"Not your regular Book Lover"
Reviewed by Bharti C
Posted February 10, 2023
Women's Fiction Contemporary | Literature and Fiction Literary
BOOKWORM is a debut novel by Robin Yeatman. I wouldn't classify this book as Fantasy, Realism or something like that; it's not like anything I've read before including fantasy books. However, there was fantasy on every other if not every page of the story.
BOOKWORM follows Victoria, the lead, titled character in every aspect - her life, thoughts, wishful thinking, elaborate dreams and nocturnal excursions in sleep. I haven't read anything like this before and I am saying this in the least offensive way possible. Let me tell you how and why.
Victoria is married to Eric, in an arranged marriage where Eric is more loved and preferred by her parents but the reverse isn't the case when it comes to her in-laws. Eric is peculiar with his eating and cohabitating preferences, which is a great topic of thinking focus in Victoria's mind. She analyzes and reacts to it minutely in her mind that is, without ever physically reacting to it all.
She keeps her honest opinions to herself, guarding them very closely, and rarely voices them. It's the same for everyone in her life with her small social circle limited to her parents, husband, in-laws, a friend and a couple more people. She may be a bookworm, never without a book, but she spends more time dissecting the habits, physical characteristics, and everything and anything she finds unpleasant about the people in her life, sometimes even about strangers. All of this she does while playing the perfect housewife who has an affair emotionally rather than physically with a guy she meets at the cafe where she often reads alone.
Then there are the fantasy flights where she in every other chapter thinks of a new way her husband might meet his death suddenly. Of all the scenarios coinciding with either the book she's reading or something in life triggers. Besides all this she fancies herself sleeping physically but her soul is flying places wherever she fancies, and then later to the guy she fancies and ultimately to some very disturbing for the reader but joy and relief for her.
All the above might be confusing to you or might sound straight crazy; that's how it is; the lead character has one novel-length monologue in her mind. A word of caution before you pick up the hype surrounding this story and read the glorious review quotes and all - this story might leave a distaste in you regarding bookworms. However, I am sure, at least hopeful that most bookworms aren't like this lead character.
I picked up this story thinking there would be the magic of books rescuing a woman from her dull marriage and life. However, she does that all by her wishful thinking and morbid imagination regarding her husband and then her boyfriend at the end too.
The one thing that stands out in the lead character that is not everyone's cup of tea is her repulsion to most things, especially to the physical aspects of people she regularly encounters. The detailed descriptions are overwhelming at times and feel unnecessary. Do keep that in mind before you pick up this book. There's also a time in this book I felt the author via the lead is self-critiquing her book; at least that's how I felt. Then again I haven't read all or most of the books mentioned in the story, especially the award-winning big names.
On that note, this is a dark not very pleasant story, surely not everyone's cup of tea; so if you looking to read something dark and engaging, do pick up a copy of BOOKWORM.
Learn more about Bookworm
SUMMARY
A wickedly funny debut novel—a black comedy with a generous heart that explores the power of imagination and reading—about a woman who tries to use fiction to find her way to happiness.
Victoria is unhappily married to an ambitious and controlling lawyer consumed with his career. Burdened with overbearing in-laws, a boring dead-end job she can’t seem to leave, and a best friend who doesn’t seem to understand her, Victoria finds solace from the daily grind in her beloved books and the stories she makes up in her head. One day, in a favorite café, she notices an attractive man reading the same talked-about bestselling novel that she is reading. A woman yearning for her own happy ending, Victoria is sure it’s fate. The handsome book lover must be her soul mate.
There’s only one small problem. Victoria is already married. Frustrated, and desperate to change her life, Victoria retreats to the dark places in her mind and thinks back to all the stories she’s ever read in hopes of finding a solution. She begins to fantasize about nocturnal trysts with café man, and imaginative ways (poisoned pickles were an inspired choice in Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres) of getting rid of the dread husband.
It’s all just harmless fantasy born of Victoria’s fevered imagination and her books—until, one night, fiction and reality blur and suddenly it seems Victoria is about to get everything she’s wished for . . . .
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