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taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Physical abuse, Gore, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Rape, Domestic abuse, Child death, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Racism, Abandonment, Car accident, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism and Animal cruelty
dorkiki's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fan.
Je serais curieuse d'en savoir plus sur le type de créature qu'est Elinor. Mais ça n'aurait pas vraiment eu sa place directement dans le roman.
Je serais curieuse d'en savoir plus sur le type de créature qu'est Elinor. Mais ça n'aurait pas vraiment eu sa place directement dans le roman.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Death, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Body horror
armchair_vibes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Stunning southern gothic horror.
In terms of vibes they are maxed out. We have the oppressive heat, sticky swampland and occasional torrential downpours. Then we have the muddy Perdido river that threatens to wipe away the town. These elements are used brilliantly to create such vivid imagery and atmosphere.
Despite this being a horror it doesn't try too hard to be scary. Its main focus is the
Caskey family and their internal struggles against each other whilst trying to maintain their social status and wealth.
I would say it's slow paced but there is lots of drama and fascinating characters so it never felt boring. The horror elements are used sparingly and executed perfectly at the right moments.
Mcdowell crafts a dark, intimate and often tragic family tale that spans several generations. He explores many themes, including death, loneliness, parenthood and generational trauma. All the while the threat of something much scarier and mysterious lurks at the heart of the family.
This book is stunning, so much to love about it. I can happily say it has taken the number one spot of best horror I have read to date.
In terms of vibes they are maxed out. We have the oppressive heat, sticky swampland and occasional torrential downpours. Then we have the muddy Perdido river that threatens to wipe away the town. These elements are used brilliantly to create such vivid imagery and atmosphere.
Despite this being a horror it doesn't try too hard to be scary. Its main focus is the
Caskey family and their internal struggles against each other whilst trying to maintain their social status and wealth.
I would say it's slow paced but there is lots of drama and fascinating characters so it never felt boring. The horror elements are used sparingly and executed perfectly at the right moments.
Mcdowell crafts a dark, intimate and often tragic family tale that spans several generations. He explores many themes, including death, loneliness, parenthood and generational trauma. All the while the threat of something much scarier and mysterious lurks at the heart of the family.
This book is stunning, so much to love about it. I can happily say it has taken the number one spot of best horror I have read to date.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
djali84's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: War, Toxic relationship, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Car accident, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
patiojames's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
rubyhosh's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Ableism, Rape, and Violence
selenotropic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this is one of the best books I've ever read. Originally a serial novel published in six parts, this is a 50-year story about a rich family in a small Alabama town whose son and heir marries a mysterious woman who shows up on the day of a catastrophic flood. Although McDowell's known as a horror author, this is mostly a southern gothic family drama, with lots of soap opera scheming and complex, shifting relationships between the cast. Though when the supernatural does intrude into the story it does so effectively and often brutally - this book has possibly the most distressing description of a monster murder I have ever read. Mostly though, it's just an extremely well-told story with a big cast of really engaging characters on a large scale that smoothly shifts and changes what exactly it's about and what it's doing in a way that's pretty masterful. It's a shame that McDowell is so obscure, because this book is fantastic and is definitely a lost classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism and Racism
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