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michael_benavidez's review
4.0
I had a hard time trying to rate and review this Novelette.
I had no idea what the story was about, whether it'd be a monster type story or something of the like. I came in blind, depending on the author's talent from the last book of theirs that I read to lead me true. So as I read, I depended on the main character to guide me.
This kinda proved hard because the writing puts the character at arm's length. Sure it's from her perspective, but we get a sort of hollow void of a person going through the motions of their life. And this put me off for a while. Until halfway through. That was when it hit me (and i won't say what it was, no spoilers here), that this was on purpose.
The writing is a distant, vague, snapshot style life story of a character in a dark DARK time in their life. We don't connect because she herself doesn't want to connect. Once I understood that, the rest was brilliant. A tad bit disorienting with the several jumps from doing this to doing that, that seemed like they could have been written a bit smoother. Hence the one star off. But other than that, it's a brilliant story, dark, at arm's length narrative that really flows once you understand what's going on.
I had no idea what the story was about, whether it'd be a monster type story or something of the like. I came in blind, depending on the author's talent from the last book of theirs that I read to lead me true. So as I read, I depended on the main character to guide me.
This kinda proved hard because the writing puts the character at arm's length. Sure it's from her perspective, but we get a sort of hollow void of a person going through the motions of their life. And this put me off for a while. Until halfway through. That was when it hit me (and i won't say what it was, no spoilers here), that this was on purpose.
The writing is a distant, vague, snapshot style life story of a character in a dark DARK time in their life. We don't connect because she herself doesn't want to connect. Once I understood that, the rest was brilliant. A tad bit disorienting with the several jumps from doing this to doing that, that seemed like they could have been written a bit smoother. Hence the one star off. But other than that, it's a brilliant story, dark, at arm's length narrative that really flows once you understand what's going on.
graceless's review
4.0
I haven't read many novelettes or novellas before, and Second Skin is the reason why.... it is over too quickly and I want more!!
The story is a small snapshot into a rough patch of a classic LA story of desperation, disappointment and despair.
Very nicely written, the voice of this interesting character is engaging and intriguing. A great short read.
The story is a small snapshot into a rough patch of a classic LA story of desperation, disappointment and despair.
Very nicely written, the voice of this interesting character is engaging and intriguing. A great short read.
raincorbyn's review
5.0
Castleberry's voice is perfect for the disaffected, dissociated protagonist of Second Skin: a woman who came to LA with hopes of modeling (everyone's a model in LA), but for whom the city has other, more horrible plans. Castleberry's affect, both spoken and written, reminds me of Cali transgressive writers like Bret Easton Ellis at their best, and most accurate to the ennui with which Angelinos describe or experience the abuse they suffer and enact. Second Skin is an uncomfortable quick dose of powerful, bleak misery, and I'd love to read/hear more like this!
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