Irene Graziosi

The Other Profile by Irene Graziosi, translated by Lucy Rand is a so-so novel about social media influencers. Maia, 26, is living with an older professor and works a couple days a week as a waitress at his insistence. After the death of her younger sister she just wants to lay on the sofa and watch Law and Order SVU. Then the opportunity arises to work for Gloria, an 18-year-old influencer with millions of followers. Maia's job is basically to help Gloria keep her image which is all she has and maybe include a bit of personality in her interactions.

Maia is an unreliable and unlikeable narrator. Gloria is an insipid, vacuous inst-influencer. It is a struggle to care about either of these characters throughout the whole novel, beyond being annoyed by them. The novel itself has a vague, unfinished feeling. This one is best skipped unless you are really interested in on-line personalities. Two stars because I finished it, but, honestly, I wish I had simple set it aside and moved on. Thanks to Europa Editions for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/01/the-other-profile.html… (mais)