The book that YouTuber Jack recommended and got me interested
📖 Content Summary: At the age of 24, Cleo encountered a successful man, Frank, more than 20 years her senior, in an elevator in New York. Cleo, who hails from the UK, fell in love with Frank, and with her visa soon expiring, they got married after knowing each other for six months. After marriage, they got to know each other’s friends, and conflicts gradually emerged in their marriage.
I completed reading this book this morning, and I find myself somewhat conflicted about the narrative.
The story commenced with two protagonists: Cleo, a British artist in her twenties, and Frank, a self-made man in his forties. Initially, I anticipated the entire book would revolve around their relationship, but it unfolded into a tale about a collective of individuals residing in New York. This group, each broken in diverse ways, navigates the complexities of their tumultuous lives. Reviewing this book poses a challenge for me, given the multitude of characters—some I appreciate, while others I disdain.
Cleo’s struggle with depression and loneliness seems ingrained in her essence, impervious to positive changes in her life. It’s as if her depression defines her identity, offering a poignant yet beautiful perspective. It’s a dark facet of beauty, a completeness derived from acknowledging the soul, emotions, tears, secrets, and loneliness. While conventional wisdom attributes beauty to the light, the dark side forges profound connections with our hearts.
“We break. We put ourselves back together. The cracks are the best part. You don’t have to hide it.”
This quote resonates deeply with me, earning its place as my favorite in the book. It grants permission to appreciate the imperfections in everyone. It compels me to reflect on my own life, fearing the accumulated cracks over the years. Yet, I realize these aren’t blemishes but openings in my surface, leading to my heart and enabling genuine connections with significant individuals.
I appreciate the brokenness of the characters in the book, mirroring the reality of human existence. It’s not inherently sad; it’s merely the truth—neither good nor bad; it just is.
To conclude this review, let’s ponder another quote,
“You can’t be both human and machine.”
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