Hood

by Emma Donoghue

[clementine]

This book is very complex, which I appreciate. It's not queer lit - it's about life as a closeted lesbian who's just lost her partner of thirteen years in a car accident, sure, but it's about friendship, family, and finding yourself when you're unexpectedly left alone.

I liked Pen a lot. I thought she was realistic, and had emotional depth. She was an interesting character, someone who I felt deeply for and who I could root for. She's quiet and unassuming in some ways, but very strong and feisty in others.

Who I didn't like was Cara. And, duh, that's the point, she's kind of awful, but Pen loves her anyway. And, obviously, I don't dispute that she was an extremely important person in Pen's life. But I felt very detached from her, and to some degree from their relationship because I really hated her. I don't know exactly what it was; normally I like a character who's not entirely sympathetic. But I just did not like Cara.

By contrast, I liked Kate a lot. Donoghue managed to make her complex, layered, and mysterious even though she didn't have very much "screen time", so to speak. I really enjoyed watching her relationship with Pen unfold; that was probably my favourite aspect of the book.

Actually, I really liked seeing how Pen interacted with everyone around her, how she found herself and related to other people without Cara. Her relationship with Mr. Wall was very touching, especially her revelation at the end. Robbie was great, but he was included to be great. And I really enjoyed how Pen related to Cara's friends, as well.

I'd definitely recommend this book; it was beautifully-written and emotionally and thematically complex. I think my issue with it is really my issue, judging by the fact that so many have enjoyed it - as I certainly did.