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The Careful Undressing of Love
by
Corey Ann Haydu (Goodreads Author)
Everyone who really knows Brooklyn knows Devonairre Street girls are different. They’re the ones you shouldn’t fall in love with. The ones with the curse. The ones who can get you killed.
Lorna Ryder is a Devonairre Street girl, and for years, paying lip service to the curse has been the small price of living in a neighborhood full of memories of her father, one of the thou ...more
Lorna Ryder is a Devonairre Street girl, and for years, paying lip service to the curse has been the small price of living in a neighborhood full of memories of her father, one of the thou ...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
January 31st 2017
by Dutton Books for Young Readers
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Maddy Russell
Yes. It is magical realism
Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
I thought living in a small space meant we shared everything. But so much can be hidden even in the most cramped apartment on one of the shortest streets in Brooklyn.
Even love.
This is why magical realism is one of my favourite genres. As with books like The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, this too captures a unique modern-day fairy tale feeling, set in a recognizable Brooklyn neighbourhood, yet full of magical mystery, curses, and whimsy.
The Careful Undressing of Love paints a p ...more
“Love happens at night,” Angelika says, whispering like it’s a secret some of us might not know. “So we’ll take away the night.”
This was such a quick read, almost impossible to put down. I wasn't sure at first if I would read this, but then without noticing I was twenty pages in and feeling invested, so then I had to keep going. And now here we are.
The Careful Undressing of Love follows the Devonairre Street Girls and their eccentric little community in Brooklyn that has experienced an unusual n ...more
This was such a quick read, almost impossible to put down. I wasn't sure at first if I would read this, but then without noticing I was twenty pages in and feeling invested, so then I had to keep going. And now here we are.
The Careful Undressing of Love follows the Devonairre Street Girls and their eccentric little community in Brooklyn that has experienced an unusual n ...more
3.5 stars. The writing was good, and it kept my interest all the way through. But I felt the ending was a little weak and rushed, and made me wonder what the point of it all was.
I think 2 stars might be too many. I struggled with this book.
I fell in love with the cover and the sort of odd synopsis and I was certain it was going to be my sort of book.
Right off the bat, I was confused. It felt like I had been dropped in the middle of a story. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be magical realism or a mild dystopia or just old world superstition. And I think that's what lost me...
I didn't really care for any of the characters, so I couldn't connect to them. I thought abo ...more
I fell in love with the cover and the sort of odd synopsis and I was certain it was going to be my sort of book.
Right off the bat, I was confused. It felt like I had been dropped in the middle of a story. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be magical realism or a mild dystopia or just old world superstition. And I think that's what lost me...
I didn't really care for any of the characters, so I couldn't connect to them. I thought abo ...more
Oh my heart. I've just finished The Careful Undressing of Love and yet again I'm in awe of Corey and her beautiful writing. Wow! Delightfully strange & magical.
This was a bizarre book. I really enjoyed it, especially the small hints we got about a somewhat dystopian version of future America, while that was merely an undercurrent of the book.
I love books that play with the space between fantasy and not.
Was the curse real? Was it not?
The only reason I docked the book a star was because I was hoping for a little bit more out of the ending, or possibly a different one entirely. But I think Lorna had to grapple with never having what she wanted, so leavin ...more
I love books that play with the space between fantasy and not.
Was the curse real? Was it not?
The only reason I docked the book a star was because I was hoping for a little bit more out of the ending, or possibly a different one entirely. But I think Lorna had to grapple with never having what she wanted, so leavin ...more
THE CAREFUL UNDRESSING OF LOVE is a haunting, atmospheric, and romantic coming-of-age novel with an interesting twist. Haydu's writing is particularly noteworthy, along with the unique backstory and reimagined version of Brooklyn. If Delirium , Station Eleven , and Practical Magic had a book love child, The Careful Undressing of Love would be it.
I want to start off talking about the plot. I don't do this to spoil anything for you or bore you ad nauseum. I think it's important to what I say ...more
Dreamy and eloquent, Corey Ann Haydu's latest novel is as gorgeously written as all her other work. Tackling themes of love and grief, of community and change, it was lovely and it was odd and it was all too compelling to stop turning pages once I had started. While I'm still not certain how I feel about the way it ends, I still very much think this is another book from Haydu that is worth the read (as all of her books are).
