The Blondes by Emily SchultzMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
A story where women, particularly blonde women, have become the deliverers of death. The cover of the book is gorgeous and there are some particularly piercing observations and descriptions of New York: "There's the black corsetry of fire escapes, a symphony of car honks, and the way all the florists and corner stores arrange their carnations and lilies on pedestals with bows, as if any given weekday is as important as prom night" (24).
Still, I wanted the story to be elevated to another level. Really it's a social commentary with a small thriller element. The lives of the people in the novel still remain relatively normal. That is, society does not collapse around them: There are still people going to work, eating in restaurants, travelling, as well as playing chess in the park: "[We] fell back into our routine of breakfast, dishes, bathing, waxing, and shaving" (351). What the characters are doing is removing blonde hair, but the same habits could be said for women everywhere.
The biggest source of tension is what will happen to Hazel's unborn baby.
As I read, I kept wondering how it would all end. The ending is satisfying and affirming.
Fave quotes from book:
| 01/28 | page 293 | 75.0% | "I don't believe there is a bond between all women. I don't believe that sisterhood is powerful. I believe just the opposite. I believe that these women were simply in the right circumstances to be kind. There was nothing preventing them from it." | |
| 01/27 | page 176 | 45.0% | ""This hair-borne illness...has been sent from God. That's right, send from God as a punishment for vanity. A punishment for promiscuity! A punishment for those who worship false dieties! A punishment for pride!"" | |
| 01/24 | page 79 | 20.0% | ""Beautiful women...are full of anger over their privilege. They use deceit as a kind of trade. They receive more attention than other women, and want to be the centre of attention at all times. It's an addiction. And like all addicts, they're controlling and abusive, full of insecurity and rage."" | |
| 01/21 | page 24 | 6.0% | "There's the black corsetry of fire escapes, a symphony of car honks, and the way all the florists and corner stores arrange their carnations and lilies on pedestals with bows, as if any given weekday is as important as prom night." |
View all my reviews
Read more about the author, Emily Schultz.
Review from the National Post.
Video interviews about The Blondes:
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