LAURA 0:25 Laura feels impersonal 0:45 she’s too displaced from her settings 2:09 beginning lacks setup (starts abruptly) 2:47 Laura needed better reason to attach to Pim 3:38 should’ve been a psychological drama 4:49 how this story should’ve kicked off 5:52 Laura is emotionless AND overemotional 6:26 moral takeaways feel self-indulgent 7:20 example - Laura being comfy on the boat overseas 8:33 Pim and Laura should’ve been character foils FREDDIE 11:00 I don’t understand Freddie’s self-loathing 11:22 why is his arc so centered around Winter? 11:45 Freddie doesn’t have enough history to him (like Laura) 12:12 he becomes kinda melodramatic 12:58 where’s the (realistic) sense of relief? 13:46 Freddie doesn’t have any history prior to Winter 14:04 romance escalated too fast 15:05 we needed more tension b/t Freddie and Winter 15:58 that tension would’ve highlighted Freddie’s sacrifice 16:31 Winter coddling Freddie (why so loyal?) 17:51 Freddie’s admissions to Faland should’ve been darker 18:35 he should’ve resented his parents 19:14 his sexuality doesn’t raise eyebrows?! 20:13 his relationship with Laura feels bland 22:57 origins of self-loathing…? 23:58 how the romance might’ve worked
I totally agree with you in everything! I almost didn't finish this book, because it was long (which i usually don't mind) but this book was long and at the same time missing a lot of the things you mentioned.
Thank you so much, it means a lot :) Yes, I found the book overly long without really taking the time to invest us in the characters. Sure they're traumatized, but trauma doesn't necessarily make a character interesting or complex. Personally, I found it all a bit mawkish, although I could just be a cold-hearted witch lol.
