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All's Well
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2021)From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny, a darkly funny novel about a theater professor suffering chronic pain, who in the process of staging a troubled production of Shakespeare’s most maligned play, suddenly and miraculously recovers.
Miranda Fitch’s life is a waking nightmare. The accident that ended her burgeoning acting career left her with excruciating, chronic back pain, a failed marriage, and a deepening dependence on painkillers. And now she’s on the verge of losing her job as a college theater director. Determined to put on Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, the play that promised, and cost, her everything, she faces a mutinous cast hellbent on staging Macbeth instead. Miranda sees her chance at redemption slip through her fingers.
That’s when she meets three strange benefactors who have an eerie knowledge of Miranda’s past and a tantalizing promise for her future: one where the show goes on, her rebellious students get what’s coming to them, and the invisible, doubted pain that’s kept her from the spotlight is made known.
With prose Margaret Atwood has described as “no punches pulled, no hilarities dodged...genius,” Mona Awad has concocted her most potent, subversive novel yet. All’s Well is the story of a woman at her breaking point and a formidable, piercingly funny indictment of our collective refusal to witness and believe female pain.
Miranda Fitch’s life is a waking nightmare. The accident that ended her burgeoning acting career left her with excruciating, chronic back pain, a failed marriage, and a deepening dependence on painkillers. And now she’s on the verge of losing her job as a college theater director. Determined to put on Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, the play that promised, and cost, her everything, she faces a mutinous cast hellbent on staging Macbeth instead. Miranda sees her chance at redemption slip through her fingers.
That’s when she meets three strange benefactors who have an eerie knowledge of Miranda’s past and a tantalizing promise for her future: one where the show goes on, her rebellious students get what’s coming to them, and the invisible, doubted pain that’s kept her from the spotlight is made known.
With prose Margaret Atwood has described as “no punches pulled, no hilarities dodged...genius,” Mona Awad has concocted her most potent, subversive novel yet. All’s Well is the story of a woman at her breaking point and a formidable, piercingly funny indictment of our collective refusal to witness and believe female pain.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2021
About the author
Mona Awad
12 books7,593 followersMona Awad is the bestselling author of the novels BUNNY, ROUGE, ALL'S WELL and 13 WAYS OF LOOKING AT A FAT GIRL. She is a three time finalist for a Goodreads Choice Award, a finalist for the Giller Prize, and a winner of the Amazon Best First Novel Award. BUNNY was also a finalist for the New England Book Award and it won the Ladies of Horror Fiction Best Novel Award. It's currently in development for film with Bad Robot Productions. Her forthcoming novel, WE LOVE YOU, BUNNY will be released with Simon & Schuster in September 2025.
She earned an MFA from Brown University and an MScR in English from the University of Edinburgh where her dissertation was on fear in the fairy tale. In 2018, she completed a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literary Studies at the University of Denver. She currently teaches creative writing at Syracuse University and lives in Boston.
She earned an MFA from Brown University and an MScR in English from the University of Edinburgh where her dissertation was on fear in the fairy tale. In 2018, she completed a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literary Studies at the University of Denver. She currently teaches creative writing at Syracuse University and lives in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,689 reviews
April 1, 2024
this is categorized as horror, fiction, contemporary, thriller, magical realism, fantasy, literary fiction, and mystery.
even crazier: it actually IS all of those things.
this is a wild and weird and one of a kind book that's as repulsive as it is immersive. i would have read it no matter what because it's by the author of the strange and unforgettable bunny and also that cover, but what a pleasant surprise to have found it so worthy of the legacy of its predecessor.
academia, huh?
bottom line: i love a freak!
(thanks to the publisher for the copy)
even crazier: it actually IS all of those things.
this is a wild and weird and one of a kind book that's as repulsive as it is immersive. i would have read it no matter what because it's by the author of the strange and unforgettable bunny and also that cover, but what a pleasant surprise to have found it so worthy of the legacy of its predecessor.
academia, huh?
bottom line: i love a freak!
(thanks to the publisher for the copy)
Read
June 14, 2022shakespeare whomst? i only know mona awad.
October 21, 2022
This was... oh boy... I’m so overwhelmed right now... I don’t know what words will be appropriate to express my feelings about this reading experience...
Strange... extraordinary...frustrating...blurry... illusionary...disturbing...sad...delirious...wild...different ...original...exhausting...dark...depressing ...weird...complex...conflicted...
I can keep writing those words for several more pages but it is so hard for me to put them in proper sentences because this book extracts the opposite feelings from you at the same time. You love it, you hate it, you love to hate it, you hate to love it! But for a long time I haven’t been book-drunk or suffered from intense book-gover ( which is terrible version of hungover! The meaningless words poured out of my mind at the same time! )
I have to admit: my heart ached for Miranda who suffers from chronic back pain, an invisible pain that cannot be treatable, costed her career, forced her to be an assistant professor at academia for theater program.
She’s in pain. Her pain is contagious. You can feel it in your guts. Your soul feels it! She’s crying for help! She’s absolutely unreliable narrator, taking awkward hallucinatory baths and popping pills like candies to heal herself! Of course she cannot get proper result! When you stuck with her mind, you feel like you found soulmate of Raoul Duke’s drug induced, hallucinatory vision at Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, taking long tour at her distorted realities.
She’s teaching Shakespeare as her life turns into a Shakespearean tragedy: an actress who’s dying to perform but a traffic accident already sealed her faith so she resents the young actresses-her own students who already replaced her. The play they work on All’s Well that Ends Well. An ironic name for her unresolved issues, incessant suffering, delusional mind trips.
At some part, I felt like I was walking in the foggy road, losing my path throughout my reading journey. The book’s abrupt direction to fantasyland dragging you to the witch craft, more illusionary baths, awkward strangers in the bar changing your vision kind of more mind numbing experiences leave you at a strange zone.
Conclusion is full of unanswered questions. Some blanks you fill with your own imagination!
Overall: the author’s different, interesting, extremely direct and realistic to the chronic illness was the best thing about this novel. I loved her choice to build the story at small New England liberal arts college like she did at her previous marvelous work “Bunny”.
Miranda was powerful, connectable character you truly care about. The thin line between fantasy and fiction was a little intense and confusing for me. I skip some parts because it was truly exhausting experience for me but writing is uniquely creative and original which I absolutely enjoyed a lot!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Strange... extraordinary...frustrating...blurry... illusionary...disturbing...sad...delirious...wild...different ...original...exhausting...dark...depressing ...weird...complex...conflicted...
I can keep writing those words for several more pages but it is so hard for me to put them in proper sentences because this book extracts the opposite feelings from you at the same time. You love it, you hate it, you love to hate it, you hate to love it! But for a long time I haven’t been book-drunk or suffered from intense book-gover ( which is terrible version of hungover! The meaningless words poured out of my mind at the same time! )
I have to admit: my heart ached for Miranda who suffers from chronic back pain, an invisible pain that cannot be treatable, costed her career, forced her to be an assistant professor at academia for theater program.
