It's introspective yet glosses over aspects that I, if I was the main character, would have wanted to explore. This book is uncomfortable at one point and sparkingly humorous the next. A must read book of 2020.' sentences, paragraphs extending over pages, unfiltered raw thoughts- Luster is written in a stream of consciousness style that you lose yourself in, almost flowing like a poem. Looking at race, class, gender, and sexuality in a caustic and brutal way. It's a very raw, spirited, smart, witty, and sad novel, with great use of prose. Luster is such a memorable debut and I can’t wait to see what Leilani writes next.' have just finished this book: Luster by It is so far removed from the usual genre I choose, but I fell in love with Edie for all her lust, flaws, and messiness instantly.įor me, this felt like a fast-paced book with Edie always teetering on the edge, never feeling loved, never feeling secure or as if she belongs. As I was reading the last 20 pages or so, I felt my insides squeeze painfully with understanding. Leilani writes about being young and trying to find your calling, about surviving in this city that chews people up and spits them out, about navigating the world as a young Black woman. Edie is an artist, and so is Leilani, and I love the way she wrote about art: the struggle of having something inside that you want to express, but not being able to capture it adequately in your art. There's a lot of talk about the body and both the grotesqueness and beauty of it. There’s so much packed into this short novel. There’s a dark humor in this book that provides small pockets of escape from the sadness and loneliness of Edie’s life. I love novels set in NYC because I love seeing this city I call home through other people’s eyes. Edie’s struggles reminded me of my own experiences of being young and broke in NYC.

Luster raven leilani book review