Fiction

Luster

Luster

  • Downloads：8615
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-05-30 10:56:24
  • Update Date：2025-09-24
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Raven Leilani
  • ISBN：1529035988
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Edie is just trying to survive。 She’s messing up in her dead-end admin job in her all-white office， is sleeping with all the wrong men， and has failed at the only thing that meant anything to her， painting。 No one seems to care that she doesn’t really know what she’s doing with her life beyond looking for her next hook-up。 And then she meets Eric， a white， middle-aged archivist with a suburban family， including a wife who has sort-of-agreed to an open marriage and an adopted black daughter who doesn’t have a single person in her life who can show her how to do her hair。 As if navigating the constantly shifting landscape of sexual and racial politics as a young black woman wasn’t already hard enough， with nowhere else left to go， Edie finds herself falling head-first into Eric’s home and family。

Razor sharp， provocatively page-turning and surprisingly tender， Luster by Raven Leilani is a painfully funny debut about what it means to be young now。

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Reviews

Kristine Mckenna ，

I really liked the main character， Edie。 She is only 23， but smart， creative， and profound。 She is having an affair with a married man that also extends to involve his wife and adopted daughter， Akili。 At first， I didn’t like what felt like a situation where she was being used as an element to this messed up marriage。 However， she starts to understand this herself and matures a lot。 I liked the relationship she has with Akili。 For a debut novel， this was different then I thought， but really thou I really liked the main character， Edie。 She is only 23， but smart， creative， and profound。 She is having an affair with a married man that also extends to involve his wife and adopted daughter， Akili。 At first， I didn’t like what felt like a situation where she was being used as an element to this messed up marriage。 However， she starts to understand this herself and matures a lot。 I liked the relationship she has with Akili。 For a debut novel， this was different then I thought， but really thought provoking。 。。。more

Johanna ，

Maybe I want to be all-purpose。

Annie ，

3。5

Steven Duong ，

Prose bites like 1000000000 knives。 Easy to get lost in the mess of the narrator but I really did love it

Leanne Mcgirr ，

I liked parts of this book， and really struggled with others。 I found some elements too difficult to believe， and the main character was not likeable - although clearly deliberately so。 But even so I kept going。 Not one I loved， but not one I hated

Liz ，

This book is mostly about a 23 year old woman and her relationship with her lover and his family。 It is a different sot of topic。 The young woman is very flawed and the language used involves lots of pop culture。 I completed the book but it is not a very profound topic and generally prefer not to spend my free t time reading about such flawed people。

Amy ，

I didn’t particularly like this book。 Overall I found it depressing and not relatable。 Interesting social commentary in some areas。

Michelle ，

It took a long time to get into the meat of the story and then， it took a long time to finish up。 I feel for the main character。 First， if that is “dating” for 20yos， thankfully I am way beyond the curve。 However， I think it is more “looking for love and acceptance by demeaning oneself” more than dating。 It’s an interesting and fresh take on a broke 20 something that doesn’t tie up like SATC。 It’s harsh。 I enjoyed it for its difference and the writing， but I don’t know that I would recommend it It took a long time to get into the meat of the story and then， it took a long time to finish up。 I feel for the main character。 First， if that is “dating” for 20yos， thankfully I am way beyond the curve。 However， I think it is more “looking for love and acceptance by demeaning oneself” more than dating。 It’s an interesting and fresh take on a broke 20 something that doesn’t tie up like SATC。 It’s harsh。 I enjoyed it for its difference and the writing， but I don’t know that I would recommend it if someone asked for a title。 。。。more

Melanie Mitzner ，

A compelling read on several levels， particularly with respect to racial divide and how that infiltrates relationships on a subtle and often not so subtle level。 There's a level of authenticity in this novel that's unparalleled in the seeming indifference or dismissive manner evident in the relationships and the shifting allegiances that at first blush seem unrealistic。 As you go deeper you realize why this shift occurs。 Most captivating is how Leilani， a very talented writer， portrays Edie's st A compelling read on several levels， particularly with respect to racial divide and how that infiltrates relationships on a subtle and often not so subtle level。 There's a level of authenticity in this novel that's unparalleled in the seeming indifference or dismissive manner evident in the relationships and the shifting allegiances that at first blush seem unrealistic。 As you go deeper you realize why this shift occurs。 Most captivating is how Leilani， a very talented writer， portrays Edie's struggle to navigate life in her 20s。 。。。more

