To Feel Stuff

I forced myself to read the whole thing. I kept thinking there must be something to all the great reviews. I read a lot of books and went by reviews, so maybe I’m Missing something. I didn’t feel like anything happened in this book. The characters seemed shallow & uninteresting. I kept waiting for something to happen, someone to show up that I loved. I didn’t find anything worthwhile to this, just a waste of a few hours of my time.

It's hard to describe this book because it doesn't make a big deal out of being good. The writing is plain but appealing--I agree with the person who said it was like a pair of jeans that fits perfectly. Both plots--Elodie's relationship with Chess, and her seeing ghosts--are interesting in different ways, and by alternating between them Seigel makes it so you don't get bored of either. I was a big fan of Elodie, who was strange in a way that didn't seem forced. It was heartbreaking when Chess started to get better and notice how strange she actually was.

Broadly speaking, I tend to think that the federal government should steer clear of subsidizing the arts. There's a risk of entrenching taste hierarchies, and subsidizing those already rich in cultural capital. Why do that? But if it were up to me, a goodly portion of my tax dollars would go towards subsidizing the mad genius of Andrea Seigel. This books, despite its fantastic nature, is so honest that it left me with a lump in the throat. Also, I'm (theoretically) in love with the idea of Andrea Seigel, so it could be that my judgment is skewed. All the same, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

After falling in love with "Like the Red Panda" I waited so long for the follow up. I have not been dissapointed at all. It made me laugh in the same uncomfortable way. All the little idiosyncrasies of the charecters in the story make for an entertaining read. A wonderful and engrossing story.

Elodie Harrington has taken up permanent residence in the Brown University infirmary due to the parade of illnesses that march through her frail body. She has become the central focus of several people: To Chess Hunter, the charasmatic a capella singer whose violent attack she silently bore witness to, Elodie is a diversion and the object of his affection in a budding romance. To Professor Mark Kirschling, MD, Elodie is a medical anomaly and a case he is intent on cracking to further his professional career. And to the ghostly apparation, Elodie seems to be the only person who has the ability to make contact with him, yet she's not quite sure what exactly he wants from her. Seigel's writing is uniquely her own--humorous, eloquent, and suspenseful. She manages to weave a story that has great pacing, an intriguing plot, and supernatural undertones. Seigel brings Elodie to life in a story that calls into question human frailty and mortality. Healthwise, Elodie is the weakest of the three narrators, yet Seigel manages to make her the most "real" through her dry humor, keen observations and compassionate nature. The things that may seem to make her the most neurotic--constantly switching shampoos; drinking Coke first thing in the morning; reading the STD pamphlets in the pharmacy waiting room; getting first dibs on pharmaceutical gifts; and watching the Home Shopping Network--are the things that endear her to the reader. Seigel, author of LIKE THE RED PANDA, has provided a wonderful read in her sophomore book. She is a great example of the new generation of writers. Andrea Seigel is definitely one to watch. BookFinds looks forward to this young writer's next endeavor.

I can't help being a devout fan of this writer and her amazing voice. So far she's written two novels and I adore what she does with her sentences . . . her style is flawless and always enchanting . . . Listen, that she writes quirky, thought-provoking scenes that leave you breathless, that's part of her gift . . . Nobody gets inside here characters' mind beter, or is writing mind-blowing erotic sex scenes in this country . . . well, maybe Anne Tyler and Joyce Carol Oates. I say Siegel is the literary daughter of Joan Didion and Kate Braverman. Yes, she is that good, and if you don't buy and read this book right away, you will be the poorer for it. I can't wait for #3, or a collection of stories . . . either way I'm a big fan--as if you couldn't already tell.