This is so well written. I agree, Yesteryear as a premise was tantalizing, but Yesteryear as a novel collapses under its own weight. If Burke had been willing to slow her process, continue researching, and be willing to interrogate her own passion against the Ballerina Farms of the world and be critical of her own desire to see them suffer (Natalie Heller-Mills seems little more than a voodoo doll of Hannah Neeleman), Yesteryear could have been a truly timely and compelling story and commentary.
One of the things that's bugging me the most is Caleb. How did he go from impotent manchild who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, to newly woke man ready to run away with a much-younger woman, to abusive man willing to live without modern amenities for 90% of the time? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS GUY.
And don't get me started on how problematic some of those sex scenes are ...
Not only was she lazy in overgeneralization of Natalie’s faith, but she also couldn’t commit to a mental illness. She lists out multiple but doesn’t choose one. Why would you not do that???
You nailed it. This book drove me nuts. It feels disrespectful in a sense...I too was sucked in by the stay at home daughters movement back in the day, and I'm glad I matured out of it. It feels disrespectful to the people tradwives are misleading to not bother to research or put effort into what you're depicting.
Completely agree. As an ex evangelical I could spot the inconsistencies pretty quickly. She could have at least mentioned some kind of church Natalie attended but no.
I think a LOT of the “critiques” of YY have been really heavy handed and bad faith. I don’t agree with your conclusion on her reaction because it’s fair to say that would be frustrating. That said, while I had a totally different experience and loved YY, I thought this was a GREAT review that gives a lot to think about. I think if more “bad” reviews were like this (actually engaging with the text and bringing a POV) this would be an English Lit class rather than the internet.
Thank you!! I should clarify, I think it's reasonable that her reaction would be one of frustration, so I agree with you there. What I don't like is that she is characterizing critique of her art as misogyny and a critique against women in general. She does not speak for all women, and holding women's work as too fragile to be criticized is in itself misogyny.
I agree that a lot of it has been misogyny, if not at least internet rage bait culture.
A lot of the negative critiques have been, honestly, embarrassing (from “I could write a better book” to “this failed at being [thing it never claimed to be]”).
To be perfectly honest, yours is one of the first negative reviews (of many that I’ve read) that clearly engaged with the text and made points that, even if I don’t agree, I can totally respect. We should be able to disagree, that’s art!
Maybe there’s lots of reviews like you’re out there but I haven’t seen them.
We're probably engaging with different reviews, then! I linked to a couple of the ones that I'd really enjoyed. I don't agree with the people who say that she portrays Christianity in a bad light (she doesn't portray it at all!) or the people who are upset because the main character is unlikable. So I definitely think bad faith criticisms and poor reading comprehension play a role.
Anyway, thanks for your kind words-- I appreciate being able to disagree respectfully! I'm glad you had an enjoyable experience reading the book. Have you read Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza? I liked that novel a lot better, though it has a very different vibe.
I agree with every last point you've made except that Burke is clearly a talented writer. The language, overuse of similes, and cringy descriptions also drove me up the wall. Thanks for this affirmation. I'm over here seething over how terrible this book is.
I thought the way the story was structured was well-done and the pacing was magnificent-- as others have noted, I couldn't put it down. I also think the way she described some of the postpartum depression experience was spot-on, especially for someone who (I think) is not a mother herself. Also, I didn't want to be too mean lol
I haven’t read this but to your point, maybe someone outside of fundamentalist culture could write a satire, just have not seen it yet. Thank you for writing this. I don’t think I could read it mainly bc I would want to throw it across the room in frustration!!
Also??? Those are not SEWING NEEDLES which are clacking away while her mother knits. Please be so for real right now.
Idaho *bluebonnets,* too. Lollllllll. Not to mention a preteen who knows how to order a Starbucks at Target but doesn't know what the ocean is.
This made me CRAZY. The opening scene has her feeling a "hand-knitted" quilt, too.
