Lex :) > Recent Status Updates

Wrote very matter of fact, which sets the tone for the era the book was written it + the time it’s covering. I do appreciate the brazen honesty of its writing, even if it is quite upsetting at times. True crime cases should be told frankly, without censor, with respect to the victim intact. We’ll see if this continues…

The Roaring Twenties continues- Haskell’s analysis of character archetypes and tropes relating to topics of misogyny and class are clear to see, easy to understand and sympathise with, while also providing good watch material as a 20th century movie nerd myself! Enjoying so far.

Thought-provoking. The analysis already is beginning to divulge and diversify- encapsulating many ideas stemming from and before the time of pre-modern cinema, that simply became mainstream due to the medium. It’s clear Haskell is passionate about exploring women, their relationship to femininity in films and how this contrasts from the macho-masculinity of the John Wayne’s and others.

A brilliant and scholarly-toned introduction and thanks to those who made the book + exhibition possible.

She’s pessimistic and unfeeling for the world, but she’s free… Kinda? We’ll see.

Relatable in terms of her emotions and that in explainable empty feeling you get when pondering on grief or anything else. The constant flow of unanswered questions that you feel you may never find an answer to, and that one recurring feeling of irritation even when you know it makes you a bitch technically. It comes and goes.

Read a lot more and a lot quicker. The continuous downward spiral got me hooked in the way it unfolded. Moshfegh’s character’s pessimistic view of life with the occasional crack of doubt and empathy ebbing through is well done imo. The self-awareness of the protagonist’s privilege, although fleeting is nicely incorporated into the tale.

Reva deserves better. I’m glad we also got some details on the protagonist’s background, offering up some kind of explanation for her ways and patterns of behaviour. She’s still complex enough though that one has mixed feelings.

I know now what they mean by a problematic female protagonist (or I guess unlikable works too). But it’s a unique perspective even if what she says makes me cringe to high heaven sometimes. She’s supposed to illicit that reaction.

The dynamic between Armand and Louis builds the tension for what I can only predict will be a descriptive and coherent finale.

The emotional range we see of Claudia and her despair concerning her being trapped in the body of a child is so powerful and almost made me tear up. I wish we had saw more instances of Claudia and Madeleine meeting beforehand but I understand the book would then be far too long so the expansion of the dept of their relationship now that we see is nicely done.

The conversation between Armand and Louis clearly shows their differing philosophies; Louis’ naivety and curiosity but also his hesitance and Armand’s wisdom. The show clearly just elevated their personalities and enriched them with their more overtly queer storyline. Description is once again very immersive and I’m sailing through this!

It’s a more consistent, flowing narrative style novel; a stream of consciousness. It feels more conversational and I surprisingly like it, a lot. The protagonist is very 2000s and clearly flawed, which I’m living for honestly because I’m TIRED of extremely likeable female characters.

The bond between Louis and Claudia is complex, mostly due to their differing personalities but I love that as you can get a feel for how both of them felt controlled by Lestat, and his influence is waning on them but still ever present, which makes sense due not just to his own personal character but his vampiric, and therefore supernatural nature.

Moving a little faster now and still just as engaging.