She’s in pain. Her pain is contagious. You can feel it in your guts. Your soul feels it! She’s crying for help! She’s absolutely unreliable narrator, taking awkward hallucinatory baths and popping pills like candies to heal herself! Of course she cannot get proper result! When you stuck with her mind, you feel like you found soulmate of Raoul Duke’s drug induced, hallucinatory vision at Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, taking long tour at her distorted realities.
She’s teaching Shakespeare as her life turns into a Shakespearean tragedy: an actress who’s dying to perform but a traffic accident already sealed her faith so she resents the young actresses-her own students who already replaced her. The play they work on All’s Well that Ends Well. An ironic name for her unresolved issues, incessant suffering, delusional mind trips.
At some part, I felt like I was walking in the foggy road, losing my path throughout my reading journey. The book’s abrupt direction to fantasyland dragging you to the witch craft, more illusionary baths, awkward strangers in the bar changing your vision kind of more mind numbing experiences leave you at a strange zone.
Conclusion is full of unanswered questions. Some blanks you fill with your own imagination!
Overall: the author’s different, interesting, extremely direct and realistic to the chronic illness was the best thing about this novel. I loved her choice to build the story at small New England liberal arts college like she did at her previous marvelous work “Bunny”.
Miranda was powerful, connectable character you truly care about. The thin line between fantasy and fiction was a little intense and confusing for me. I skip some parts because it was truly exhausting experience for me but writing is uniquely creative and original which I absolutely enjoyed a lot!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
September 12, 2021
⭐️3.5⭐️
Mona Awad is a fuckin weirdo, writing books for other fuckin weirdos. And I love her for it.
Mona Awad is a fuckin weirdo, writing books for other fuckin weirdos. And I love her for it.
December 15, 2024
**3.5-stars**
Miranda Fitch is a Theater Professor at a small New England college. Due to chronic pain stemming from the accident that ended her once promising acting career, Miranda isn't currently in a good spot emotionally.
Doctors and Physical Therapists have been unable to make any progress with her. It all feels like a sick joke; nothing she's tries helps.
Therefore, she takes way more painkillers than she probably should.
As we meet Miranda, she is just about at her rock bottom, suffering through life in a sort of drug-induced haze. The Reader gets a glimpse inside her mind, as she tries to direct her students in this year's big production.
Although Miranda is hellbent on All's Well That Ends Well, her students want to do the Scottish play. Ha! Can you even imagine? Miranda will not let that happen. How pedestrian!
The students are relentless. Worse, they're mutinous and her colleagues, in the faltering Theater Department, are no better. Just when she begins to believe all is lost, Miranda meets three mysterious strangers at her local watering hole. They're somehow able to turn the tides of fate, but at what cost?
I really, really enjoyed the first half of this novel. There's no denying how fantastic the writing is. It's cutting, funny, socially-relevant, dark and quirky.
However, somewhere around 70%, it took a sharp turn, from which it never recovered.
There are a lot of elements included that generally work for me. It's weird, it's biting, it has a touch of the fantastical, but unfortunately, it just got too confusing. You can have solid weird, without confusing. I just feel like in this case, it missed that mark.
I'm sure there will be a lot of Readers that will get it; I'm just not one of them. During the first half of the story, even when things got a little strange, you could still tell the events that were happening in Miranda's reality; you could tell she was having interactions with her students, with her colleagues, what were memories, musings, wishes, etc.
When it got closer to the end, it changed. I couldn't tell what was real. I couldn't tell where Miranda was in time, space, what was happening to her? Was she dreaming? Hallucinating? And it never revealed itself, at least not in my opinion. So, I got to the end and felt like I didn't have a conclusion.
Theoretically, I understand the ideas behind what was happening, but I just wanted more decisive closure. I was really disappointed with the last 25%. In a way, it made me feel like I had wasted my time. Never a good feeling.
I'm mainly bummed because I expected to enjoy this a lot more than I did. It happens. All's well, I suppose.
I did bump my rating up from 3-stars to 3.5, based solely on the author's creativity and writing quality. The story for me is a solid 3-stars. It was a good story, but not necessarily my cup of tea.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to share my opinions.
**For any of Stephen King's Constant Readers: if you have read this, did the three mystery men at the bar remind you at all of the little doctors in Insomnia?
Because, same.
Miranda Fitch is a Theater Professor at a small New England college. Due to chronic pain stemming from the accident that ended her once promising acting career, Miranda isn't currently in a good spot emotionally.
Doctors and Physical Therapists have been unable to make any progress with her. It all feels like a sick joke; nothing she's tries helps.
Therefore, she takes way more painkillers than she probably should.
As we meet Miranda, she is just about at her rock bottom, suffering through life in a sort of drug-induced haze. The Reader gets a glimpse inside her mind, as she tries to direct her students in this year's big production.
Although Miranda is hellbent on All's Well That Ends Well, her students want to do the Scottish play. Ha! Can you even imagine? Miranda will not let that happen. How pedestrian!
The students are relentless. Worse, they're mutinous and her colleagues, in the faltering Theater Department, are no better. Just when she begins to believe all is lost, Miranda meets three mysterious strangers at her local watering hole. They're somehow able to turn the tides of fate, but at what cost?
I really, really enjoyed the first half of this novel. There's no denying how fantastic the writing is. It's cutting, funny, socially-relevant, dark and quirky.
However, somewhere around 70%, it took a sharp turn, from which it never recovered.
There are a lot of elements included that generally work for me. It's weird, it's biting, it has a touch of the fantastical, but unfortunately, it just got too confusing. You can have solid weird, without confusing. I just feel like in this case, it missed that mark.
I'm sure there will be a lot of Readers that will get it; I'm just not one of them. During the first half of the story, even when things got a little strange, you could still tell the events that were happening in Miranda's reality; you could tell she was having interactions with her students, with her colleagues, what were memories, musings, wishes, etc.
When it got closer to the end, it changed. I couldn't tell what was real. I couldn't tell where Miranda was in time, space, what was happening to her? Was she dreaming? Hallucinating? And it never revealed itself, at least not in my opinion. So, I got to the end and felt like I didn't have a conclusion.
Theoretically, I understand the ideas behind what was happening, but I just wanted more decisive closure. I was really disappointed with the last 25%. In a way, it made me feel like I had wasted my time. Never a good feeling.
I'm mainly bummed because I expected to enjoy this a lot more than I did. It happens. All's well, I suppose.
I did bump my rating up from 3-stars to 3.5, based solely on the author's creativity and writing quality. The story for me is a solid 3-stars. It was a good story, but not necessarily my cup of tea.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to share my opinions.
**For any of Stephen King's Constant Readers: if you have read this, did the three mystery men at the bar remind you at all of the little doctors in Insomnia?
