Infandous

This book. Where do I start? Sephora is such an honest, real, likeable character that I would have followed her story no matter the plot. But what a plot! I loved how the truth of the tale came out in tidbits. Through most of the book I couldn't quite put my finger on what had set Sephora on such a path of self-loathing. When the reveal came, I was stunned one moment and the next I felt like, "Oh, of course." Ms. Arnold takes the reader on a brilliantly written, tightly-packed journey through Sephora's spiral. Add in the fairy tales included (which didn't interrupt the story, only added to its mythology), and I was entirely smitten. It would make a great modern addition to a lesson plan for a certain classic I won't mention... so as not to give anything away!

I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed this novel; it was more that I appreciated it. It is all jagged edges, the brusque tone like sandpaper to the skin – and that’s why it was so strong. It is the impeccably woven story of Sephora, a girl coming into her own identity as an artist and a woman. Her relationships are fascinating and grotesque: a parasitic yet loving connection with her beautiful mother, her prickly yet loyal attachment to her best friend, and her own self-loathing yet self-preserving nature. But what I truly appreciated about this story was the way that Elana Arnold retold fairytales and Greek myths to build up the plot. The book was steeped in sexuality, but it wasn’t sensual. Rather it takes you by a fistful of your hair and drags you into the painful, embarrassing and awkward journey to self-discovery. I wasn’t surprised by Sephora’s secret, but I don’t think that was the point. I was swept up in the narrative, amused by her snark and heartbroken by her pain. In the end, it's not about "enjoying"; it's about understanding, and that's why I liked it so much. This was a great read with a killer title.