Yes the book was great up until that 75-80% mark. You have no idea who the killer could be and you are left guessing and accusing everyone as the twist and turns pile up. The characters were just OK but the writing was good. There was a great story to be told and the plot definitely has potential but I can not get passed the direction Farrell chose to take with the main character, killer and the overall story. Fundamentally, my problem with this book is that it was not at all—and I'm about to use a Cursed word here— relatable to me. My adolescence could not have been more different from Alderton's. Obviously I don't need an author to have had the same experiences as me to enjoy a book, but I feel like with this book especially you need to have some personal connection with the content for it to resonate with you—I didn't. And so what I thought was going to be an emotionally impactful read in theory ended up being a forgettable, meh book in actuality. If materialism is to be believed, once we die we transform from something into nothing. But in this interpretation, once we die we transform from something into everything. Thanks for the excellent essay, Paul. I’ve made a few comments below that I nearly decided to delete, because some of them are broad and a bit undisciplined. But I’ve decided to include them since I think a couple of the talking points are still worthwhile in this type of forum. what i loved the most about this book is her friendships, especially the one she has with farley. i adored the way she spoke about her best friend, about how they are two halves of a whole and how they have left ‘no pebble unturned’. it did not take me long to realize that this memoir is not about men or relationships, it is more of a love letter to her best friend and the friendships she has in her life. i really appreciated that.

I know that I know nothing” - Reason and Meaning Socrates: “I know that I know nothing” - Reason and Meaning

I seem, then, in just this little thing to be wiser than this man at any rate, that what I do not know I do not think I know either. [from the Henry Cary literal translation of 1897]

Lastly, I really liked the author’s writing style. It was very accessible and conversational, as if you were two friends catching up. I mean, that's all well and good but is that really what's going on here? Throughout the entire book, again and again, Alderton talks about men and her female friends' boyfriends as if they were mere playthings and distractions whom she sees as obstacles getting in the way of her friendships. She doesn't shy away from the fact that she is quite selfishly vehemently resentful when her best friend Farly gets engaged. Her relationship with Farly is the most highlighted of the book by far, and at times feels so insidiously and unnecessarily possessive that you are left wondering whether indeed Alderton is just severely closeted.

Know It All GIFs | Tenor Know It All GIFs | Tenor

For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

you are realizing the mundanity of life. you are finally understanding how little point there is to anything. you are moving out of the realm of fantasy 'when i grow up' and adjusting to the reality that you're there; it's happening. and it's wasn't what you thought it might be. you are not who you thought you'd be.” For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. WOW I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did 😱 I didn’t really know much about this book going in to it, but I am so glad that I read it because it is definitely a new favorite of mine 😍 ⁣ The fact of the matter is, Alderton, a woman in her early thirties, hasn't yet achieved anything so remarkable thus far as to warrant a lengthy (at least it felt lengthy) memoir at this stage of her life and equally doesn't possess the wit to make up for the deficit of compelling content (although she would have you believe otherwise). And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.