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A review by salemlockheart
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
5.0
"Alexander was right, Richard's not the sparrow, it's you. You're—I don't know, this fragile, elusive thing, and I feel like if I could just catch you, I could crush you."
okay, attempting to write a coherent review, but this book makes me feel so crazy that i'm unsure if i can. i 'buddy-read' this novel with my wife, but i ended up finishing the book without them, because i was so invested. i read all of it in one night, and in only a couple of hours. (hero please forgive me). this was one of those books that you stay up reading till four-am, desperately fighting the burning behind your eyes due to sleep deprivation.
i understand the secret history comparisons, really. i do, but i don't think the hatred for this novel is completely just. i think 'if we were villains' is a great alternative if you dislike tartt's work, or just want something shorter but similar to the secret history.
'if we were villains' is a very obvious homage to shakespeare. if you don't like theatre kids, you'll despise this book. our group of characters are dramatic, obsessive, and completely enamored with poetry & having their lives be devoted to shakespeare. every move they make is poetic, and every sentence they speak holds purpose. (to them at least.)
i would argue that our main group is a lot less pretentious than the characters in the secret history, though it's not like that's a hard thing to accomplish. the main difference is that they're actually enjoyable as characters. their faults and flaws are acknowledged, and they're not just one-dimensional.
this book made me feel sick (in a good way), and i hope to never read it again. i was so attached and interested in each character and their life.
to rate this book poorly simply because it's (obviously) inspired by the secret history, is absurd. literature inspired by modern classics can be done well, especially novels like this one.
okay, attempting to write a coherent review, but this book makes me feel so crazy that i'm unsure if i can. i 'buddy-read' this novel with my wife, but i ended up finishing the book without them, because i was so invested. i read all of it in one night, and in only a couple of hours. (hero please forgive me). this was one of those books that you stay up reading till four-am, desperately fighting the burning behind your eyes due to sleep deprivation.
i understand the secret history comparisons, really. i do, but i don't think the hatred for this novel is completely just. i think 'if we were villains' is a great alternative if you dislike tartt's work, or just want something shorter but similar to the secret history.
'if we were villains' is a very obvious homage to shakespeare. if you don't like theatre kids, you'll despise this book. our group of characters are dramatic, obsessive, and completely enamored with poetry & having their lives be devoted to shakespeare. every move they make is poetic, and every sentence they speak holds purpose. (to them at least.)
i would argue that our main group is a lot less pretentious than the characters in the secret history, though it's not like that's a hard thing to accomplish. the main difference is that they're actually enjoyable as characters. their faults and flaws are acknowledged, and they're not just one-dimensional.
this book made me feel sick (in a good way), and i hope to never read it again. i was so attached and interested in each character and their life.
to rate this book poorly simply because it's (obviously) inspired by the secret history, is absurd. literature inspired by modern classics can be done well, especially novels like this one.