IRATE I tell you! I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book where the ending so thoroughly pissed me off.
(Note: I have tagged this post as spoiler. I will be discussing spoilers below. You have been warned.)
I want to be clear as a crystal wine glass that I was actually really enjoying this book for the first 90%. I was in the mood to live vicariously, and a story about a young twenty-something moving to NYC in the mid aughts to begin her education in life, love, and fine dining fit the bill. It was beautiful, like a series of vino vignettes with delicious prose. Was it also a tad pretentious? Yes, but who wasn’t a tad pretentious in their early twenties? Tess was an idiot, but she was my idiot. I was absorbed in her chaotic life even if she was oblivious to every burgundy red flag. (Like come on girl. Jake is a hypocritical, verbally abusive asshole. Simone speaks like she’s reading out a manifesto. I don’t care if they’re mysterious and hot, you can do better!)
I can forgive idiocy in the name of growth. I expect that in a coming-of-age story. What I did not expect was the main character to make an absolutely idiotic, non-sensical choice in literally the last 20-30 pages of the book. After finally unentangling herself from the creepy, incestuous Jimone-ship and expressing her ambition and wants, Tess…sleeps with Howard? In a weird, humiliating attempt to…piss off Simone and fill Jake with regret? I think? I’m not even really sure.
And then she gets fired and basically is like “oh well, these people were impermanent anyway”?
…
……..
No, I’m sorry, I can’t do this. I’m mad. Tess, in the end, doesn’t grab hold of any agency. She doesn’t really want anything. She’s not even all that angry with the people who abused her in her place of work. This is shit! This is a tragedy! That may be how real life works, but this is fiction! What was the point in going through all of that if she’s barely better off than when she started?
I did not think this book was going to have a happily ever after, but damn, I didn’t expect it to feel so bleak. Like getting through three courses then getting kicked to the curb before dessert.
by IndigoBlueBird
3 Comments
To me it felt like two separate books or the author had to rush to finish it. I agree first 90% was enjoyable.
I have nothing to add other than I agree completely. The ending was so unhinged.
I mean, was it a bummer? Sure. But to me it seemed in keeping with the kind of knee jerk dumbarse self-destructive behaviour you indulge in at that age when you’re hurting.