Review: Love Slave by Jennifer Spiegel

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:

It's 1995. When she can, Sybil Weatherfield works as an office temp. But in her jobless hours she may be her generation's Dorothy Parker, writing a confessional column for the alternative weekly, New York Shock. Her friends include a paperpusher for a human rights organization and the lead singer of a local rock band called Glass Half Empty. Together they try to find a path from their own wry inactivity to something real and lasting that can matter to them. Richly funny and wincingly specific, this cunning debut novel is a bittersweet and ironic look at what it means to be enthralled by an idea - by even the most ragged possibility of love.

MY TAKE:

The main reason why I requested this book was because the blurb reminded me so much of the movie Reality Bites. After reading the book, well, I'd say I got it right.

In Love Slave, writer Sybil Weatherfield is coping with New York and its intricacies. Adding some color to her New York experience are her friends who are struggling or making it in New York.

I was surprised that Sybil was already in her thirties. She sounded a little bit like she was younger, maybe in her mid-20s. She writes a column for a New York paper and her column is very... self-centered. Her column is spaced like a poem and at first, it was okay, but after awhile, it became clear to me that Sybil's columns were just not my cup of tea and I always skipped past those chapters. I wasn't really a fan of Sybil overall, I guess. There were times when I liked her, and she did have some nice lines, but there were times when I thought she was being pretentious or whiney.

The book is still well-written, though. There was a pervasive feeling of gloom within the book. Generation X seems like a tired, cynical generation. The mood of the entire book is perfect for what the characters go through. The thing is, other than feeling sad and kind of depressed, this book didn't really tug at my heart strings. It was just okay. I guess I'm not the target audience for this book. I do think Generation X will relate a lot to this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Unbridled Books for the e-ARC. Publication date of Love Slave is on September 4, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. It paints a realistic picture.
2. There are some witty lines.
3. Some Generation X people can relate to this.

THE BAD:

1. It might not evoke as much emotion as it could have.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"I like it here, Rob. But I'm tired. Of my own tiresomeness."

READ IT IF:

1. You're part of Generation X.
2. You liked Reality Bites.
3. You want to know what it's like to really live in New York.

RATING:



SOUNDS INTERESTING?