Rating:
4 Stars
In a nutshell:
Gilda is anxious. Or maybe depressed? Or perhaps having a heart attack? She’s definitely unemployed and needs a job. So why not a Catholic church receptionist? Perfect for a gay atheist.
Best for:
Those who liked books like “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine”
Quote that made me think:
“I am smiling despite it. I am presenting as happy because people prefer that.”
“I find it so bizarre that I occupy space, and that I am seen by other people.”
“It’s strange people don’t like how their bodies look. It’s strange we waste any of our time concerning ourselves with how our skin drapes over our bones or how fat cultivates.”
Why I chose it:
I was perusing my favorite bookstore in Seattle and saw this one, and it did not disappoint. The cover caught my eye and the blurb kept me interested.
Review:
What a delightful surprise! This book could have felt weirdly dark, or cheesy in the vaguely philosophical questions Gilda asks throughout, but in the hands of author Austin it instead feels grounded. I believe that Gilda is going through it, HAS been going through it, and isn’t sure what she wants to be doing. She cares about her life but also finds it hard to do the basics like get up for work on time, or clean dishes in a reasonable amount of time.
It’s the former that leads us to the main plot of the book: when she is late too many times, Gilda is fired from her job at a book store. She also gets in a minor car accident, and has a challenging relationship with her parents. She sees a flyer for therapy and goes to the address, which turns out to be a Catholic church. When she arrives, the priest assumes she is there for the receptionist job, and she just goes along with it, not revealing that she is an atheist and also a lesbian.
Through her work at the church, as well as her time dating Eleanor (and possibly dating a guy she definitely is not interested in), she starts to spiral, but also make some connections she’s not made before. In the background is the question over the death of the person whose job Gilda has taken but this isn’t a murder mystery. I don’t quite know how to define this book, but I appreciate it and I enjoyed reading it. Gilda is complicated but relatable, and by the end I just want the best for her
Would I recommend it to its target audience:
Yes