Because, same.
November 10, 2021
this book will consume my every thought now. thanks for coming to my ted talk.
August 22, 2021
this author is just not for me 😅 all the main character did was complain and the book is advertised as a dark comedy but like... wasn’t shit funny? the main character complained so much to the point where it just felt depressing instead of funny. i also was extremely bored half the book and it almost put me in a reading slump
didn’t think i had to specify this but when i say she complain a lot i do NOT mean in regards to her chronic illness, i mean she complain in general.. about people and everything else in her life.
didn’t think i had to specify this but when i say she complain a lot i do NOT mean in regards to her chronic illness, i mean she complain in general.. about people and everything else in her life.
August 19, 2021
I had such high hopes for this and it started off so strong, but the ending really lost me. Awad is an amazing writer, that’s for sure. This book is so well written, and it was like I could feel Miranda’s pain and frustration, it was so descriptive. I really enjoyed the first two thirds of this, but the last 100 pages or so were so confusing and I just had no idea what was happening. Also, this is getting put under the horror genre for some reason, but I don’t think it’s horror it’s more dark magical realism. And I think I went in with slightly false expectations.
Reading vlog with more thoughts: https://youtu.be/v0v5yTpWtig
Reading vlog with more thoughts: https://youtu.be/v0v5yTpWtig
February 10, 2022
this was a ride and i’m glad it’s over. very repetitive and lucid in a way that was confusing, rather than compelling. there were a few passages about the dismissal of Miranda’s pain (by her male doctors, but more interestingly her female colleagues) that resonated but i struggled to find the comedy to balance this one out.
August 23, 2023
This novel alternately exhilarated me and provoked me--but it provoked me in a good way, if you can imagine such a thing--because over and over again as I read along I would be flung headlong into a seriously uncomfortable scene, along with the protagonist, Miranda, and I, like her, wanted more than anything to get out of that situation in any way I could--Turn the page! Turn the page!--but no, that wouldn't get me anywhere because the next scene would find a new way to make me feel things I didn't want to feel, to make me feel uncomfortable in my own skin, where I would do anything to escape what was happening to the protagonist--happening to me, that is, because I felt it too. I'm there for it one hundred percent when Miranda . Wow. Yes. It's a subversive read, and a submersive one, too, even though that isn't a word--what I mean is that I was plunged into it headfirst and spent much of my time underwater while reading it. Gasping. Also the novel is strangely deadpan. I say "strangely" because most writers would allow far more interiority into their writing, especially when the subject is something as interior as pain. Most writers would permit the protagonist herself to let go and tell us how she really feels in a series of harsh barbaric yawps. Miranda remains relatively civilized, considering. We hear about her pain mostly when she tries and fails to explain her pain to others.
This is scary writing. It's a confidently-told story that starts off fairly wild and becomes magnificently weirder as you read on. People have been telling me for some time to read Bunny and now I know I should have listened to them.
This is scary writing. It's a confidently-told story that starts off fairly wild and becomes magnificently weirder as you read on. People have been telling me for some time to read Bunny and now I know I should have listened to them.
November 15, 2021
“But not too much pain, am I right? Not too much, never too much. If it was too much, you wouldn’t know what to do with me, would you? Too much would make you uncomfortable. Bored. My crying would leave a bad taste. That would just be bad theater, wouldn’t it? A bad show. You want a good show. They all do. A few pretty tears on my cheeks that you can brush away.”
Well this was a rollercoaster. The desperation and exasperation of part one drew me in immediately. And the mania was deliciously delirious in part two. Much of part three and especially the ending lost me however. I’m keeping this at a 4 despite being pretty disappointed with the third act because the rest was so strong. The messages surrounding invisible pain/disabilities, how women’s pain is often dismissed, and how being conventionally attractive (and able-bodied) entirely changes how people respond to you are important and for the most part well-delivered. I just think the finale could have pushed the boundaries a bit further. This book had something to say and it just felt like the ending fizzled out and didn’t want to fully commit.
I have had Bunny on my to-read list since it came out, and now that I’ve read this, I will be making sure to get around to it sooner rather than later. Awad has a unique, compelling voice and her writing feels both refreshing and haunting. The next time I’m in the mood for a fever dream of a book, I know exactly where to turn. And when I say fever dream, I really mean it. This is a weird book. You've been warned.
I would recommend brushing up on your Shakespeare (a quick plot summary will do) before reading this for an enhanced experience. It’s not necessary, as Awad does drop in enough contextual clues to give the reader a basic framework, but knowing the general plot of Macbeth and All’s Well That Ends Well will add an extra layer of depth.
Also, I just have to say this is one of my favorite covers of the year. Absolutely spot on and so visually arresting.
Well this was a rollercoaster. The desperation and exasperation of part one drew me in immediately. And the mania was deliciously delirious in part two. Much of part three and especially the ending lost me however. I’m keeping this at a 4 despite being pretty disappointed with the third act because the rest was so strong. The messages surrounding invisible pain/disabilities, how women’s pain is often dismissed, and how being conventionally attractive (and able-bodied) entirely changes how people respond to you are important and for the most part well-delivered. I just think the finale could have pushed the boundaries a bit further. This book had something to say and it just felt like the ending fizzled out and didn’t want to fully commit.
I have had Bunny on my to-read list since it came out, and now that I’ve read this, I will be making sure to get around to it sooner rather than later. Awad has a unique, compelling voice and her writing feels both refreshing and haunting. The next time I’m in the mood for a fever dream of a book, I know exactly where to turn. And when I say fever dream, I really mean it. This is a weird book. You've been warned.
I would recommend brushing up on your Shakespeare (a quick plot summary will do) before reading this for an enhanced experience. It’s not necessary, as Awad does drop in enough contextual clues to give the reader a basic framework, but knowing the general plot of Macbeth and All’s Well That Ends Well will add an extra layer of depth.
Also, I just have to say this is one of my favorite covers of the year. Absolutely spot on and so visually arresting.
July 6, 2021
What did I just read? I’m still trying to figure this one out.
Miranda suffers from chronic pain and it consumes the first part of the book. Her friends have finally had enough, and she is finding herself more and more alone. She combines pills that weren’t meant to be combined and adds alcohol on top. She's seen doctor after doctor, tried a multitude of physical therapists. No one has helped. Is it in her head, like some seem to think? She’s a hot mess. On top of that, she works as a theatre professor at some no name college and is directing All’s Well That Ends Well, a play her students have no interest in.
I’ll warn you, at first I didn’t see any humor in the story. Miranda made me cringe more than laugh. For everyone who has an ailment that isn’t visible to the naked eye, it will ring true.