I was lucky enough to read this book early, and it is spectacular. It's such a gorgeous, incisive look at how beautiful and terrifying and dangerous it is to love another person and the ways in which we contort ourselves to make sense of tragedy, both on a national and personal level. This book cut straight to the heart of a lot of questions I've been pondering about how to move forward in a world that seems completely random and cruel and refuses to play by the rules, no matter how hard you try
...more
ARC Review Originally Posted on Lacy Literacy:
My low rating of The Careful Undressing of Love isn't just because I did not like it. Mainly, it is because it left me feeling completely unsatisfied. Everything from the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, and the resolution just left me feeling empty (and not in the good 'I'm so ...more
“If you love someone and they vanish, you are left nodding like a zombie and throwing teacups at a wall. I never want to be a person who throws teacups at the wall"*
My low rating of The Careful Undressing of Love isn't just because I did not like it. Mainly, it is because it left me feeling completely unsatisfied. Everything from the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, and the resolution just left me feeling empty (and not in the good 'I'm so ...more
That was GORGEOUS.
Huge thank you to Miss Print's ARC adoption for this review copy
This book was fucking gorgeous. I fell in love with this book at first sight because the cover it just so stunning. I have bookstagrammed it a few times because it is just so beautiful. I actually probably wouldn't have asked for this book if not for the cover and the fact that it's magical realism. I wasn't a huge fan of this author's other books, but I wanted to give it a shot.
The writing in this book is fantastic. It sucks you in ...more
This book was fucking gorgeous. I fell in love with this book at first sight because the cover it just so stunning. I have bookstagrammed it a few times because it is just so beautiful. I actually probably wouldn't have asked for this book if not for the cover and the fact that it's magical realism. I wasn't a huge fan of this author's other books, but I wanted to give it a shot.
The writing in this book is fantastic. It sucks you in ...more
*3.5*
Dreamy and beautiful and lemon-scented and heart-achey.
I wanted so, so badly to like this, so it gets a star for the intriguing concept and the mostly lovely (if sometimes excessively poetic) writing. But, some thoughts out of order about the rest of it:
- please, please, PLEASE make your main characters interesting. If your minor characters are going to be more interesting than your protagonist...PICK ONE OF THEM.
- Please, please, PLEASE stop glorifying cheating. If you're going to include it, HAVE CONSEQUENCES. (view spoiler) ...more
- please, please, PLEASE make your main characters interesting. If your minor characters are going to be more interesting than your protagonist...PICK ONE OF THEM.
- Please, please, PLEASE stop glorifying cheating. If you're going to include it, HAVE CONSEQUENCES. (view spoiler) ...more
We are LornaCruzCharlotteDelilahIsla and we aren’t afraid of love, even if we’re supposed to be.
notes: ok so The Careful Undressing of Love was too odd for me. i didn't get the traditions, the setting and the point of the story. no progression!! the plot was a disappointment too. i didn't agree with the characters actions, especially at the end. i wanted to see character growth but nope. my only positive thought? i liked the writing! it was very whimsical. but you know, everything else is a th ...more
notes: ok so The Careful Undressing of Love was too odd for me. i didn't get the traditions, the setting and the point of the story. no progression!! the plot was a disappointment too. i didn't agree with the characters actions, especially at the end. i wanted to see character growth but nope. my only positive thought? i liked the writing! it was very whimsical. but you know, everything else is a th ...more
Can't assign a star rating right after finishing, so I'll update that once I've had more time to digest what I've read. This book was whimsy and dreamy, but it also took a nosedive straight into "wtf" territory and I can't honestly say I loved the actual events that transpired. The writing and overall feel? Those worked beautifully. But ultimately I'm left feeling pretty exasperated. If you liked We Were Liars (which I decidedly did NOT), then you'll probably love this.
Wow, wow, wow. My goodness. For fans of Laura Ruby's BONE GAP.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
"I've been waiting for one thing, but love can be anything."
---
"When there's nothing left to salvage, we have to save ourselves."