Natasha ，

Leilani has an extraordinary command of words。 At times， they tumble out in an overwhelming manner and I need to reread sentences but she uses them deliberately to bring us much closer to the protagonist than we would ever feel comfortable doing ourselves。 A young， black 23 year old woman becomes a part of a family because she is having an affair with the husband。 She is sexual and dark and an artist， with a difficult family history and life of being broke and undervalued。 The cracks of strained Leilani has an extraordinary command of words。 At times， they tumble out in an overwhelming manner and I need to reread sentences but she uses them deliberately to bring us much closer to the protagonist than we would ever feel comfortable doing ourselves。 A young， black 23 year old woman becomes a part of a family because she is having an affair with the husband。 She is sexual and dark and an artist， with a difficult family history and life of being broke and undervalued。 The cracks of strained， human relationships are all laid to bare here。 An astonishing first novel， impressive feat。 。。。more

freckledbibliophile ，

Luster is a beautifully written debut novel wherein a lost， lone woman plagued by a traumatic childhood tries to find an atlas to get to where she wants and needs to be in life。 "A way is always made to document how we manage to survive， or in some cases， how we don't。 And when I am alone with myself， this is what I am waiting for someone to do to me， with merciless， deliberate hands， to put me down onto the canvas so that when I'm gone， there will be a record proof that I was here。"Edie， the ma Luster is a beautifully written debut novel wherein a lost， lone woman plagued by a traumatic childhood tries to find an atlas to get to where she wants and needs to be in life。 "A way is always made to document how we manage to survive， or in some cases， how we don't。 And when I am alone with myself， this is what I am waiting for someone to do to me， with merciless， deliberate hands， to put me down onto the canvas so that when I'm gone， there will be a record proof that I was here。"Edie， the main protagonist， often puts on this tough persona; as her body count begins to match the size of a novella。 Still， the author's rich and witty writing usually allowed the perspicacious reader to espy what the other characters didn't。Merely my opinion， but living in a modern age of Sodom and Gomorrah， my mouth ooh'ed just a bit at the entanglement with the married Walker's couple who， not to mention had a twelve-year-old adopted daughter。 How is that for normal yet strange？ PSA: The Walker's spoke about above is no part of the one writing this review。 I just had to throw that in there。 Okay， you can laugh now。I am also curious about some of the comments made if the main protagonist's views reflected the author possibly being an irreligionist。A debut novel of this caliber speaks loudly for what she'll have in store for us readers。 I enjoyably devoured this book in less than twenty-four hours。 Excellent read！ 。。。more

Mariana ，

I'm not sure how I feel about this book and what I think of it。Maybe this just wasn't for me， not the writing or the story， but it will probably be for others。 I'm not sure how I feel about this book and what I think of it。Maybe this just wasn't for me， not the writing or the story， but it will probably be for others。 。。。more

Melissa Miller ，

I couldn't even finish this。 It was way too weird for me。 I couldn't even finish this。 It was way too weird for me。 。。。more

Oliver ，

PLEASE ignore the negative， ignorant reviews。 This is a masterpiece！！！！！！！！

Patrice ，

I think the best feature of this book is the writing style。 It’s not a lot of dialogue and more of a detached observation of a clearly disturbed character who seemed to be teetering on a mental health crisis at any moment。 She has a lot going and I kept thinking “oohh baby， what is you doing？”I struggled to get through the last third of it because a traditional arc didn’t exist so it was hard to sense the direction。

Corinne Molz ，

This book has a great point to make， but the author lost me many times along the way trying to make it。 The prose is disjointed which is the style， but it just doesn't carry the reader along。 I struggled to connect with the main character though I loved the supporting characters。 I wanted to more deeply understand the narrator by the end of the book and feel I never got that satisfaction。 Glad I read it but won't pursue another book from this author。 This book has a great point to make， but the author lost me many times along the way trying to make it。 The prose is disjointed which is the style， but it just doesn't carry the reader along。 I struggled to connect with the main character though I loved the supporting characters。 I wanted to more deeply understand the narrator by the end of the book and feel I never got that satisfaction。 Glad I read it but won't pursue another book from this author。 。。。more