But then she meets up with three strange men. And one shows her “a trick”. And that’s when things start to get really interesting. I’m not sure what I was expecting. The magic realism here almost turns into a horror show. It’s a very strange book. Very dark, surreal, almost hallucinatory. I veered all over the place, trying to wrap my head around this story. What was going on here? At the end, I was no less confused. But it was so interesting, I enjoyed it. It would make an interesting book club selection as it gives you lots to think about.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
Miranda suffers from chronic pain and it consumes the first part of the book. Her friends have finally had enough, and she is finding herself more and more alone. She combines pills that weren’t meant to be combined and adds alcohol on top. She's seen doctor after doctor, tried a multitude of physical therapists. No one has helped. Is it in her head, like some seem to think? She’s a hot mess. On top of that, she works as a theatre professor at some no name college and is directing All’s Well That Ends Well, a play her students have no interest in.
I’ll warn you, at first I didn’t see any humor in the story. Miranda made me cringe more than laugh. For everyone who has an ailment that isn’t visible to the naked eye, it will ring true.
But then she meets up with three strange men. And one shows her “a trick”. And that’s when things start to get really interesting. I’m not sure what I was expecting. The magic realism here almost turns into a horror show. It’s a very strange book. Very dark, surreal, almost hallucinatory. I veered all over the place, trying to wrap my head around this story. What was going on here? At the end, I was no less confused. But it was so interesting, I enjoyed it. It would make an interesting book club selection as it gives you lots to think about.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
August 23, 2021
Yesss! 5 shiny stars! Original, dark, twisted and flipping weird! I LOVED it! 🖤Awad is the Queen 👑 of "What the hell did I just read?!" No she really is..check out the reviews!
Okay so this book...well I wasn't even planning on reading this right now...I was actually reading another book..curiosity got the best of me...I thought...I will just skim a chapter and see what this is all about...150 pages later..well I was all in..invested and my current read was kicked 🦵to the curb..😂🤷♀️
Miranda is a college theater director. She loves her job and she has determined that they are going to put on Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well. 🎭 The problem is nobody wants to do the play except Miranda...
Miranda has chronic pain..her students, coworkers and friends have zero respect for her...they mock her pain with snarky, cruel comments that bring Miranda down even further into her depths of depression..chasing her pain away with pills💊alcohol 🍷🥃🍸and whatever she can...she is spiraling out of control..she even seeks help from a dude doing "treatments" out of his garage..😳No Miranda...girl..just no..
After hitting an all time low on the floor of a sleazy bar...Miranda's life suddenly turns around. What happened in the bar??? Ummm good question...🤔things got really weird....I am not hallucinating..you are!! 🤔😂😳Good thing I like weird!
So if you loved 🐰 ...well this isn't Bunny..🐰but I think you will love it...if you didn't love Bunny...🐰well I think you will like this...
This book is so original..both of her books have been so creative and written so well...I can't wait to see what she thinks up next!
Huge shoutout to Simon and Schuster for this gorgeous gifted copy!
Okay so this book...well I wasn't even planning on reading this right now...I was actually reading another book..curiosity got the best of me...I thought...I will just skim a chapter and see what this is all about...150 pages later..well I was all in..invested and my current read was kicked 🦵to the curb..😂🤷♀️
Miranda is a college theater director. She loves her job and she has determined that they are going to put on Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well. 🎭 The problem is nobody wants to do the play except Miranda...
Miranda has chronic pain..her students, coworkers and friends have zero respect for her...they mock her pain with snarky, cruel comments that bring Miranda down even further into her depths of depression..chasing her pain away with pills💊alcohol 🍷🥃🍸and whatever she can...she is spiraling out of control..she even seeks help from a dude doing "treatments" out of his garage..😳No Miranda...girl..just no..
After hitting an all time low on the floor of a sleazy bar...Miranda's life suddenly turns around. What happened in the bar??? Ummm good question...🤔things got really weird....I am not hallucinating..you are!! 🤔😂😳Good thing I like weird!
So if you loved 🐰 ...well this isn't Bunny..🐰but I think you will love it...if you didn't love Bunny...🐰well I think you will like this...
This book is so original..both of her books have been so creative and written so well...I can't wait to see what she thinks up next!
Huge shoutout to Simon and Schuster for this gorgeous gifted copy!
June 26, 2023
Have you not had a fever dream in a while? Do you miss the experience but don't want to go through the hassle of licking bus handles and lying in the snow for hours on end?
Look no further, Mona Awad's got you covered.
Look no further, Mona Awad's got you covered.
November 26, 2021
I laughed so hard at this dark satirical novel. Mona Awad is just what I needed after so many serious books. The quirky humor she delivers held my attention throughout.
The main character Miranda is a college theater director. In her younger years, she was a performer on stage, but after an accident left her seeking help for her "invisible pain" the doctors doubted and thought she was a delusional pain pill popper she left the stage to teach it. I felt guilty for laughing at someone else's misfortune, but this was well-developed humor and insight into her mind and thought process. Some of it was disturbing and desperate, but most of the time I was laughing out loud.
The disrespect she receives from her friends, colleagues and students creates resentment towards everyone and especially the healthy mode of the younger actresses. She directs the Shakespeare drama All's Well that Ends Well much to the students' dismay that it becomes quite intense. This is wild!!
I'm so thankful I was able to read it and have heard her book Bunny is a delightful read also.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The main character Miranda is a college theater director. In her younger years, she was a performer on stage, but after an accident left her seeking help for her "invisible pain" the doctors doubted and thought she was a delusional pain pill popper she left the stage to teach it. I felt guilty for laughing at someone else's misfortune, but this was well-developed humor and insight into her mind and thought process. Some of it was disturbing and desperate, but most of the time I was laughing out loud.
The disrespect she receives from her friends, colleagues and students creates resentment towards everyone and especially the healthy mode of the younger actresses. She directs the Shakespeare drama All's Well that Ends Well much to the students' dismay that it becomes quite intense. This is wild!!
I'm so thankful I was able to read it and have heard her book Bunny is a delightful read also.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
September 21, 2021what a ride—we love it though 👌🏾
August 3, 2021
Another favourite of the year! Mona Awad had me entranced with this one! If this isn’t the most deliciously dark read ever, I don’t know what is.
Miranda has chronic pain as a result of falling off stage just when her career was about to take off. Now, she’s in her mid-thirties and is a theatre professor who can barely move without pain lighting fires throughout her body. To Miranda’s chagrin, everyone in her life is tired of her complaining about it and they keep telling her it must be in her head, that she’s being theatric. All the same, Miranda is about to start rehearsals for this year’s play, All’s Well That Ends Well by Shakespeare.
One evening she goes to a dive bar and meets three men in suits who seem to know everything about her. They offer her a golden remedy with the promise that it will cure all of her ailments. And that’s how this darkly funny and bizarre tale unfurls from there.
This story is told in its entirety from Miranda’s perspective and you really get insight into all of her anxious and depressed thoughts. She reminisces about the days when she was a stunning, able-bodied woman with an adoring husband. She wants her old life back.
