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cloudy_weather's review
2.0
This was for sure nothing like all the crime novels I have ever read.
To be honest, you cannot really call it a crime novel.
I expected Greta to be some kind of ghost, assisting police men to find out who her real murder is by triggering paranormal activities for them to track and deduce their meaning, which was not the case at all.
What I did like though, was the parts dedicated to Greta telling her life story - never have I felt so tired and disheartened at reading about failure. The only thing in her life, which she was passionate about, got wrecked and dragged along in mud. Over and over again. You feel her will to succeed declining over the pages, and this is something I have never experienced within a book before. Most of the story these days - I'm really just generalizing here - have a struggling protagonist who will somehow, after many days of hard work - prove themselves worthy, and in the end they are going to be successful.
Also, just take a look at the self-improvement section in any bookstore. They conceal the fact that many people do not reach their (initial) goals and aspirations, no matter how hard they try.
Maybe we should redefine our definition of success after all.
Still, I wouldn't recommend this book if you are out there in the world looking for some good old detective and crime story. It really is more or less a tale of being unhappy in my opinion.
To be honest, you cannot really call it a crime novel.
I expected Greta to be some kind of ghost, assisting police men to find out who her real murder is by triggering paranormal activities for them to track and deduce their meaning, which was not the case at all.
What I did like though, was the parts dedicated to Greta telling her life story - never have I felt so tired and disheartened at reading about failure. The only thing in her life, which she was passionate about, got wrecked and dragged along in mud. Over and over again. You feel her will to succeed declining over the pages, and this is something I have never experienced within a book before. Most of the story these days - I'm really just generalizing here - have a struggling protagonist who will somehow, after many days of hard work - prove themselves worthy, and in the end they are going to be successful.
Also, just take a look at the self-improvement section in any bookstore. They conceal the fact that many people do not reach their (initial) goals and aspirations, no matter how hard they try.
Maybe we should redefine our definition of success after all.
Still, I wouldn't recommend this book if you are out there in the world looking for some good old detective and crime story. It really is more or less a tale of being unhappy in my opinion.
judyapneeb's review
4.0
I have a strange love affair with Seattle. I grew up north of Seattle throughout the 80s and early 90s. I was too young to attend the punk and grunge scenes that emerged in the late 80s and too old to understand what Seattle was becoming in the early 2000s. I am a person in which I missed a generational shift, feeling lost in the middle.
This book speaks to a lot of what I saw in the background, a dirtier Seattle than what we see now in light of Amazon's takeover of the city. This isn't a pretty novel and it was a rough read - I admit that I browsed some of the pages since I wasn't in the mindset for some of the darker tones. Miskowski is describing a Seattle that was and will never be again. I mourn what she describes, which is probably why it took so long for me to get through what I read.
I recognize that many of us read to escape. What Miskowski has created will not be palatable for many and that is okay. I would highly suggest this book for those who are looking to explore the grim reality we all face in our everyday experiences. It's darkly amusing but heartbreaking as well. Greta isn't a likeable character but she's interesting and she's something we could easily become.
This book speaks to a lot of what I saw in the background, a dirtier Seattle than what we see now in light of Amazon's takeover of the city. This isn't a pretty novel and it was a rough read - I admit that I browsed some of the pages since I wasn't in the mindset for some of the darker tones. Miskowski is describing a Seattle that was and will never be again. I mourn what she describes, which is probably why it took so long for me to get through what I read.
I recognize that many of us read to escape. What Miskowski has created will not be palatable for many and that is okay. I would highly suggest this book for those who are looking to explore the grim reality we all face in our everyday experiences. It's darkly amusing but heartbreaking as well. Greta isn't a likeable character but she's interesting and she's something we could easily become.
heathersbike's review
1.0
Yuck. I can't believe I read two books about unremorseful killers in a row. I need a shower.
misterkyle1901's review
dark
funny
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
4.0
thomaswjoyce's review
5.0
I loved this book. Narrator Greta is very complex and very relatable, from her sarcastic sense of humour to some of her less admirable qualities. Flawed, just like the best of us. It made for an interesting setup, having her discover her own dead body, and we may think we know how the story will play out from there, having read a dozen books about someone trying to identify a killer. But the way Miskowski intersperses the story with flashbacks, revealing an engrossing back story full of interesting characters, and situations viewed by the newly-deceased Greta, is just brilliant. Refreshing in its originality and engaging the reader while keeping them guessing, this is another excellent book by one of my very favourite authors.
madarauchiha's review
✨🌠 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 🌠✨
dnf chapter eight. it started out so strong with her finding her own dead body bc she's a ghost and then it immediately trawls through her entire boring life. Between chapters is a brief blurb about a random someone commiting suicide.
jesus christ. if i wanted to read about tedious white people I'd pick up a shitty hunger games twilight knock off.
If there's a decent pay off, I will not be experiencing it. god speed y'a'll'll who'l do read it.
no rating on purpose. as of posting this, it's got, like, 2.50 stars and that's hars h enough imo.
major death, excrement, gore, murder, sexual content, suicide, suicide ideation, teacher student relationship
medium drug abuse prescription drugs, drug use smoking tobacco, scars, self harm, suicide
minor animal death, car crash, child death, drug abuse, drug abuse cocaine, drunk driving, excrement, fatphobia, fire injuries, gun violence, menstruation, sexual content, sexual harassment
dnf chapter eight. it started out so strong with her finding her own dead body bc she's a ghost and then it immediately trawls through her entire boring life. Between chapters is a brief blurb about a random someone commiting suicide.
jesus christ. if i wanted to read about tedious white people I'd pick up a shitty hunger games twilight knock off.
If there's a decent pay off, I will not be experiencing it. god speed y'a'll'll who'l do read it.
no rating on purpose. as of posting this, it's got, like, 2.50 stars and that's hars h enough imo.
major death, excrement, gore, murder, sexual content, suicide, suicide ideation, teacher student relationship
medium drug abuse prescription drugs, drug use smoking tobacco, scars, self harm, suicide
minor animal death, car crash, child death, drug abuse, drug abuse cocaine, drunk driving, excrement, fatphobia, fire injuries, gun violence, menstruation, sexual content, sexual harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Excrement, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, Self harm, and Drug use
Minor: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Animal death, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Excrement
theartolater's review
3.0
This is a highly, highly regarded horror novel about a woman effectively trying to solve her own murder. Acclaimed author, great reviews, the whole bit.
For me, I have no idea why.
This book just failed to connect with me. I don’t know what it was trying to accomplish or what was supposed to be weird or creepy about it, but the book didn’t work at all. Other readers clearly disagree, but if you’re looking for scary or creepy you may want to look elsewhere.
For me, I have no idea why.
This book just failed to connect with me. I don’t know what it was trying to accomplish or what was supposed to be weird or creepy about it, but the book didn’t work at all. Other readers clearly disagree, but if you’re looking for scary or creepy you may want to look elsewhere.
northernlight's review
1.0
Wow, ASTONISHLY bad. Has this person ever actually been to Seattle? "Crumbling Victorian mansions on the edge of Mercer Island" ????? It's ok to not intimately know every nuance of a town...but NOT if your whole premise is trying to create the mood of Seattle in the 90s, and drop as many street names and landmarks you've ever read about in every sentence. Gross.
shaunhamill's review against another edition
5.0
This is a terrific, beautiful, mean book. It's been a long time since I was so hooked by a narrator, and I suspect Greta will haunt my thoughts for a long time. Can't wait to dig into this author's other books.
onewingedpsycho's review against another edition
Nope, quit out at 42% as it was like torturing myself, so utterly boring I couldn't even force myself to skim read it.
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