I felt very conflicted about what rating to give this book for the first 80% of it. I think that this one ultimately suffered under the weight of my oI felt very conflicted about what rating to give this book for the first 80% of it. I think that this one ultimately suffered under the weight of my own expectations, but I struggled to see the bigger picture and where this one was ultimately going.
I'll admit that I didn't find myself scared of this one like I'd hoped, but I don't think that reflected too strongly in my rating. There are absolutely some eerie sequences, particularly towards the end, but overall I felt like the promise of scares to come didn't end up paying off for me.
I did quite some the last 20% and think it was a worthwhile read overall, and perfect for October, and I actually felt perfectly satisfied by the ending, which I think is an unpopular opinion as of now. I'm pretty sure I have quite a bit of the plot figured out and didn't have many lingering questions given my own personal theories. The book is still wide open for interpretation and I'm not certain my own theories answer all the possible questions others may have, but it was enough for me to close the book satisfied with what I was given.
A promising beginning, a muddled middle, and a strong ending. Something about the middle of the book just was not clicking for me and those mixed feelings prevent me from being willing to give this a higher rating at this time. Perhaps if I re-read it I may feel differently knowing the plot direction, but 3 stars is going to have to be where it sits for now. ...more
This was already pretty bad, but that final shoehorned plot twist was just so insultingly stupid that I couldn’t give my standard 2 stars for compulsiThis was already pretty bad, but that final shoehorned plot twist was just so insultingly stupid that I couldn’t give my standard 2 stars for compulsive readability.
Aside from that final twist, this is probably her most predictable/straightforward novel.
If you’ve enjoyed other books by McFadden, you’ll probably still enjoy, but maybe slightly less than her others- it is far too long for a pretty thin plot that doesn’t get going until far along into it....more
I actually didn’t mind some of the weirdest parts of the book that others haven’t cared for (I won’t mention as I feel they’re massive spoilers). The I actually didn’t mind some of the weirdest parts of the book that others haven’t cared for (I won’t mention as I feel they’re massive spoilers). The final twist in the last couple of chapters was just a bit too much for me.
The major twist regarding one specific point towards the end actually caught me by surprise, but I’d need to really think if it holds up to scrutiny or not, especially since it’s a main driver in Casey’s actions.
I feel like this is a weaker The Girl on the Train, but I’d consider giving another Riley Sager book a try because there were elements of this one I liked....more
I just did not find this at the same level of quality of Tender Is the Flesh. I’m not sure if some of it may have been a translation issue, b1.5 stars
I just did not find this at the same level of quality of Tender Is the Flesh. I’m not sure if some of it may have been a translation issue, but the writing in particular was one of my biggest complaints across many of the stories.
A lot of them just came across as very half-baked and lacking in any real substance, no true sense of creepiness or dread. There are a few, mainly in the front half of the collection, that do work, but almost none I’d describe as a real home run.
It’s a real disappointment, and I’m hoping it’s just that these are such short stories and not indicative of future quality from Bazterrica’s works, as I’d like to continue reading them....more
I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m very curious to see what the response to this book is when it releases in I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m very curious to see what the response to this book is when it releases in March. I’m not sure of what my own thoughts are. It was meandering for a significant portion of it, but with grotesque and somewhat captivating imagery.
In parts I found the writing beautiful, others repetitive and meaningless. The cross out technique really didn’t add too much to this one either, although I understand the approach and why it was attempted.
The main character and the world that she inhabits feels so unknown and opaque in many ways, despite the details we’re given and that this story rests so heavily on her own internal thoughts and observations.
I didn’t enjoy the novel very much, but it felt wrong giving it 1 star, since I believe there is so much in theory that is good, but falls flat on execution. I wish this same story had been told in a completely different manner.
A huge step down from Tender Is the Flesh, but I will probably continue to give Bazterrica more chances despite not enjoying both of her two follow-ups so far....more
I think this book is incredibly ambitious, which I appreciate, but often feels weighed down by that very same ambition.
There's really no justificationI think this book is incredibly ambitious, which I appreciate, but often feels weighed down by that very same ambition.
There's really no justification for this book to be as long as it is while still having characters (namely Stan), who feel so thinly sketched out despite being a part of the core ensemble. This could have easily been solved by cutting down on repetition (whether an intentional literary device or not, I'm not sure I've read a book quite this repetitive before). There is also a degree of the unrealistic depictions of children and how they talk/interact (to me personally), that can mainly be excused away with the fairytale-esque nature the book has. A part of me is also curious to know what It looks like if the narrative was centered more around Mike than Bill, as the Derry Interludes had the parts of the book that felt the most profound and hit the hardest emotionally.
There's also of course parts of the book that have just aged like spoiled milk- I actually was surprised at how long THAT scene was, I had assumed it was a brief scene that isn't gone into with much detail but its reputation precedes itself. And the narrative explanation for why it's necessary is very thin and kind of ridiculous, making it all the more uncomfortable to read. The rest was fairly standard for some of the older King novels that I've read, which were obviously written 40-50 years ago; in this novel it felt particularly excessive, but that can also be attributed to length as well.
The story is incredibly imaginative and epic in scope, and does truly feel like a landmark in genre, with some really hard-hitting emotional beats and some truly scary sequences (all rooted in reality, never directly involving It). I feel like I've spent more time critiquing what I didn't care for, but I'm settling on a 4-star rating for a reason, because I truly enjoyed and am glad I finally read this book. ...more
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