The discussions on female pain and how able-bodied people, sometimes, perceive it were spot on. Also, the analysis on how disabled people are sometimes treated by able-bodied people was very realistic.
Nerdy Latin Language Fact: The name Miranda is derived from the Latin ‘mirari’ and in this gerundive form means she who is to be admired, to be amazed at. I don’t know if the author specifically chose the name ‘Miranda’ for her main character with this in mind, but either way, it is genius and very fitting.
Needless to say, I absolutely loved this one and can’t wait for more from the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
Miranda has chronic pain as a result of falling off stage just when her career was about to take off. Now, she’s in her mid-thirties and is a theatre professor who can barely move without pain lighting fires throughout her body. To Miranda’s chagrin, everyone in her life is tired of her complaining about it and they keep telling her it must be in her head, that she’s being theatric. All the same, Miranda is about to start rehearsals for this year’s play, All’s Well That Ends Well by Shakespeare.
One evening she goes to a dive bar and meets three men in suits who seem to know everything about her. They offer her a golden remedy with the promise that it will cure all of her ailments. And that’s how this darkly funny and bizarre tale unfurls from there.
This story is told in its entirety from Miranda’s perspective and you really get insight into all of her anxious and depressed thoughts. She reminisces about the days when she was a stunning, able-bodied woman with an adoring husband. She wants her old life back.
The discussions on female pain and how able-bodied people, sometimes, perceive it were spot on. Also, the analysis on how disabled people are sometimes treated by able-bodied people was very realistic.
Nerdy Latin Language Fact: The name Miranda is derived from the Latin ‘mirari’ and in this gerundive form means she who is to be admired, to be amazed at. I don’t know if the author specifically chose the name ‘Miranda’ for her main character with this in mind, but either way, it is genius and very fitting.
Needless to say, I absolutely loved this one and can’t wait for more from the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
March 17, 2024
At its core All's Well is a retelling of Macbeth that centers a woman struggling with chronic pain and a bunch of doctors who won't believe her - and it's brilliant. This book deals so intimately and perfectly with being a woman that is in so much pain yet is not taken seriously by any medical professionals and the desperate measures one would go through to not feel that pain. Even when our main character was at her absolute worst I couldn't help but feel her fear of going back to her life before she met those strange benefactors.
The surrealism in this book is a bit less overwhelming than in Bunny , but I found that it hit a lot harder for me personally. The mysterious benefactors (aka the witches) were incredibly done in a lot of ways but I really loved how they felt like they were straight out of a David Lynch movie. I could visualize every scene with them so perfectly - down to the atmosphere. The increased delusions and erratic behavior of the MC were done in a way where you could really feel her descent into madness. That did make it hard to read at times, but in a "I can't look away from this train wreck" type of way not in a "wow this book is god awful" type of way.
I've seen a lot of people get kind of annoyed with the ending, but I genuinely think that that is the point. This book is very obviously inspired by All's Well That Ends Well (to the point where I would argue that it is a modern day retelling) and the ending fits within that narrative so perfectly. It's not supposed to satisfy you, it's supposed to make you say "seriously?" - that's the genius of it. All's well that ends well.
This book feels like it needs to be digested a few times before it can be fully understood and I am excited to reread it when I get the chance, but even on my first read this is a new favorite. I can safely say that Awad is a new favorite author and I hope to see this adapted to film asap.
Disclaimer: I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the plays Macbeth and All's Well That Ends Well before you read this book, even if just by reading/watching an in depth summary/analysis, it helps a lot with references and understanding why the plot pans out the way it does
The surrealism in this book is a bit less overwhelming than in Bunny , but I found that it hit a lot harder for me personally. The mysterious benefactors (aka the witches) were incredibly done in a lot of ways but I really loved how they felt like they were straight out of a David Lynch movie. I could visualize every scene with them so perfectly - down to the atmosphere. The increased delusions and erratic behavior of the MC were done in a way where you could really feel her descent into madness. That did make it hard to read at times, but in a "I can't look away from this train wreck" type of way not in a "wow this book is god awful" type of way.
I've seen a lot of people get kind of annoyed with the ending, but I genuinely think that that is the point. This book is very obviously inspired by All's Well That Ends Well (to the point where I would argue that it is a modern day retelling) and the ending fits within that narrative so perfectly. It's not supposed to satisfy you, it's supposed to make you say "seriously?" - that's the genius of it. All's well that ends well.
This book feels like it needs to be digested a few times before it can be fully understood and I am excited to reread it when I get the chance, but even on my first read this is a new favorite. I can safely say that Awad is a new favorite author and I hope to see this adapted to film asap.
Disclaimer: I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the plays Macbeth and All's Well That Ends Well before you read this book, even if just by reading/watching an in depth summary/analysis, it helps a lot with references and understanding why the plot pans out the way it does
July 8, 2021
I regret that I had a lot of difficulty getting into this book, and struggled throughout. It was not what I expected or needed at this time while shut in from the COVID threat and chronic pain. I feel that perhaps I am the wrong person to review a book that is rated highly by many readers. The description appealed to me as it was mentioned as being 'darkly funny' and 'hilarious'. That sounded like a book that would be humourous and would lift my spirits during this unsettled time.
I thought I should be empathizing with Miranda, but found her both sad, unfortunate, and not at all likable. She is employed as a theatre director at a university. She is determined to force her students to perform 'All's Well That Ends Well' for the annual stage production, going against her casts' wishes to put on the Scottish play (Macbeth) instead. "All's Well' reminds her of her early, painless days as a promising actress until an accident left her in excruciating pain. She can barely stumble in to work, her mind fuzzy from pain and overuse of painkillers. She resents her theatre students for their youth, beauty, high spirits, good health, and their voiced dislike of the play. She has become overly dependant on an assortment of painkillers, chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, with no favourable results. She also will mix in booze with her medications. Doctors tend to ignore or disbelieve complaints, especially from women. She has alienated most friends and lost her husband due to her misery. Her acquaintances barely tolerate her disability and suffering, and her job is in jeopardy.
The narrative is through a stream of consciousness, an inner monologue where we enter Miranda's mind. It is not a pleasant or comfortable place to be. She may be descending into madness. The story mixes reality with the surreal. While drinking in a bar, still on pain medication, she meets some characters who add a touch of magic realism. These new characters are aware of her mindset, her chronic pain, her search for a cure, and much about her past. They predict a more promising future for her.
I found this to be a melancholy, depressing read and was oblivious to its humour. I know many readers will find this a compelling and satisfying read. I was neither engaged with the character or the storyline and am sorry for this. I received the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
I thought I should be empathizing with Miranda, but found her both sad, unfortunate, and not at all likable. She is employed as a theatre director at a university. She is determined to force her students to perform 'All's Well That Ends Well' for the annual stage production, going against her casts' wishes to put on the Scottish play (Macbeth) instead. "All's Well' reminds her of her early, painless days as a promising actress until an accident left her in excruciating pain. She can barely stumble in to work, her mind fuzzy from pain and overuse of painkillers. She resents her theatre students for their youth, beauty, high spirits, good health, and their voiced dislike of the play. She has become overly dependant on an assortment of painkillers, chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, with no favourable results. She also will mix in booze with her medications. Doctors tend to ignore or disbelieve complaints, especially from women. She has alienated most friends and lost her husband due to her misery. Her acquaintances barely tolerate her disability and suffering, and her job is in jeopardy.
