tightened up and the central character been given greater depths.
February 25, 2023
Utterly devoured this book in 3 hours with absolutely no regrets. It was fast paced, funny throughout, and so gripping I haven’t moved since I opened the first page.
This book was so delightfully Australian I was beaming the whole time! I found it really easy to read with its short chapters and interesting characters. The way the characters lives intertwine quite literally had my eyes bugging out the entire time. I was shook.
Now that ending. OMG. I’m still thinking about it. The author toys with our emotions for sure but it was a rollercoaster I want to be on.
I can’t believe I didn’t savour this book, because now I’m going to think about how I can never read this book again for the first time.
This book was so delightfully Australian I was beaming the whole time! I found it really easy to read with its short chapters and interesting characters. The way the characters lives intertwine quite literally had my eyes bugging out the entire time. I was shook.
Now that ending. OMG. I’m still thinking about it. The author toys with our emotions for sure but it was a rollercoaster I want to be on.
I can’t believe I didn’t savour this book, because now I’m going to think about how I can never read this book again for the first time.
July 7, 2023
I laughed out loud reading this which is just what I needed. Fierce, funny and a rip roaring ride. At first I thought this was just going to be a quick easy beach read - but its also whip smart story and the author can turn a phrase...They could turn this into a TV show!
April 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel. I found the characters extreme and interesting.
The storyline was a delectable jumble of coincidences.
I’m baffled by the other reviews on here…..takes me back 20 years to forum trolling. Sad.
If you want a good giggle; an escapist romp, then this is juicy.
The storyline was a delectable jumble of coincidences.
I’m baffled by the other reviews on here…..takes me back 20 years to forum trolling. Sad.
If you want a good giggle; an escapist romp, then this is juicy.
April 18, 2023
The fat best friend. Asians are “exotic”. Mary sue main character. It’s anything but punchy and engaging.
Do yourself a favor and check out booksthroughmyveins on Instagram for context.
Do yourself a favor and check out booksthroughmyveins on Instagram for context.
February 24, 2023
Somebody lent me this book and I enjoyed it a lot. I was too dumb to see how it relates to killing Eve cos that series of deaths seemed so intentional..but what do I know!!?? obviously NOWT - cos I realised belatedly it was in the Manuscript that treacherous persons were slaughtered..sort of..plus I'm a hopeless reviewer cos I can't stop myself reading really fast and maybe don't retain much. It reminded me of the Pledge by Friedrich Durrenmatt..read it if you haven't already! Subtitle Death of the detective story..cos a person always wants to KNOW..and Lucy baits us by not telling us - and certainly not telling Edith. There was a movie too..not suggesting that Lucy took anything from that but it's about karma I guess. This book could be a fine movie I reckon or tele series...Very zappily written and pushed me along like an outboard - lots of kultural references which I may be too old to pick up..Characters and dialogue well written and real to me. Dunno about those foreshadowings and past furrowings (of brow..like when we're told we can't know what Sione had writ)..Ambience pretty good from Oz to Africa and all around. Not keen on all the arses even though they may be smart cos I prefer AAAsss - the American way. Thanks for a fun day Lucy bella and look forward to more! BTW I rarely give 4 * - it deserves that in its sort of genre but I can't give it against my own criteria..
May 7, 2023
Note: I've taken the time to read this book twice to ensure an accurate and considered review.
Lucy is an author I first came to know through a speaking gig she held in Beijing, China. From that moment I recognised a true social impact warrior- a rare thing in today's society. She is a woman who lives and breathes for-purpose, and is not just someone who preaches it without action. (Her book literally funds birth kits in countries including the DRC... a la Edith. So. Damn. Cool.)
If you've followed Lucy's adventures for a while, you will be delighted by the amount of detail and easter eggs hidden in this book (not that it's lacking detail in any way even if you don't know Lucy). The parallels between Edith's character and Lucy's experiences are blended in a beautiful way that merges her own fact with Edith's devilish fiction. While some may criticise Edith's character for being a "divorced middle-aged white woman" I see no issue in this. She is a character with a very specific experience to share- reclaiming her own power, femininity and life after a mundane marriage and kids (well... one Jas-MEEN). While younger women (Gen Z) may be unable to relate, this is a shared experience of many mothers- regardless of age. As a 27-year-old mother I still felt many parallels with Edith and Rachel's characters. Edith's adventures are titillating escapism, particularly after the last three years of house-bound kid-bound COVID.
I enjoyed the complexities and layering to each character which were slowly revealed throughout the Manuscript. Initially when I began reading I found some characters mundane, yet as it progressed I realised this to be intentional. Slowly Lucy builds her characters, revealing their flaws, weaknesses, secrets and passions.
I won't delve into further character analysis as I'm not a fan of spoilers, so I'll leave you with this. Lucy is passionate about creating change in this world. Her first work of fiction eloquently aligns with her own real life for-purpose passions. To label Lucy as sexist, sizeist, racist or ageist radically overlooks the work that she does in real life, as well as the broader messaging and intricate detail within the Manuscript.
I rate this body of work 5 stars *****.
Lucy is an author I first came to know through a speaking gig she held in Beijing, China. From that moment I recognised a true social impact warrior- a rare thing in today's society. She is a woman who lives and breathes for-purpose, and is not just someone who preaches it without action. (Her book literally funds birth kits in countries including the DRC... a la Edith. So. Damn. Cool.)
