An electrifying debut novel from the acclaimed author of The Wonder Garden, The Paper Wasp is a riveting knife-edge story of two women’s dark friendship of twisted ambition set against the backdrop of contemporary HollywoodIn small-town Michigan, Abby Graven leads a solitary life. Once a bright student on the cusp of a promising art career, she now languishes in her childhood home, trudging to … promising art career, she now languishes in her childhood home, trudging to and from her job as a supermarket cashier. Each day she is taunted from the magazine racks by the success of her former best friend Elise, a rising Hollywood starlet whose life in pictures Abby obsessively scrapbooks. At night Abby escapes through the films of her favorite director, Auguste Perren, a cult figure known for his creative institute the Rhizome. Inspired by Perren, Abby draws fantastical storyboards based on her often premonitory dreams, a visionary gift she keeps hidden.
When Abby encounters Elise again at their high school reunion, she is surprised and warmed that Elise still considers her not only a friend but a brilliant storyteller and true artist. Elise’s unexpected faith in Abby reignites in her a dormant hunger, and when Elise offhandedly tells Abby to look her up if she’s ever in LA, Abby soon arrives on her doorstep. There, Abby discovers that although Elise is flourishing professionally, behind her glossy magazine veneer she is lonely and disillusioned. Ever the supportive friend, Abby becomes enmeshed in Elise’s world, even as she guards her own dark secret and burning desire for greatness. As she edges closer to Elise, the Rhizome, and her own artistic ambitions, the dynamic shifts between the two friends—until Abby can see only one way to grasp the future that awaits her.
The Paper Wasp is a thrilling, unexpected journey into the psyche and imagination of a woman determined to fulfill her destiny from one of our most unique and incisive writers.
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I hate to write less than three stars reviews, but I just couldn’t get into this. For some reason, when getting the first look, I thought I would like it. It sounded interesting. But the main character was so immature sounding. At the beginning, I kept thinking she had some kind of lesbian relationship or crush on the friend, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But she was so immature about it. On and on. The whole thing is just gibberish. I didn’t even finish it. The character is just creepy and mental. I can understand how she could get so obsessed since her life has been sheltered and drab but still. I’m sure a lot of people will like the book. But it did nothing for me. I wish the author all the luck with it and hope it is a big hit.
I
Found it captivating especially as the title relates to the then story. Some twists and turns that are unexpected. A good read.
i’ll admit that i wasn’t hooked until after the first (long) chapter but it was sooooooooooo worth it. one of my top books i read in 2019, maybe ever.
*I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I cannot quite pinpoint what I loved about this book. I appreciated the writing, as she did not refrain from using larger words, and did not assume that her audience was of lower intellect. All the way through the book it felt almost like a dream. It wasn’t until closer to the end that I began to really see the reality that was taking place, but to be honest, even to the end I could see how this could have all been a lucid dream or a state of being halfway between reality and fiction. The lines are blurred many times and there is a sense of science fiction at times. Ultimately, though it is a picture of toxic love, idealism, longing, desires, and unfulfilled dreams. While I do not necessarily condone what the narrator does in the book, I felt a sense of right to what she decides. The end had a feeling similar to the ending of the Giver and reminded me of the escape that Jonas had to make to flea the toxic situation that his life had become. The more we know, the more we need to make choices for ourselves that may be more difficult than we ever imagined. This was definitely the case in this book. I feel as though the whole thing was a journey of learning who she was, what was truly important, and how to break free of the things that were holding her back.
love the cover art. The Paper Wasp is a dark and twisted story of obsession and longing. Abie and Elise were high school friends. They drift apart. Now, several years on, Abie is a common woman, and Elise is a starlet. Abie is nothing, and Elise is everything. After reconnecting at a reunion, Abie goes to basically live with Elise in her fancy house in California. Abie becomes obsessed because she just wants to be something else. The plot is intriguing and different from other books I’ve read. The characters are likeable and not likeable. It’s a back and forth with this story. It’s a dark psychological thriller that fans of the genre will enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like I failed this book as a reader. I started this book hoping to read a story about a girl who was obsessed with a former high school friend who became wildly successful as an actress in Hollywood. Instead I found myself stuck in this bizarre story about a Scientology type philosophy. Personally I can’t follow books where the storyline there’s off in the direction that includes visualization and dream sequences and other nonsense. This book was marketed inaccurately, likely on purpose. The original storyline has marketed was something I definitely wanted to dive into, but unfortunately the story as written was something that barely held my attention the last 50% of the book. I did read the book to completion and was not satisfied or further enlightened by the ending. I found that none of the characters in this book has any redeeming qualities. I really did not care what happened to anyone in this book.
This review is based on an excerpt only.
Meet Elise and Abby. In The Paper Wasp, these two women are old aquantices from school. Elise is a starlet now. Abby is an average nobody who wants something better, something glamorous and fabulous for herself. One day, the two women are reunited. Elise flippantly says that Abby should come and visit her sometime. Abby takes it to heart, and she gets on a plane and just shows up at Elise’s house. Elise is surprised, but she takes Abby in anyway having no idea what she has just done. Basically, Abby becomes the houseguest who never leaves. She should go home, but she doesn’t. Abby stays because she wants the life Elise has. The glamorous life with all its trappings. It’s a dramatic and tense scenario. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the story.