Are you SERIOUS?! I was actually looking forward to reading it but stuff like this would absolutely drive me crazy
I would give it a pass if I were you- but there are people who love it, so who knows! /diplomacy
This is so well written. I agree, Yesteryear as a premise was tantalizing, but Yesteryear as a novel collapses under its own weight. If Burke had been willing to slow her process, continue researching, and be willing to interrogate her own passion against the Ballerina Farms of the world and be critical of her own desire to see them suffer (Natalie Heller-Mills seems little more than a voodoo doll of Hannah Neeleman), Yesteryear could have been a truly timely and compelling story and commentary.
While they're different genres, I think "Everyone is Lying to You" by Jo Piazza explores the influencer world in a much more believable, nuanced way.
100% agree.
Completely agree with this review. Spot on.
One of the things that's bugging me the most is Caleb. How did he go from impotent manchild who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, to newly woke man ready to run away with a much-younger woman, to abusive man willing to live without modern amenities for 90% of the time? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS GUY.
And don't get me started on how problematic some of those sex scenes are ...
Not only was she lazy in overgeneralization of Natalie’s faith, but she also couldn’t commit to a mental illness. She lists out multiple but doesn’t choose one. Why would you not do that???
You nailed it. This book drove me nuts. It feels disrespectful in a sense...I too was sucked in by the stay at home daughters movement back in the day, and I'm glad I matured out of it. It feels disrespectful to the people tradwives are misleading to not bother to research or put effort into what you're depicting.
Completely agree. As an ex evangelical I could spot the inconsistencies pretty quickly. She could have at least mentioned some kind of church Natalie attended but no.
Sensational friend!!!
I think a LOT of the “critiques” of YY have been really heavy handed and bad faith. I don’t agree with your conclusion on her reaction because it’s fair to say that would be frustrating. That said, while I had a totally different experience and loved YY, I thought this was a GREAT review that gives a lot to think about. I think if more “bad” reviews were like this (actually engaging with the text and bringing a POV) this would be an English Lit class rather than the internet.
Thank you!! I should clarify, I think it's reasonable that her reaction would be one of frustration, so I agree with you there. What I don't like is that she is characterizing critique of her art as misogyny and a critique against women in general. She does not speak for all women, and holding women's work as too fragile to be criticized is in itself misogyny.
I agree that a lot of it has been misogyny, if not at least internet rage bait culture.
A lot of the negative critiques have been, honestly, embarrassing (from “I could write a better book” to “this failed at being [thing it never claimed to be]”).
To be perfectly honest, yours is one of the first negative reviews (of many that I’ve read) that clearly engaged with the text and made points that, even if I don’t agree, I can totally respect. We should be able to disagree, that’s art!
Maybe there’s lots of reviews like you’re out there but I haven’t seen them.
We're probably engaging with different reviews, then! I linked to a couple of the ones that I'd really enjoyed. I don't agree with the people who say that she portrays Christianity in a bad light (she doesn't portray it at all!) or the people who are upset because the main character is unlikable. So I definitely think bad faith criticisms and poor reading comprehension play a role.
Anyway, thanks for your kind words-- I appreciate being able to disagree respectfully! I'm glad you had an enjoyable experience reading the book. Have you read Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza? I liked that novel a lot better, though it has a very different vibe.
I agree with every last point you've made except that Burke is clearly a talented writer. The language, overuse of similes, and cringy descriptions also drove me up the wall. Thanks for this affirmation. I'm over here seething over how terrible this book is.
I thought the way the story was structured was well-done and the pacing was magnificent-- as others have noted, I couldn't put it down. I also think the way she described some of the postpartum depression experience was spot-on, especially for someone who (I think) is not a mother herself. Also, I didn't want to be too mean lol
I haven’t read this but to your point, maybe someone outside of fundamentalist culture could write a satire, just have not seen it yet. Thank you for writing this. I don’t think I could read it mainly bc I would want to throw it across the room in frustration!!