If you've followed Lucy's adventures for a while, you will be delighted by the amount of detail and easter eggs hidden in this book (not that it's lacking detail in any way even if you don't know Lucy). The parallels between Edith's character and Lucy's experiences are blended in a beautiful way that merges her own fact with Edith's devilish fiction. While some may criticise Edith's character for being a "divorced middle-aged white woman" I see no issue in this. She is a character with a very specific experience to share- reclaiming her own power, femininity and life after a mundane marriage and kids (well... one Jas-MEEN). While younger women (Gen Z) may be unable to relate, this is a shared experience of many mothers- regardless of age. As a 27-year-old mother I still felt many parallels with Edith and Rachel's characters. Edith's adventures are titillating escapism, particularly after the last three years of house-bound kid-bound COVID.
I enjoyed the complexities and layering to each character which were slowly revealed throughout the Manuscript. Initially when I began reading I found some characters mundane, yet as it progressed I realised this to be intentional. Slowly Lucy builds her characters, revealing their flaws, weaknesses, secrets and passions.
I won't delve into further character analysis as I'm not a fan of spoilers, so I'll leave you with this. Lucy is passionate about creating change in this world. Her first work of fiction eloquently aligns with her own real life for-purpose passions. To label Lucy as sexist, sizeist, racist or ageist radically overlooks the work that she does in real life, as well as the broader messaging and intricate detail within the Manuscript.
I rate this body of work 5 stars *****.
March 1, 2023
Loved this. Easy to read, hard to put down. And will be reading it again soon.
January 28, 2023
I was hooked from the first chapter and left gasping when I finally set it down but be warned this isn’t a book for the faint of heart. It’s punchy, clever and fast paced with plot twist after plot twist.
The characters are so beautifully drawn, and felt incredibly real. They are introduced to you warts and all, raw, flawed and wonderful, main character included. This is a huge part of the charm.
I am going to read again because it’s just so damn good
The characters are so beautifully drawn, and felt incredibly real. They are introduced to you warts and all, raw, flawed and wonderful, main character included. This is a huge part of the charm.
I am going to read again because it’s just so damn good
January 16, 2023
I loved the references to art in this book and the clever connections between intriguing characters. A feast!
July 26, 2023
I'm writing this review almost a month after I've read the book. It's still with me in my head, despite having read a few more books since then, and we were talking about it at a meeting at my library today and that's prompted me to revisit it here.
I first became aware of this book when someone posted Lucy Bloom's blog post about the trolling and it came up in my feed. Did you really think that over a thousand people have bothered to give this book a 1-star rating at GoodReads after reading the book, when less than 100 have given other ratings? Think again. Most of those people are trolls who were incensed by something Lucy did, and took their revenge. Go read her blog post at https://thelucybloom.com/2023/06/a-st... to learn more.
Based on that blog post alone (the "Barbra Streisand effect" in action!), I went and bought the book for my local library, where I happen to be the library manager and the person who buys the books. I've been recommending it to others ever since I finished reading it (I read it in one day, so it's not like I held back once I started it).
I loved this book. It was witty and entertaining, and left me wanting more. Ignore the trolls, and use your own discretion about whether you like the sound of the book's description and would like to read it.
I first became aware of this book when someone posted Lucy Bloom's blog post about the trolling and it came up in my feed. Did you really think that over a thousand people have bothered to give this book a 1-star rating at GoodReads after reading the book, when less than 100 have given other ratings? Think again. Most of those people are trolls who were incensed by something Lucy did, and took their revenge. Go read her blog post at https://thelucybloom.com/2023/06/a-st... to learn more.
Based on that blog post alone (the "Barbra Streisand effect" in action!), I went and bought the book for my local library, where I happen to be the library manager and the person who buys the books. I've been recommending it to others ever since I finished reading it (I read it in one day, so it's not like I held back once I started it).
I loved this book. It was witty and entertaining, and left me wanting more. Ignore the trolls, and use your own discretion about whether you like the sound of the book's description and would like to read it.
January 11, 2024
This is one full cup of a book! It's life at its most beautiful and cruelest all at once. It's everything you want it to be. The serendipitous encounters of the characters will bring you joy, just as those train wreck encounters will shock you to the core. Do yourself a favour and read this book, and do it now because if there is one thing this book highlights it's that the future is unpredictable.
April 12, 2023
Edith Scott’s life is a whirlwind of literary achievement, but her relationships burn brighter than the sun. And through these seemingly unrelated sexual encounters, we get to see how “6 degrees of separation” can play out over the course of a lifetime and in unintended ways.
Edith isn’t always a lovable character, but the author has created a believable human - as flawed as any other, with plenty of good points to redeem herself with.
Whilst at times the story can feel disjointed, it is worth sticking with it to see all the pieces fall into place. I recommend the book to those who like their romance with a solid dose of real life, and who enjoy plot twists!
A first attempt at fiction for the author and I, for one, am intrigued and excited about what may come next!
Note: I was gifted an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Edith isn’t always a lovable character, but the author has created a believable human - as flawed as any other, with plenty of good points to redeem herself with.
Whilst at times the story can feel disjointed, it is worth sticking with it to see all the pieces fall into place. I recommend the book to those who like their romance with a solid dose of real life, and who enjoy plot twists!
A first attempt at fiction for the author and I, for one, am intrigued and excited about what may come next!
Note: I was gifted an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
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