Wasn't the biggest fan. The main character felt whiney and it was difficult to get through. Falls into the recent trend of whiney male characters bemoaning their lives and everything in them.

the delicate question the author brings makes this book deserving a 5-star rating: what would you do if you happened to choose between being gifted with an exceptional desired talent for a few weeks and then die, versus living your standard life with your loved ones? I guess each of us may have a different answer while reading this recommended book.

Will is a painter who makes no money. His brother Bert looks after their cantankerous father until Bert comes out and the father kicks him out and moves across the country to live with Will. Will also begins to deviate from his normal painting, only to learn later that he has a tumor causing his new creativity. This is hard to rate because while I really liked the plot, I didn't like how it was all put together. There was way too much detail about every single meal these people cooked and ate, and while I get that Bert was a chef and it mattered to an extent that he was a good cook, it didn't matter so much that I needed to be regaled with menus every five seconds. Also the sex scenes were unnecessary and definitely could have been implied rather than spelled out awkwardly. The dialogue never really felt authentic either. This could have been a lot better. 2.5 stars rounded to 2.

I received an e-ARC through NetGalley.

This story was truly not about what the synopsis described. Will’s tumor did not fully come into play until maybe the last fifteen percent of the story, and even then it was covered nonchalantly. Also, sexual encounters we’re described in great detail that was totally unnecessary. I did appreciate that the family stuck together in the end.

The title and premise of <i>Will’s Surreal Period</i> drew me in and piqued my interest immediately. Despite the title, this novel is multi-faceted and does not focus just on Will’s issues. In fact, its greatest strength is its breadth of characters with their inter-connected stories and relationships. Arthur was my favorite, as he is one of those characters you just love to hate.
The plot is entertaining and never lagged; however, the clunky dialogue was distracting. The characters’ discussions were unrealistic and artificial. How many times in real life does one address someone by name during a conversation? Reading the dialogue aloud to create more natural discourse would do wonders to improve these stilted interactions. (I also recommend this approach especially for all the chitchat that occurs during sex scenes, as “show, don’t tell” would lend more subtlety and gravitas.)

Professional editing and refinement of the dialogue would improve the flow of the novel. A skilled editor could parcel out the tangential content and weave it more deftly into the story. Goldstein is obviously a foodie, which I appreciate, and I learned interesting things from the book — did you know the liquid from a can of chickpeas can be an egg white substitute? — but the inclusion of these pedantic tidbits took me right out of the story.

I remember once receiving the most crushing remark on a story I wrote: “I see what you were trying to do here,” and I’m disinclined to ever pass on a comment like that, but the reader shouldn’t see what the author is trying to do. Goldstein has credentials, but sometimes you can be too close to your own work to revise it properly, and you need a more objective editorial lens.

A professional polish would get this book up to a 4-star rating.

Many thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I found the premise of Will's Surreal Period intriguing; a struggling artist suddenly begins painting in an extraordinary new surreal style, becoming an overnight sensation. Other changes follow including headaches and changes in language and memory. A visit to the doctor finds a life threatening brain tumor. So, the question becomes art or life.

Unfortunately, the execution didn't work for me. I found the characters shallow and the dialogue vapid. There is also lots of gratuitous sex; heterosexual sex, homosexual sex, and a S&M dinner party. I wish I had something more positive to say.

Thank you to Spark Press and Netgalley for a complimentary copy for my enjoyment and review. Publication is slated for 6/21/22.