Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

If anyone would like to lead the August discussion for LUSTER, please let me know. You can respond here or dm me directly. Thanks!

I read and reviewed this in 2022 and had BIG feelings about it. I'd be happy to lead the discussion unless another reader feels strongly about it!

Sarah wrote: "I read and reviewed this in 2022 and had BIG feelings about it. I'd be happy to lead the discussion unless another reader feels strongly about it!"

Sarah, were you in the buddy read when we discussed it? I know Willliam and I participated in it. What a wild ride this book is. But, it makes for a great discussion.

*Sarah, were you in the buddy read when we discussed it?*

I believe so!

Just finished Luster, what a roller coaster!!! This book was all over the place. The main character shows what could manifest should unhealed trauma not be addressed.

Krystal Daniels wrote: "Just finished Luster, what a roller coaster!!! This book was all over the place. The main character shows what could manifest should unhealed trauma not be addressed."

A doozy isn’t it? In a good way (for me).

Sarah wrote: "*Sarah, were you in the buddy read when we discussed it?*

I believe so!"

Yes, I thought maybe you were.

If you’re still interested in leading the discussion, that would be great.

Welcome to the August 1st discussion of Luster by Raven Leilani.

-Raise your hand if you’ve already read the book and looking forward to reading it.
-Anyone currently reading it? Where are you in the story?
-Has anyone requested a copy or awaiting one in the mail?

I have to take my offer back - it's not a good time for me to stay on top of this discussion. But excited to see what others think!

ColumbusReads wrote: "Welcome to the August 1st discussion of Luster by Raven Leilani.

waiting on my e-book copy from my library. Looks like still a couple weeks wait.

Sarah wrote: "I have to take my offer back - it's not a good time for me to stay on top of this discussion. But excited to see what others think!"

Ok, no problem.

My memory of the book is quite faded other than really liking it. I hope the discussion is vigorous enough to stir some memories. But it is a short book..If its available in my library I may reread.

Discussion schedule for Luster:

Chapters 1/2 - now thru 8/4
Chapters 3/4 thru 8/8
Chapters 5/6 thru 8/11

Entire book open 8/12

I vaguely recall when this book was released it was compared in part to Queenie by Candice Carty Williams. I sort of frowned on that to be honest. I guess the similarities were due in part to both protagonists being Black and sexually liberated. Many said if you loved Queenie you’ll enjoy Luster just as much. I cringed. Has anyone else read the two or heard anything similar? Both books are rather polarizing to many people.

ColumbusReads wrote: "I vaguely recall when this book was released it was compared in part to Queenie by Candice Carty Williams. I sort of frowned on that to be honest. I guess the similarities were due in part to both ..."

I read both. Enjoyed Luster. Really disliked Queenie (which by the way is now streaming on Hulu, I refuse to watch a minute). Both books have Black female protagonists who really enjoy coupling with White men but there the similarities end.

I had to DNF in chapter 4. I can't finish it.

so i started luster last night and i fear i'm going to eat this up, it's going by rlly fast. and about queenie and luster: these are two vastly different stories, they don't compare rlly. it's giving "you look like alicia keys" when one does not look at all like alicia keys (this example is a real personal experience; bcs im lightskin black and a musician :/).

BigBougieSnacks wrote: "I had to DNF in chapter 4. I can't finish it."

Don't leave it like that..tell us why...this is a discussion..bur we won't try to make you defend your position I promise.,

This one cracked me up. Your thoughts?

In the novel’s opening chapter, Edie goes on her first date with Eric, an older man she met online. Rather than diminishing her attraction to him, their age difference forms part of Eric’s appeal for Edie. "Beyond the fact of older men having more stable finances and a different understanding of the clitoris, there is the potent drug of a keen power imbalance," she observes (7). As their relationship evolves, what forms does Eric’s power over Edie take? Why is a relationship marked by "a keen power imbalance" appealing to her?
(Iitlovers)

I finished the first two chapters of Luster and I can see why there are some many comparisons to Queenie. They both present as unlikeable characters. They’re both well written so I can tell that I’ll be able to fly through this just like I flew through Queenie.

