Scan barcode
heatherr_'s review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
sunny_yil's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
catacombsaint's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
forgacsilana's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chanelchapters's review against another edition
DNF
Put it on when having trouble sleeping - you’ll pass right out
Put it on when having trouble sleeping - you’ll pass right out
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
3.0
PROs:
* This is very lyrical, if you like lyrical novels. It almost has a rhythm to it.
* Interesting themes are brought up within the book (complicity, animal representation).
* I did like the literal parts of this novel (as opposed to when the narrator is in her own head).
CONs:
* This novel isn't for me. I didn't like the voice. The narrator comes across so holier than thou in parts. I like it if a narrator is deliciously evil and sounds holier than thou (the You series by Caroline Kepnes). In this novel, though, the narrator isn't deliciously evil. Just stuck in her head and impressed with her own linguistic gymnastics.
* The writing was very distracting to me. Sentences were very long (often 10+ lines) and riddled with commas. I'd say the average sentence had 5 commas. If a sentence were particularly long, I'd count commas. I found two sentences that had 14 (!!!!) commas each. These weren't long lists separated by commas. These were clauses separated by commas.
* Ultimately, I didn't "get" this book. That might be because I was distracted by counting commas or frustrated by the narrator being in her own head. Or I just might not be smart enough.
And, finally, the blurb says this is similar to Shirley Jackson's writing. It is NOT. I'd say it's far closer to Mary Oliver.
* This is very lyrical, if you like lyrical novels. It almost has a rhythm to it.
* Interesting themes are brought up within the book (complicity, animal representation).
* I did like the literal parts of this novel (as opposed to when the narrator is in her own head).
CONs:
* This novel isn't for me. I didn't like the voice. The narrator comes across so holier than thou in parts. I like it if a narrator is deliciously evil and sounds holier than thou (the You series by Caroline Kepnes). In this novel, though, the narrator isn't deliciously evil. Just stuck in her head and impressed with her own linguistic gymnastics.
* The writing was very distracting to me. Sentences were very long (often 10+ lines) and riddled with commas. I'd say the average sentence had 5 commas. If a sentence were particularly long, I'd count commas. I found two sentences that had 14 (!!!!) commas each. These weren't long lists separated by commas. These were clauses separated by commas.
* Ultimately, I didn't "get" this book. That might be because I was distracted by counting commas or frustrated by the narrator being in her own head. Or I just might not be smart enough.
And, finally, the blurb says this is similar to Shirley Jackson's writing. It is NOT. I'd say it's far closer to Mary Oliver.
ginamc's review against another edition
It started to get tedious. The inner ramblings of the main character became tiring.
codenameivy's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
just not for me.
i can see why people compare this to shirley jacksons works (one of my favourite authors) but it’s a bit too weak for me. i get the whole “unreliable narrator” and wannabe philosophical concepts but i just felt bored the whole time.
the author fails to instil that bone-chilling atmosphere that shirley manages to establish from the very first page.
i can see why people compare this to shirley jacksons works (one of my favourite authors) but it’s a bit too weak for me. i get the whole “unreliable narrator” and wannabe philosophical concepts but i just felt bored the whole time.
the author fails to instil that bone-chilling atmosphere that shirley manages to establish from the very first page.