The narrative is through a stream of consciousness, an inner monologue where we enter Miranda's mind. It is not a pleasant or comfortable place to be. She may be descending into madness. The story mixes reality with the surreal. While drinking in a bar, still on pain medication, she meets some characters who add a touch of magic realism. These new characters are aware of her mindset, her chronic pain, her search for a cure, and much about her past. They predict a more promising future for her.
I found this to be a melancholy, depressing read and was oblivious to its humour. I know many readers will find this a compelling and satisfying read. I was neither engaged with the character or the storyline and am sorry for this. I received the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 8, 2021
WOW! What did I just read?!! Miranda, the pain ridden theater director, was able to make me laugh and cry while shaking my head in disbelief and confusion. As I rode the waves of what felt like a drug induced trip, I was captivated by Miranda and thrust into her surreal and ever changing world of pain, fear, triumph and joy. This book is a roller coaster ride that will capture you and hold on tight not letting you get off until you’ve reached the exciting,disturbing and intoxicating destination. The lines of reality and fantasy are blurred as Miranda suffers and rejoices in one of the most original and creative stories I have ever read. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC.
December 11, 2024
Enjoyed this! i think if you found Bunny a little too out there but like how claustrophobic/anxious Awad’s narrative tone gets this is a really great sweet spot while still retaining that signature strangeness she’s known for. Always down to read a more fantastical/absurdist take on the girl-who-is-not-going-to-be-okay arc with the type of dark satisfaction that starts to feel a little too sweet, to the point where it hurts your stomach. Also found this a lot tighter storytelling wise than Rouge.
Want to read
November 21, 2021Another one that I’ve DNFed this month with the intention of coming back to it eventually because the author is a bit TOO good at writing something - this time chronic pain and medical appointments. Ya gal doesn’t want to be reading about that right now considering my own.
TWs: chronic pain, medical anxiety, themes of chronic pain not being believed, suicide mentioned - possibly more but as I said, I DNFed so defo check with someone who read the entire thing
TWs: chronic pain, medical anxiety, themes of chronic pain not being believed, suicide mentioned - possibly more but as I said, I DNFed so defo check with someone who read the entire thing
September 25, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Miranda has been in severe pain since an accident at the peak of her acting career.
Now working as a director at a university for drama, while attempting to manage her pain that all the doctors seem to brush off; it’s fair to say she is at rock bottom.
One evening at the pub she meets 3 unusual men who seem to have the answers to all Miranda’s problems. They listen to her, and understand her grievances. Her pain can be removed, the brat in her class whose parents buy her the lead role will get her just deserts.
However, there is always a price to pay. Be careful what you wish for.
I loved the writing, it was gripping and the premise was great.
Miranda did go a bit cray near the end but I guess that was understandable. But I also wish we had more clarity on what was real, what was imagined.
Who were the men? What was their point, why would they help her?
Just wanted some more information on what was what. Will try something else by this author.
********************************
Library copy available for pick up
Some great reviews for this one. Looking forward to it 😊
Miranda has been in severe pain since an accident at the peak of her acting career.
Now working as a director at a university for drama, while attempting to manage her pain that all the doctors seem to brush off; it’s fair to say she is at rock bottom.
One evening at the pub she meets 3 unusual men who seem to have the answers to all Miranda’s problems. They listen to her, and understand her grievances. Her pain can be removed, the brat in her class whose parents buy her the lead role will get her just deserts.
However, there is always a price to pay. Be careful what you wish for.
I loved the writing, it was gripping and the premise was great.
Miranda did go a bit cray near the end but I guess that was understandable. But I also wish we had more clarity on what was real, what was imagined.
Who were the men? What was their point, why would they help her?
Just wanted some more information on what was what. Will try something else by this author.
********************************
Library copy available for pick up
Some great reviews for this one. Looking forward to it 😊
January 17, 2022
I was completely caught up in this deliciously dark, perverse fairy tale with its marvellously-inventive angle on weighty issues. Mona Awad’s central character Miranda’s a former actress, whose fall from stage during a performance has left her with agonising, chronic pain. Her body’s been manipulated by sadistic physios and her symptoms dismissed by a succession of condescending doctors. She’s reduced to yet another, vulnerable female body presided over by misogynist men. Miranda’s clinging to her job in a small college, one of the only two tutors left in its dwindling theatre department. Now she’s struggling to stage a performance of Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well but students and staff seem intent on sabotaging her plans. However, an unexpected encounter with three uncanny figures may change Miranda’s fortunes.
Awad’s drawing on her own experiences here, in the aftermath of disastrous hip surgery. Her novel’s a convincing, blistering critique of women’s treatment by a male-dominated, medical industry - frequently infantilised, often disbelieved. Numerous, bleakly comic scenes depicting Miranda’s appointments with so-called health professionals will, I suspect, be all too familiar to many women readers. But despite the sense of verisimilitude, Awad jettisons conventional realist approaches, instead she offers up a near-mythic piece, replete with magical twists, bizarre reversals and moments of surreal fantasy. Miranda’s story’s interwoven with material from Shakespeare’s plays, from All’s Well That Ends Well to Macbeth, The Tempest and Hamlet, playing with their themes of dangerous desires, madness and witchcraft. There are some minor flaws, including occasional issues with pacing, but overall I thought this was a gripping, bravura performance, complex, intelligent, delightfully sinister.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Scribner for an arc
Rating: 4.5
Awad’s drawing on her own experiences here, in the aftermath of disastrous hip surgery. Her novel’s a convincing, blistering critique of women’s treatment by a male-dominated, medical industry - frequently infantilised, often disbelieved. Numerous, bleakly comic scenes depicting Miranda’s appointments with so-called health professionals will, I suspect, be all too familiar to many women readers. But despite the sense of verisimilitude, Awad jettisons conventional realist approaches, instead she offers up a near-mythic piece, replete with magical twists, bizarre reversals and moments of surreal fantasy. Miranda’s story’s interwoven with material from Shakespeare’s plays, from All’s Well That Ends Well to Macbeth, The Tempest and Hamlet, playing with their themes of dangerous desires, madness and witchcraft. There are some minor flaws, including occasional issues with pacing, but overall I thought this was a gripping, bravura performance, complex, intelligent, delightfully sinister.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Scribner for an arc
Rating: 4.5
February 18, 2021
not sure what the FUCK i just read but i loved every minute of this trippy journey and Miranda Fitch is a character i’ll think about for a long time. favorite book of the year so far
June 29, 2024
Nie tak dobra jak Króliczek, ale wciąż intrygująca. Czytać Awad to obowiązek.
