Review: The Lesser Bohemians: A Novel
Eimear McBride
Hogarth
2016
I had no preconceived notions what expect from this
book. Its other reviews were anywhere from
brilliant to not so much so. The prose
style, at least initially, accomplished what I think its purpose was---to show
the reader the impressions of a person encountering a new experience. Short, chaotic type snippets from all
directions that begin to take shape as she acclimates to her new
surroundings. Had me thinking of a
Beckett novel at times, but less serious.
As the book moves forward the prose becomes more like what the reader is
accustomed to except where the experiences are new, overwhelming or in some
other way acts to unbalance the status quo.
The book descriptions given in the other reviews and
elsewhere sum up the story line. Young
girl in a new town, older guy helping find her way. Yep, that’s it. Both of their stories seemed too labored, in my
opinion. Hers, the innocent small town
girl becomes urbanized. His, a bit of
twist on a traumatic home environment during his teen years. Most of their learning situations seemed to
require detailed descriptions of the sex going on between them in whatever
scene I read. The romance story arc
stays intact for this book in a contemporary sort of way. A
lesser bohemian sort of way.
Overall, the book made a weak three-star rating for me.
I received this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange
for a review.
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