Review 262: The Spectacular

The Spectacular by Zoe Whittall
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The book did not live up to its name. It did start out strong but the second half of the book somewhat lost it for me. The premise was about three generations of women striving for real freedom. But what does that mean? In this book it came down to children.

The youngest is Missy, a musician who starts off the book on tour and definitely does not want kids, wants the same freedom of the male counterparts in her band. The doctors won’t tie her tubes, claiming later in life she may change her mind. And in the later part of the book she does, well…she’s on the fence. One day, yes, another day maybe.

One issue that bothered me was the transformation Missy undergoes from the first part of the book to the second. It was a jump in time, but also in her character. We never get the growth, how did it come to be this way?

We don't have much of the oldest generation, the grandma of either parent. Her mother we have some, but it is mostly Missy’s story here, which wasn't very strong throughout.

I got the sense the writer had an agenda with this book, and that made for a weaker read. Perhaps the real freedom wasn't the question of children but sexuality? If so, this book missed the mark on that aspect as well.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.