January 24, 2023
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re-read: i liked certain aspects more this time around but the repetition does sometimes feel OTP & that final sequence is a wee bit overlong…still, the author definitely captures how chronic pain in women is often dismissed or attributed to an ‘inherently female’ emotional imbalance…if you haven’t read this you should definitely add it to your TBR pile
3 ¼ stars
All's Well makes for an entertaining if somewhat flawed romp. The novel is narrated by Miranda, a theatre professor in her later thirties, who is not doing so well. After falling off a stage during her early acting career Miranda has been left in a state of perpetual pain. Bad surgeries, failed recoveries, inept physiotherapists have all left their mark on her body and Miranda now struggles to even move her right leg and suffers from chronic pain (her back, hip). She's divorced and has no friends left.
Not only are her colleagues disbelieving of her pain but even her doctors treat Miranda's 'failed' attempts to improve as something she ought to be blamed for. She decides that her class should stage Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well since not only did she herself act in that play years previously (giving a brilliant performance) but elements within its story (such as helena's 'cure') appeal to her given her current situation. Alas, her students are not so keen, wanting instead to stage Macbeth. Briana, who always gets parts not because she is talented but because her parents' generous donations to the college, seems particularly intent on making Miranda's life difficult. When Briana’s ‘mutiny' succeeds Miranda is equal parts furious and despairing. Not only does she have to deal with her body being in constant pain but now she feels that her life has reached its lowest point, with no one believing her about her chronic pain or even respecting her.
At the local pub, she comes across three mysterious men in suits who not only know all about her professional and personal life but they also seem eager to help her. One golden drink later and Miranda blacks out. Wondering whether she is really losing it Miranda goes to rehearsals where after an 'altercation' with Briana she finds herself feeling increasingly better. Not only is her pain gone but she can once again move her body with ease. And, it just so happens that she can stage All's Well That Ends Well after all. So what if Briana has fallen gravely ill? Not all gifts have to come at a price....right?
In a similar fashion to Bunny, All's Well present its readers with an increasingly surreal narrative. From the start, Miranda's voice is characterised by a note of hysteria, and as the story's events unfold, her narration becomes increasingly frenzied. She's paranoid and obsessive, one could even say unhinged. Yet, even after she's crossed, leapt over even, the line I found myself still rooting for Miranda. I loved that detail about her 'asides' being overheard by others.
The latter half of the novel does fall into the same pitfalls as Bunny. The language gets repetitive, the weirdness feels contrived, and we get this surreal sequence that could have been cut short (a joke that goes on for too long ends up being not all that funny).
The narrative's dark, sometimes offensive, humor brought to mind Ottessa Moshfegh, Jen Beagin, and Melissa Broder. The side characters were a bit unmemorable, Miranda's colleagues in particular, and I wish more time had spent on getting to know the students (we only learn a bit about three of them) or to see them rehearsing the play. My favourite scenes were the ones with the three suited men, I really loved the way they are presented to us. They gave some serious David Lynch and Shirley Jackson vibes.
I wish that Miranda's visit to that sadistic doctor could have been left out of the novel as they felt a bit heavy-handed. Then again, this not a nuanced or complex novel. It is absurd, occasionally funny, and mostly entertaining. The novel's exploration of chronic pain did not feel particularly thought-provoking but there were instances that I could relate to (i happen to suffer from a seasonal autoimmune disease and i've had to put up with patronising doctors dismissing the severity of my symptoms). It seemed a bit weird that no one believed Miranda (or that crutches and walking sticks do not exist in this universe so characters are constantly 'hobbling' with their leg dragging behind them). Still, we do get spot-on passages like this:
I appreciate Miranda's journey, from being the who is wronged to being the one who wrongs others, and I liked her hectic OTT narration. Yes, Awad's style has this sticky extra quality to it that I am still not 100% fond of but here I found myself buying into it more. If unlike me, you were a fan ofBunny you will probably find All's Well to be a pretty entertaining read. Those who weren't keen on Bunny may be better off sampling a few pages before committing to All's Well (some may find it irritating or unpleasant: "all of them gazing up at my body, lump foul of deformity"). Personally, I found All's Well to be far more well-executed than Bunny and Miranda makes for a fascinating protagonist.
Side note: I don't want to nitpick but Italians use 'primavera' to say 'spring' (if you want to argue about the etymology of 'primavera' 'first spring' would not be incorrect but Awad does not make that distinction so...).
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
re-read: i liked certain aspects more this time around but the repetition does sometimes feel OTP & that final sequence is a wee bit overlong…still, the author definitely captures how chronic pain in women is often dismissed or attributed to an ‘inherently female’ emotional imbalance…if you haven’t read this you should definitely add it to your TBR pile
3 ¼ stars
“I thought tests led to something. A diagnosis led to a plan, a cure. But tests, I know now, never lead us anywhere. Tests are dark roads with no destinations, just leading to more dark.”
All's Well makes for an entertaining if somewhat flawed romp. The novel is narrated by Miranda, a theatre professor in her later thirties, who is not doing so well. After falling off a stage during her early acting career Miranda has been left in a state of perpetual pain. Bad surgeries, failed recoveries, inept physiotherapists have all left their mark on her body and Miranda now struggles to even move her right leg and suffers from chronic pain (her back, hip). She's divorced and has no friends left.
“I was always busy. Doing what? Grace would ask. Getting divorced. Seeing another surgeon, another wellness charlatan. Gazing into the void of my life.”
Not only are her colleagues disbelieving of her pain but even her doctors treat Miranda's 'failed' attempts to improve as something she ought to be blamed for. She decides that her class should stage Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well since not only did she herself act in that play years previously (giving a brilliant performance) but elements within its story (such as helena's 'cure') appeal to her given her current situation. Alas, her students are not so keen, wanting instead to stage Macbeth. Briana, who always gets parts not because she is talented but because her parents' generous donations to the college, seems particularly intent on making Miranda's life difficult. When Briana’s ‘mutiny' succeeds Miranda is equal parts furious and despairing. Not only does she have to deal with her body being in constant pain but now she feels that her life has reached its lowest point, with no one believing her about her chronic pain or even respecting her.
At the local pub, she comes across three mysterious men in suits who not only know all about her professional and personal life but they also seem eager to help her. One golden drink later and Miranda blacks out. Wondering whether she is really losing it Miranda goes to rehearsals where after an 'altercation' with Briana she finds herself feeling increasingly better. Not only is her pain gone but she can once again move her body with ease. And, it just so happens that she can stage All's Well That Ends Well after all. So what if Briana has fallen gravely ill? Not all gifts have to come at a price....right?
“Still sick, so we hear. So sad. We are all terribly sad about it, turly. Truly, truly.”
