News
September 03, 2025
Review: Novel offers a ‘Porthole’ into lives of the rich and messed up
“You’re a woman, obviously.” This dialogue appears on page 99 of “Porthole” and it’s quite helpful because, in the previous 98 pages, I literally kept flipping back and forth, trying to figure out the gender of our narrator. This is...
A new novel, “Porthole,” promises readers a peek into the opulent and chaotic lives of the wealthy, but one early reviewer suggests the journey might be more confusing than captivating. The reviewer highlights a specific line of dialogue from page 99 – "You're a woman, obviously" – as a pivotal moment in understanding the central character.
According to the review, the narrator's gender remains ambiguous for the first 98 pages, leading to repeated double-checking and a potentially frustrating reading experience. The reviewer candidly admits to flipping back and forth, desperately searching for clues to decipher the protagonist's identity. This initial ambiguity suggests the author may be employing a deliberate narrative strategy, perhaps aiming to challenge conventional gender assumptions or to keep the reader guessing.
While the review acknowledges the potential cleverness of this approach, it also raises questions about its effectiveness. Does the prolonged uncertainty ultimately serve the story, or does it simply create unnecessary confusion for the reader? The reviewer’s struggle to identify the narrator suggests a potential barrier to entry, potentially hindering the reader's ability to fully engage with the narrative and the lives of the wealthy characters it portrays.
"Porthole" clearly aims to offer more than just a superficial glimpse into the world of privilege. The inclusion of the phrase "messed up" in the title hints at underlying dysfunction and complex relationships within this rarefied social circle. However, the review suggests that untangling the protagonist's identity may be the first, and perhaps most challenging, hurdle for readers to overcome before they can fully delve into the novel's deeper themes. Whether this narrative gamble pays off remains to be seen, but it certainly positions "Porthole" as a potentially divisive and thought-provoking read. Readers seeking a straightforward narrative may find themselves disoriented, while those who appreciate experimental storytelling might find the ambiguity intriguing.
According to the review, the narrator's gender remains ambiguous for the first 98 pages, leading to repeated double-checking and a potentially frustrating reading experience. The reviewer candidly admits to flipping back and forth, desperately searching for clues to decipher the protagonist's identity. This initial ambiguity suggests the author may be employing a deliberate narrative strategy, perhaps aiming to challenge conventional gender assumptions or to keep the reader guessing.
While the review acknowledges the potential cleverness of this approach, it also raises questions about its effectiveness. Does the prolonged uncertainty ultimately serve the story, or does it simply create unnecessary confusion for the reader? The reviewer’s struggle to identify the narrator suggests a potential barrier to entry, potentially hindering the reader's ability to fully engage with the narrative and the lives of the wealthy characters it portrays.
"Porthole" clearly aims to offer more than just a superficial glimpse into the world of privilege. The inclusion of the phrase "messed up" in the title hints at underlying dysfunction and complex relationships within this rarefied social circle. However, the review suggests that untangling the protagonist's identity may be the first, and perhaps most challenging, hurdle for readers to overcome before they can fully delve into the novel's deeper themes. Whether this narrative gamble pays off remains to be seen, but it certainly positions "Porthole" as a potentially divisive and thought-provoking read. Readers seeking a straightforward narrative may find themselves disoriented, while those who appreciate experimental storytelling might find the ambiguity intriguing.
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Entertainment