Susana ，

More like a 2。8

Dana ，

It's a weird feeling coming outta this book cuz I simultaneously know everything that happened but nothing at all。 It was very chaotic and totally unrealistic and I was definitely hooked into it the entire time。I am also very glad that I'm just as much of a nerd as Akila was because I had no problem keeping up with the references to superbat， mortal kombat， kpop， attack on titan etc。 It was nice to be kept in the loop 😭😭。 Her interactions with Edie were always a joy to read and I really wonder h It's a weird feeling coming outta this book cuz I simultaneously know everything that happened but nothing at all。 It was very chaotic and totally unrealistic and I was definitely hooked into it the entire time。I am also very glad that I'm just as much of a nerd as Akila was because I had no problem keeping up with the references to superbat， mortal kombat， kpop， attack on titan etc。 It was nice to be kept in the loop 😭😭。 Her interactions with Edie were always a joy to read and I really wonder how she grew up with her life， I imagine it's probably not going to be easy with parents that don't know how to spot racism。I wonder if the decision to name the wife Rebecca was influenced by famous novel。 Thjs book was a lot more character study-esque than i realized。 The writing style almost reminded me of a little life but far less depressing and way more witty。 Edie was hilarious， even thought she made such terrible decisions， she sure did take responsibility for each one。 I was genuinely rooting for her to do better。（There was definitely some homoerotic subtext between her and Rebecca but das a tangent for another day） 。。。more

Maria ，

Ugh， I hated this， but 2 stars because objectively I can still see the value of the book。。。 I just didn't enjoy any part of it。 Ugh， I hated this， but 2 stars because objectively I can still see the value of the book。。。 I just didn't enjoy any part of it。 。。。more

Erin ，

I have read quite a few books about young women （mostly millennials） having a time™️ in the last 12 months。 I'm thinking: Kim Jiyoung， Born 1982， Queenie， My Year of Rest and Relaxation， Writers & Lovers， Sweetbitter， etc。 And I think that Luster: a novel fits into this category of foggy， yet visceral discomfort well。 I gave 5 stars because I think the book tackles A LOT in 225 pages and does it in the way that I imagine a 'real' Edie would: buffeting the hardships away and finding her own way t I have read quite a few books about young women （mostly millennials） having a time™️ in the last 12 months。 I'm thinking: Kim Jiyoung， Born 1982， Queenie， My Year of Rest and Relaxation， Writers & Lovers， Sweetbitter， etc。 And I think that Luster: a novel fits into this category of foggy， yet visceral discomfort well。 I gave 5 stars because I think the book tackles A LOT in 225 pages and does it in the way that I imagine a 'real' Edie would: buffeting the hardships away and finding her own way to make it through。 I liked the writing style， but it def might not be for everyone。 。。。more

Kaylanna ，

This book was horrible and detached from any plot。 The ending was completely lackluster。 I will not read this again。

Dari ，

The writing is what kept me reading。 I wasn't moved by the story itself and I put it down a handful of times over the course of a couple of months。 That being said， I look forward to reading future works by her， but for me this story made me appreciate that I am no longer in my early 20's anymore！ The writing is what kept me reading。 I wasn't moved by the story itself and I put it down a handful of times over the course of a couple of months。 That being said， I look forward to reading future works by her， but for me this story made me appreciate that I am no longer in my early 20's anymore！ 。。。more

Kobi ，

I didn’t like this one at first。 It was so punchy - too punchy - that the punches， punchlines， and casual devastation lost their effect。 Then about a third of the way through， the narrator and narration changes， and I was in， though I did find myself yearning for another one of those changes in the final pages of the book and feeling upset I didn’t get it。 Tense tense tense to no active release， only a passive one granted to the characters， the author offering an out（？） Anyways I wanna read Rave I didn’t like this one at first。 It was so punchy - too punchy - that the punches， punchlines， and casual devastation lost their effect。 Then about a third of the way through， the narrator and narration changes， and I was in， though I did find myself yearning for another one of those changes in the final pages of the book and feeling upset I didn’t get it。 Tense tense tense to no active release， only a passive one granted to the characters， the author offering an out（？） Anyways I wanna read Raven’s next book！ Now！ 。。。more