In a similar fashion to Bunny, All's Well present its readers with an increasingly surreal narrative. From the start, Miranda's voice is characterised by a note of hysteria, and as the story's events unfold, her narration becomes increasingly frenzied. She's paranoid and obsessive, one could even say unhinged. Yet, even after she's crossed, leapt over even, the line I found myself still rooting for Miranda. I loved that detail about her 'asides' being overheard by others.
The latter half of the novel does fall into the same pitfalls as Bunny. The language gets repetitive, the weirdness feels contrived, and we get this surreal sequence that could have been cut short (a joke that goes on for too long ends up being not all that funny).
The narrative's dark, sometimes offensive, humor brought to mind Ottessa Moshfegh, Jen Beagin, and Melissa Broder. The side characters were a bit unmemorable, Miranda's colleagues in particular, and I wish more time had spent on getting to know the students (we only learn a bit about three of them) or to see them rehearsing the play. My favourite scenes were the ones with the three suited men, I really loved the way they are presented to us. They gave some serious David Lynch and Shirley Jackson vibes.
I wish that Miranda's visit to that sadistic doctor could have been left out of the novel as they felt a bit heavy-handed. Then again, this not a nuanced or complex novel. It is absurd, occasionally funny, and mostly entertaining. The novel's exploration of chronic pain did not feel particularly thought-provoking but there were instances that I could relate to (i happen to suffer from a seasonal autoimmune disease and i've had to put up with patronising doctors dismissing the severity of my symptoms). It seemed a bit weird that no one believed Miranda (or that crutches and walking sticks do not exist in this universe so characters are constantly 'hobbling' with their leg dragging behind them). Still, we do get spot-on passages like this:
“But not too much pain, am I right? Not too much, never too much. If it was too much, you wouldn't know what to do with me, would you? Too much would make you uncomfortable. Bored. My crying would leave a bad taste. That would just be bad theatre, wouldn't it? A bad show. You want a good show. They all do. A few pretty tears on my cheeks that you can brush away. Just a delicate little bit of ouch so you know there's someone in there. So you don't get too scared of me, am I right? So you know I'm still a vulnerable thing. That I can be brought down if I need be.”
I appreciate Miranda's journey, from being the who is wronged to being the one who wrongs others, and I liked her hectic OTT narration. Yes, Awad's style has this sticky extra quality to it that I am still not 100% fond of but here I found myself buying into it more. If unlike me, you were a fan ofBunny you will probably find All's Well to be a pretty entertaining read. Those who weren't keen on Bunny may be better off sampling a few pages before committing to All's Well (some may find it irritating or unpleasant: "all of them gazing up at my body, lump foul of deformity"). Personally, I found All's Well to be far more well-executed than Bunny and Miranda makes for a fascinating protagonist.
Side note: I don't want to nitpick but Italians use 'primavera' to say 'spring' (if you want to argue about the etymology of 'primavera' 'first spring' would not be incorrect but Awad does not make that distinction so...).
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2021
PERFORMING TONIGHT: THE WEIRD BRETHREN!!!
There'll be another glass after that. And another, and another. All these glasses that will never be clean. All these spots that will never out.
Amidst all the many receptions and rewritings of Shakespeare plays, this is one of the most creative I've read as Awad takes inspiration from the problematic All's Well That Ends Well, mashes it up with Macbeth in particular with a smattering of other allusions including, importantly, Doctor Faustus but allows her own confection to take flight in an unashamedly modern and feminist direction.
Best of all, this starts in a realist style but soon veers off into the magical, surreal, multilayered and fantastical territory that the original plays made their own, with an overt theatricality that channels the spirit of All's Well without being in the slightest bit confined or constrained by that play's plot. An acquaintance with that play serves well to highlight the cleverness of this book, from the controversial and doubled figure of Helen[a], to the presence of a contemporary version of the 'bed trick', and the 'back from the dead' trope (also gesturing to Hermione from The Winter's Tale) gets an added resonance via its connection to healing on multiple levels.
Amidst the fun and mayhem, and the increasing psychological chaos, this also makes pointed comments about gender and gendered power, figured via the three male 'doctors' who replace the witches from Macbeth (and note the multiple uses of the word 'weird' around them, as well as the subtle way they reflects the three phases of the moon giving an association with Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, especially the one who is only ever seen as 'a sliver' to represent the new moon) - and who contrast with the doctors and other healers who refuse to listen to Miranda (NB. The Tempest) and her own assessments of her chronic pain and the treatments that might help.
Anyone who has read Awad's Bunny will already be familiar with the cool way she mixes up the kooky and the serious, and her unique vision and style - a tour de force that is clever, pointed, dark and grotesque in places, but which miraculously comes back to its starting point: all's well that ends well.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster/Scribner UK for an ARC via NetGalley.
December 2, 2022
What I love most about Mona Awad's storytelling is how completely she can have me in her grip. I will forget that I'm reading a book and get totally lost in the character's world and story. And this is an easy one to get lost in.
The story follows actress-turned-college drama professor & theater director Miranda Fitch as she attempts to put on a production of Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. Her students, however, are determined to put on Macbeth. Also Miranda lives with chronic pain due to a fall from stage that ended her acting career.
One night, Miranda makes a sort of cosmic deal with three mysterious figures in a Scottish pub and the story takes a mystical turn from there.
I just love Awad's writing. She's sharp and in your face, but it's always grounded in the story and characters. It's never weird just for weirdness's sake. It's a sort of literary magical realism, with clever crafting and scene setting. Especially in this novel which deals with topics around theater and the stage, how we perceive things and how we 'put on a show,' as well as the compromises or deals we make to get what we want, it all worked together so...well!
Needless to say this year Mona Awad has been one of my authors to watch. I will automatically read anything she publishes. I eagerly await her next novel coming in Fall 2023! I hope she continues that level of weirdness but paired with real human emotion that makes her stories and characters so complex and intriguing.
The story follows actress-turned-college drama professor & theater director Miranda Fitch as she attempts to put on a production of Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. Her students, however, are determined to put on Macbeth. Also Miranda lives with chronic pain due to a fall from stage that ended her acting career.
One night, Miranda makes a sort of cosmic deal with three mysterious figures in a Scottish pub and the story takes a mystical turn from there.
I just love Awad's writing. She's sharp and in your face, but it's always grounded in the story and characters. It's never weird just for weirdness's sake. It's a sort of literary magical realism, with clever crafting and scene setting. Especially in this novel which deals with topics around theater and the stage, how we perceive things and how we 'put on a show,' as well as the compromises or deals we make to get what we want, it all worked together so...well!
Needless to say this year Mona Awad has been one of my authors to watch. I will automatically read anything she publishes. I eagerly await her next novel coming in Fall 2023! I hope she continues that level of weirdness but paired with real human emotion that makes her stories and characters so complex and intriguing.
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