Ranting and Reading Collective discussion

I am usually not a fan of an unlikeable narrator, but I found this book compelling and at times unsettling, even shocking - especially the opening.

As someone who has a lot of thoughts on the publishing industry (see American Dirt review!) I loved all the inside info and the commentary on how to become a best seller.

As the book goes on I found myself intrigued as to just how much of it was the authors personal experience, and did attempt to look at her 1* reviews on other work and found some evidence that she could have experienced at least some level of the trolling & doubt as an author.

I'm also really intrigued if some of the Chinese author vs American author was a dichotomy of the Chinese American author herself, and in fact both characters were essentially herself in some kind of tug of war/imposter syndrome episode, but perhaps I am projecting too much on that front!

As a fan of Asian horror manga & movies, I did enjoy the descent into madness over the ghost - that element alone I could have envisioned as a Junji Ito comic book! Having re-watched the Exorcist recently, I had a very visual image of the steps.

What you said. I did struggle with such an unlikeable narrator at first, but once I was halfway through, I had to finish the book as quickly as possible. The problem I had at the start is I could genuinely never understand what her problem with Athena was. But I liked the idea that all writers are stealing in some way, stealing emotions and experiences. The social media and fame side of the story just made me extremely glad I've broken my Twitter addiction. Sure I'll have more thoughts at some point but right now just really glad I read it. My mind has been provoked in lots of directions, but I'm mostly glad I don't think like Junie!