“I made mistakes like this all the time, seeking affirmation from the very worst people, so that what I must have been after deep down was confirmation of the fears instead of their dismissals”
I wanted to read something with similar writing like Sally Rooney and someone recommended this to me. I definitely see the similarities.
Acts of Desperation is a debut novel that explores the toxic and all-consuming nature of love and obsession. There isn't much of a plot here, as the story pretty much just follows a young woman who becomes entangled in a tumultuous relationship with a man who she desperately loves. The main character details her thoughts and makes great observations on love, relationships and self worth that I think a lot of people can relate to.
With raw honesty and unflinching prose, Nolan examines the dark side of romantic love and the ways in which it can consume and destroy those caught in its grip.
More quotes I loved:
“How impoverished my internal life had become, the scrabbling for a token of love from somebody who didn’t want to offer it.”
“I was not without value, but the value I held was not the kind I wanted to hold, and I did not know how to exchange it.”
“I wished I could unburden myself but I couldn't verbalise what was happening because doing so would bring it into existence. So far, it was all taking place in my head with no verification from an outside party, and so long as I kept it that way I could suppress it.”
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