Everyone knows that Devonairre Street in Brooklyn is cursed. Being loved by a Devonairre Street girl ends in tragedy. Just look at the number of war widows on the street or the concentration of Affected families left without husbands and fathers after the Times Square Bombing in 2001.
Lorna Ryder and her mother have never put much stock in the curse even though they ...more
---
"When there's nothing left to salvage, we have to save ourselves."
Everyone knows that Devonairre Street in Brooklyn is cursed. Being loved by a Devonairre Street girl ends in tragedy. Just look at the number of war widows on the street or the concentration of Affected families left without husbands and fathers after the Times Square Bombing in 2001.
Lorna Ryder and her mother have never put much stock in the curse even though they ...more
So many mixed feelings about this book. The prose is gorgeous and full of longing and pain. I felt Lorna's aching heart and grief and resentment because it came through in the language. And the book was extremely compelling - I read it through in one sitting.
But.
This is supposed to take place in some alternate USA where after a horrific bombing at Times Square, the country decides to take "never forget" literally to the point of fetishizing grief. The "Affected" - those who have lost a loved on ...more
But.
This is supposed to take place in some alternate USA where after a horrific bombing at Times Square, the country decides to take "never forget" literally to the point of fetishizing grief. The "Affected" - those who have lost a loved on ...more
Full review: https://bookevin.wordpress.com/2017/0...
3.5 stars
Initial thoughts:
I don't know what to make of the ending. The book is so mysterious and the writing is engaging as it is poetic, almost lyrical at some parts.
I loved the exploration of the theme of love and the characterisations were solid.
However, I found the story to be quite trippy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It did take me some time to get used to the setting of the book.
3.5 stars
Initial thoughts:
I don't know what to make of the ending. The book is so mysterious and the writing is engaging as it is poetic, almost lyrical at some parts.
I loved the exploration of the theme of love and the characterisations were solid.
However, I found the story to be quite trippy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It did take me some time to get used to the setting of the book.
Need to think on this one. More later.
Aug 20, 2015
Sana
marked it as to-read-so-bad-it-hurts
"Any boy they love is certain to die too soon."
HERE FOR THIS AND THAT COVER!
HERE FOR THIS AND THAT COVER!
Practical Magic, anyone?
Feb 26, 2016
Brittany (The Book Addict's Guide/Novelly Yours)
marked it as to-read
This description kiiiiinda reminds me of The Raven Cycle. NEED IT.
Review coming soon on www.thebooksbuzz.com but wow... JUST WOW.
Some parts are gloriously awkward in the way that only first love can be. Others are a question, a struggle to define, and a learning process of how to understand and share intimacy in the many ways it presents itself. There are all aspects of love in this book and often it evolves, transforms, and rebuilds after loss, tragedy, and heartache. Sometimes the love you thought you wanted is nothing like you imagined. Sometimes love has a time and place and no matter how hard you fight for it, it’s a
...more
Holy frijoles there is some flowery language in this bitch.
The first 50% of this book was sloooow. The best part of this portion was hands down the cover. (Which is f'ing gorgeous.)
But the last half really picked up and was quite enjoyable. Honestly, I really didn't think I was going to finish this book and if I did, it was going to be a low rating. So I was surprised to find myself at the 75% mark antsy to keep going.
This book has a nice diverse cast of characters and the curse was pretty int ...more
The first 50% of this book was sloooow. The best part of this portion was hands down the cover. (Which is f'ing gorgeous.)
But the last half really picked up and was quite enjoyable. Honestly, I really didn't think I was going to finish this book and if I did, it was going to be a low rating. So I was surprised to find myself at the 75% mark antsy to keep going.
This book has a nice diverse cast of characters and the curse was pretty int ...more
Haydu's writing is so lovely and just made me feel so unexplainably happy despite the overall melancholy mood of the novel. I found the premise of the novel really interesting and it gave me some Virgin Suicides vibes, but a bit more expansive in a way. I did find the ending to feel a bit rushed and not particularly in sync with the style of the rest of the novel, but it's still well worth a read.
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“Hearts expand to fit more love in them over time . You think there can't possibly be anymore room but there always is.”
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“I can’t quite figure out the difference between loving someone and loving things about them.”
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