i’m halfway through luster and i do completely understand why people wouldn’t like this book. the character is quite unlikable, hyper sexual, very messy and doesn’t support other women. however, it’s quite clear that this all stems from a very unstable childhood as well as r*pe that has resulted in stunting her emotional intelligence.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Rather than diminishing her attraction to him, their age difference forms part of Eric’s appeal for Edie. "Beyond the fact of older men having more stable finances and a different understanding of the clitoris, there is the potent drug of a keen power imbalance," she observes (7). As their relationship evolves, what forms does Eric’s power over Edie take? Why is a relationship marked by "a keen power imbalance" appealing to her?"

so i'm about 40 pages away from finishing this novel and i have no idea how to hide spoilers in a comment, so i just wanna warn that i do quote two lines rather far in the novel.
______

my kick reflex to this question take the sociological approach to this power imbalance; we are dealing with a rather exploitative sexual relationship between an affluent married white man and a broke "celibate" black woman. already these three angles historically ring, echo and clash together. but here, they are mostly whispers. i think what rlly attracts edie to this relationship in particular has to do with her upbringing and past traumas.

it's no secret that she's had some very negative and damaging relationships by the past during her developmental years (acknowledged and unacknowledged alike). and i think it really primed her towards such relationships. it created, and she by extension, labeled low self-worth onto herself. there's a line, after a paragraph of comparing her body and vagina to rebecca's and it's written : "when i imagine it, she is indifferent, her vagina defying all etymology, not a pussy or a twat but an abstract violence, like a rorschach or a xenomorph. for me, i've had little choice. the moment i left clay's house, my vagina was a cunt" (p.123).

i'll comeback to it. piling the past unresolve traumas, edie has become a woman who's expecting the worst at every corner in a passive way. and she's been doing it for so long, it became the expectation. i mean in this novel, things happened to her and they just got worse and worse as time went out. "misery seems to seep out, why fight it?"

a curious thing that happens in this novel later one is that she's somewhat envious when she peeps eric and rebecca having mechanical but nonetheless 'sweet' intercourse. she even masturbates later " (trying) to imagine what it is like to have comfortable, familiar sex, to be pounded sweetly". (p.166) it lets me know that her pick of shit men aren't born solely out of a desire to be mishandled (being punched for exemple) but that that type of relationship has never been available to her.

i think this power imbalance she's attracted to is in spite of. in the sense that, she thinks this is what she can get for sure, so she best not waste anyone's time with dreams and make the best of what she can handle. in this weird hierarchy of powerful vaginas, she's at the bottom, is aware of it and knows that's her place, per her previous life experiences and sexual encounters. that's why rebecca's vagina, in edie's imagination, it's this formless, almost intimidating and, i dare add, respected thing like rorschach like she said, but that hers, is just this dirt bitch fucking cunt. am i explaining myself well?

so this relationship with eric is appealing bcs to edie, who's only known such relationships and cynically and nonchalantly thinks this is what her 'category' allows, she thinks "this is a good one. eric is a good one among the shitty one she is to have". it's appealing bcs eric is not a bum and has a couple more physical and material advantages, while kinda still being the familiar format of these (unfair and imbalanced) relationship she's used to.

personally, i would add and argue that edie's hypersexuality, her nonchalant, normalized chaotic dysfunctional behavior stems from a specific and quiet form of c-ptsd perhaps and that it also pushes her towards these toxic situations.

Hello - first time poster here !

I wasn’t a fan of Luster. Admittedly, I think that messiness of the main character’s life was difficult for me to read (Ps: I didn’t even know her name until I was reading other reviews about the book; you can see how much I wasn’t invested). I also had a hard time understanding (believing) why Eric and Rebecca decided to have an open relationship …did I miss the part where they explained the decision? How do you reconcile this with their commitment to the “Radical Candor” they learned from therapy, especially since they consistently lied to each other. I really liked Akila, the daughter because she came across as grounded, had agency and was the most realistic character.

Regarding the comparisons with Queenie, I read it so long ago and can’t remember but I gave Queenie a 4, and Luster a 2, so I must have enjoyed it more.