Michael Goldsmith ，

Beautiful， sharp， funny and acerbic writing with a compelling narrative voice and fascinating main character in Edie - I was gripped by this and greatly enjoyed it。 The plotting is ultimately secondary， and somewhat falls by the wayside towards the end， but this doesn't matter as the portrait of Edie compels you to look on regardless。 Beautiful， sharp， funny and acerbic writing with a compelling narrative voice and fascinating main character in Edie - I was gripped by this and greatly enjoyed it。 The plotting is ultimately secondary， and somewhat falls by the wayside towards the end， but this doesn't matter as the portrait of Edie compels you to look on regardless。 。。。more

Holly （bibliophiles_bookstagram） ，

This one was tough for me to muster through！ Edie is in her twenties and not sure of what she wants out of life。 She has had countless jobs， and had had many inappropriate sexual choices。In walks Eric， whom she meets online。 Eric is married， but his wife， Rebecca， is willing for him to have an open marriage！ One day Rebecca invites Edie to to come live with them。 Once enemies， now allies。

Chloe ，

Sadly， I wasn’t feeling this。 Very sharp and cleverly written but I didn’t enjoy the plot as I felt like the characters were， for me， quite unlikeable。 I would have liked to have seen the character relationships explored in a little more depth too。

Aida Behmard ，

Gorgeous， razor-sharp prose that is ornate yet somehow not cloying - excellent。

Aurora ，

I loved this novel's honesty and weird beauty， as said by reviewer Sara Baume。 A passage I marked for the way it reflects the essence of the book: "If I'm honest， all my relationships have been like this， parsing the intent of the jaws that lock around my head。 Like， is he kidding， or is he hungry？ In other words， all of it， even the love， is violence。" I loved this novel's honesty and weird beauty， as said by reviewer Sara Baume。 A passage I marked for the way it reflects the essence of the book: "If I'm honest， all my relationships have been like this， parsing the intent of the jaws that lock around my head。 Like， is he kidding， or is he hungry？ In other words， all of it， even the love， is violence。" 。。。more

Rachel ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This book is a commentary on being young， on sex， on being black， and many other things。 The narrator speaks flatly about her life and experiences and some of this feels honest， but a lot of it feels forced。 There lacks a sense of clarity from most characters and some of it feels unlikely。 Maybe the author hasn’t dealt with the trauma of losing her mother and her neglectful father and this abandonment of self or simply not knowing the self and the flatness about her experiences is a result of th This book is a commentary on being young， on sex， on being black， and many other things。 The narrator speaks flatly about her life and experiences and some of this feels honest， but a lot of it feels forced。 There lacks a sense of clarity from most characters and some of it feels unlikely。 Maybe the author hasn’t dealt with the trauma of losing her mother and her neglectful father and this abandonment of self or simply not knowing the self and the flatness about her experiences is a result of this。 I wonder if it is also a point of showing that when a person is trying to survive they will detach from feeling too much。 This book reminds me of Maslow’s pyramid of needs。 At the bottom are the basic needs including food， water， and reproduction， （or sex for the physical need）。 There was a constant threat that she wouldn’t have a place to live or food to eat or she would go long periods with no sex and with this kind of basic needs insecurity happening， I can’t imagine there is any time or need to look for the top pyramid need which is self actualization。 This is described as “the desire to become the most that one can be”。。。to me this can also mean a person’s morals or responsibilities。I think she has a confusing intimate relationship with the husband’s wife， Rebecca。 Maybe this story also points out the lack of boundaries most of the characters possess or how sad and lonely the wife truly is。 But it’s very unclear what the message is meant to be which makes it that much more thought-provoking， at times exhausting， and at other times even pretentious。 I’m grateful I read this， but relieved to be finished at the same time。 。。。more

Tash ，

I really wanted to love this book。 It’s not to say I didn’t enjoy parts but I felt the writing style was exhausting。 Definitely unique and was nice to try something different。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Luster

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Luster&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Luster&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0