Luster in Play Book Tag

Nov 15, 2021 Meli rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-voices, rogue-bookclub, audio

Beautiful writing but very unpleasant content. It takes some time to understand why the protagonist makes the choices she does (self-loathing caused by much trauma) but it doesn't make her any more relatable. A lot of the content is uncomfortable... physical abuse, self-harm via sexual promiscuity and self-sabotage. I was looking forward to it being over. This would have been a lower rating if the writing wasn't so good. Lailani has a poetic style I would like to revisit. ...more

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Sep 29, 2020 Joi rated it it was amazing

Finished this about a week ago, and have really struggled on how to write a review for this book. While it follows a main character and plotline- it's truly about the writing, the vibe and tone of the book, and the essence of our protagonist. This really seems like a DIFFERENT style of book- so different that it's hard to pinpoint it, or write about it in a review. That being said, I became fully immersed in the world of this book, really liked it, and appreciate the style and distinct point of Finished this about a week ago, and have really struggled on how to write a review for this book. While it follows a main character and plotline- it's truly about the writing, the vibe and tone of the book, and the essence of our protagonist. This really seems like a DIFFERENT style of book- so different that it's hard to pinpoint it, or write about it in a review. That being said, I became fully immersed in the world of this book, really liked it, and appreciate the style and distinct point of view.

This is about Edie, a 20-some young black woman, who self-admits her bad qualities and habits. She is in a relationship with a white married man, and the book explores the dynamic between her and the surrounding players- with the married man, with his wife, and eventually with their adopted black daughter. But again, the while the book has a central plotline- it's more about the writing and the flow. Edie is obviously flawed, and lonely- those are main themes. But we also see class struggle, racial differences, age disparities being played out also. The themes aren't fully formed or fleshed out, but just a touched on here and there, and adds nuances to the characters.

I'm not sure if I'd call the book "beautiful" as many others have. While the writing is wonderful and flowing- Each sentence is carefully crafted, many running on, some jagged and jarred. I really enjoyed reading it, almost ethereal and other-worldly. I read a page out loud to my husband because I liked it so much, and he called the writing 'pretentious and trying too hard'. Clearly we didn't see eye to eye on that one, lol. I loved how unapologetic our main character was, she is clearly messy- and that shows. Some parts are so cringe and awkward. The book is often times "sexy" and has a charged, sexual tone- even when not appropriate. Much of the book's vibe and tone was forced into Edie's perspective and reflected our main character's personality onto the reader and how the reader views and experiences the book itself. I can see this being a love it/hate it kind of book. ...more

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