I have been a member of this group for awhile but have yet to participate in a book discussion and read along with the group. On a whim, I decided to for this one and finished on Monday.

1. I found the writing really pulled me in and captured millennial malaise or early to mid 20s malaise very well. Thought I am in my 30s, I had to laugh re her crappy apt that is also expensive as the night I started reading this I killed a mouse in my rental.

2. I am a social worker and found it difficult not to "social work" the characters and diagnosis them lol

3. I liked how she was an artist and she struggled with a self portrait. This seemed to be an ongoing device used throughout the book yet she had no issue being able to see the world around her in a fairly honest way.

Heather wrote: "I am a social worker and found it difficult not to "social work" the characters and diagnosis them lol"

interesting! so how would you diagnose them? i'm just shooting in the dark with c-ptsd so i would be interested in an educated opinion instead 😅

Heather wrote: "I have been a member of this group for awhile but have yet to participate in a book discussion and read along with the group. On a whim, I decided to for this one and finished on Monday.

1. I foun..."
Heather, I like you take on Luster. I read it two years ago, so had to refresh myself. Interesting, that you are a Social Worker. Can see how you would be looking into certain actions

I just looked up my review from 2 years ago. For a debut novel, I thought Raven Lelani showed some serious talent. The book is not perfect, but would like to read another book of hers. I like messy characters, and watching them figure themselves a bit along the way.

This is what I wrote then:
I really liked the main character, Edie. She is only 23, but smart, creative, and profound. She is having an affair with a married man that also extends to involve his wife and adopted daughter, Akili. At first, I didn’t like what felt like a situation where she was being used as an element to this messed up marriage. However, she starts to understand this herself and matures a lot. I liked the relationship she has with Akili. For a debut novel, this was different then I thought, but really thought provoking.

It is more substantial then many other books I have read. It is unique and did not relate it to Queenie. I read that book, but it was a much lighter read and didn’t once think of Luster.

Entire book open for discussion

I really liked this book! Eddie was such a complicated character, and I loved how, despite being a bit of a mess, she still showed so much love and kindness to the adopted little one (whose name I can't recall). While she might not have been ready to be a mom, she definitely had a big sister vibe—minus the promiscuous behavior.

Lexus wrote: "I really liked this book! Eddie was such a complicated character, and I loved how, despite being a bit of a mess, she still showed so much love and kindness to the adopted little one (whose name I ..."

I agree, I liked Edie’s character a lot. She was dealing with many things, so makes some questionable choices. You are right, her relationship with Akili was really special. Even thiugh Edie messed up, she is still looking out for the daughter. It shows me you don’t have to e perfect to show care and kindness. Think Edie makes much progress throughout the story.

Kristine wrote: "Lexus wrote: "I really liked this book! Eddie was such a complicated character, and I loved how, despite being a bit of a mess, she still showed so much love and kindness to the adopted little one ..."

Her relationship with Akili is a great example of how love and care can still shine through, even when you’re not perfect.

Lexus wrote: "Kristine wrote: "Lexus wrote: "I really liked this book! Eddie was such a complicated character, and I loved how, despite being a bit of a mess, she still showed so much love and kindness to the ad..."
So, very true. Think letting in love also changes you along the way.

Okay so I’m late to the party , I started the book lastnight and got to chapter 3 . I was wide eyed when she named all the co workers she’d slept with 😂😂🤣. She initially seems like a lost soul & the verbiage in the book is like it’s appearing to be deep but in some way missing the mark. I’ll continue to read and I’m sure it won’t take long to finish so I’ll be back 😉

I’ve read and reread Luster a couple of times.
It makes me feel uncomfortable each time lol.
I love that Edie is sometimes deeply unlikeable and messy, but she’s still treated tenderly by the author. In writing and in tv, Black women usually don’t get to be messy without some kind of big trauma happening as a result. I kept waiting for something terrible to happen to her. But even as she goes from chaotic to chaotic-er, she gets to learn and grow while mostly unharmed. That shook me in a way that stays with me - that she (and by extension, I) can fuck up, and the stakes don’t have to be dire.