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A review by grogu_djarin
Carry Me Down by M.J. Hyland
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall Thoughts:
It took me a long time to decide how to review this book. I'm not sure if it's more genius or more disturbing. It's written from the perspective of John, a 12 year old, so a lot of the writing is fairly simple and it ended up being a faster read than I expected. That said, because we're exposed to John's thoughts I think most people's first conclusion is that John is deranged rather than just a kid who has the thought process of a kid, though it also doesn't help that he grows up in a highly dysfunctional household. There's a point in the book he does something bad, and I'm not sure it's as bad as the book makes it. It's something I've seen happen among kids just playing because they don't understand the consequences. Also, it's weird the book paints him at fault rather than the environment he grows up in.
What makes the book interesting is how psychological it is. Not just with John's ability to detect lies, which you're never 100% sure if it's a real ability or a mix of his imagination and sensitivity towards others' behaviors, but also because you're constantly wondering how reliable of a narrator he is. There are many scenes where details are left out because he couldn't observe them, and he filles in the gaps with what his assumptions and speculations. I also think he might be autistic because he has some behavioral tics you'll observe throughout the book, so it makes his perspective even more unusual.
It took me a long time to decide how to review this book. I'm not sure if it's more genius or more disturbing. It's written from the perspective of John, a 12 year old, so a lot of the writing is fairly simple and it ended up being a faster read than I expected. That said, because we're exposed to John's thoughts I think most people's first conclusion is that John is deranged rather than just a kid who has the thought process of a kid, though it also doesn't help that he grows up in a highly dysfunctional household. There's a point in the book he does something bad, and I'm not sure it's as bad as the book makes it. It's something I've seen happen among kids just playing because they don't understand the consequences. Also, it's weird the book paints him at fault rather than the environment he grows up in.
What makes the book interesting is how psychological it is. Not just with John's ability to detect lies, which you're never 100% sure if it's a real ability or a mix of his imagination and sensitivity towards others' behaviors, but also because you're constantly wondering how reliable of a narrator he is. There are many scenes where details are left out because he couldn't observe them, and he filles in the gaps with what his assumptions and speculations. I also think he might be autistic because he has some behavioral tics you'll observe throughout the book, so it makes his perspective even more unusual.
Likes:
- The author did a superb job of capturing the thought process of a 12 year old. It's a very brilliant psychological exploration of a kid growing up in a less than ideal environment.
- I liked the exploration of 1970's Ireland as a setting. You get to read a bit about life in the countryside and in Dublin from the perspective of an impoverished family.
Dislikes:
- There's some graphic scenes of child abuse and animal abuse. I'm not sure I'd say they're gratuitous, because they emphasize the environment he lives in, but they're extremely uncomfortable to read.
Other Notes:
- It's a very day-in-the-life book and so it tends to develop a repetition of what they ate, what he did at school, and so on. This may not be for everyone but I felt it worked for the book.
Would Recommend To:
- Anyone who is into books exploring the psychology of the characters would probably enjoy this. It feels a bit thrilling at times trying to understand the psychology of the characters and being unsure what is the truth. After finishing it I immediately recommended it to some friends that are psychologists just because I think they would enjoy deconstructing the characters and their behavior.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Anyone who is dislikes disturbing content, especially people who are sensitive to child and animal abuse.