It's just such a layered, ambitious, accomplished novel; it's almost jaw-dropping to me that this was Harris's first book, because it's so rare to come across debut novels this good and this bold.
Right! It's mind-boggling.
One of the many things I think the book captures so well, in addition to everything you mentioned up above, is the way prejudice gives people such a short memory
Yes, that was so well-done, and not a topic I've seen explored that much before.
Nella's boss putting her on the spot to talk about her feelings about Shartricia directly to Colin, with no real backup, is such a horrifically believable "I want to curl up inside myself and die" moment.
Oh God yes. And she can't refuse, so she has to either lie (and then face the consequences when the book comes out) or tell the truth (and face those consequences right now.)
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Date: 2022-09-19 08:11 pm (UTC)Right! It's mind-boggling.
One of the many things I think the book captures so well, in addition to everything you mentioned up above, is the way prejudice gives people such a short memory
Yes, that was so well-done, and not a topic I've seen explored that much before.
Nella's boss putting her on the spot to talk about her feelings about Shartricia directly to Colin, with no real backup, is such a horrifically believable "I want to curl up inside myself and die" moment.
Oh God yes. And she can't refuse, so she has to either lie (and then face the consequences when the book comes out) or tell the truth (and face those consequences right now.)