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A review by margaret45678
Lote by Shola von Reinhold
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I knew I was going to be charmed by Lote because I love books with this kind of encyclopedic, cabinet-of-curiosities vibe. It felt like a more light-hearted cousin to Eco's Foucault's Pendulum and Bolaño's Savage Detectives and 2666, in that they're all sort of literary detective stories, full of references to real or semi-fictionalized people.
I agree with the Guardian review that called it "twee-adjacent," and I can definitely understand why some people might find it really annoying. Personally, though, I liked both the writing style and the stylized setting. Appropriately for a book which is all about art and aesthetics, the descriptions of the town and its various buildings were wonderful.
The characterization was for the most part really well-done, too; I loved the description of Griselda as 'a Byronic, rakish sort of person.' Mathilda was fleshed out skillfully: you got a sense of who she was, but the slippery, elusive nature of her personality was well-established. The satirical elements of the book were funny and effective; its more straightforwardly polemical parts sometimes felt a bit clumsy. On the other hand, I liked that it had a serious side and touched on race, class and gender. As other reviewers have pointed out, books with a similar aesthetic sensibility have all too often ignored the realities of oppression and been confined to a white male perspective.
I'm conflicted about the actual plot: for most of the book I found it really compelling, but it seemed like the plot and characterization slightly fell apart at the end. I'd like to read it again to get a better sense of how it all hangs together. Still, there was so much in it to enjoy, and I really look forward to von Reinhold's next book.
I agree with the Guardian review that called it "twee-adjacent," and I can definitely understand why some people might find it really annoying. Personally, though, I liked both the writing style and the stylized setting. Appropriately for a book which is all about art and aesthetics, the descriptions of the town and its various buildings were wonderful.
The characterization was for the most part really well-done, too; I loved the description of Griselda as 'a Byronic, rakish sort of person.' Mathilda was fleshed out skillfully: you got a sense of who she was, but the slippery, elusive nature of her personality was well-established. The satirical elements of the book were funny and effective; its more straightforwardly polemical parts sometimes felt a bit clumsy. On the other hand, I liked that it had a serious side and touched on race, class and gender. As other reviewers have pointed out, books with a similar aesthetic sensibility have all too often ignored the realities of oppression and been confined to a white male perspective.
I'm conflicted about the actual plot: for most of the book I found it really compelling, but it seemed like the plot and characterization slightly fell apart at the end. I'd like to read it again to get a better sense of how it all hangs together. Still, there was so much in it to enjoy, and I really look forward to von Reinhold's next book.