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azalya01's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was incredible! I never give books 5 stars, but I had to with this one. I thought the journal entry style was very well done, and I'm usually a stickler about those. The pacing was great: I never felt too rushed to accept some something or too to care. I wanted to know what would happen next at every page! The main character was well developed, and I definitely felt that I could empathize her, even if she makes some cruel and selfish choices at times. I wish I had read this book sooner!
As as the plot of the story, I think really interesting to ponder on what aspects about the “human condition", as Laverne mentioned, that we take for granted. Memory, community, hope, courage, honesty. I don't know what I would do in a world like that one, but I hope I would make the right choice in the end.
As as the plot of the story,
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
pacifickat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An extremely well written and well conceived novella. Had me on the edge of my seat with dread and forboding.
I found Laverne's self-depricating inner monologue both endearing and a bit sad. We don't often get sci-fi main characters in their 60's, and I found her plucky, stubborn, and painfully honest nature to be an intersting filter through which to receive the narrative of the book. She is critical of others, but more critical of herself. She also truly seems to care about other people in spite of claiming the opposite, and ascribes selfishness to her own self-sacrificial actions. In this way, her subjective analysis of her own internal inclinations stands in stark opposition to the objective goodness of her external actions. Her wishes to be more brave, less selfish, and less afraid motivate her to actually do brave, selfless, and gutsy things.
This was so well written an imaginative. The length of the story was also fitting. I enjoyed my time with Laverne, but was glad to leave this world when it was done, as is usually the case with horror/suspense.
I found Laverne's self-depricating inner monologue both endearing and a bit sad. We don't often get sci-fi main characters in their 60's, and I found her plucky, stubborn, and painfully honest nature to be an intersting filter through which to receive the narrative of the book. She is critical of others, but more critical of herself. She also truly seems to care about other people in spite of claiming the opposite, and ascribes selfishness to her own self-sacrificial actions. In this way, her subjective analysis of her own internal inclinations stands in stark opposition to the objective goodness of her external actions. Her wishes to be more brave, less selfish, and less afraid motivate her to actually do brave, selfless, and gutsy things.
This was so well written an imaginative. The length of the story was also fitting. I enjoyed my time with Laverne, but was glad to leave this world when it was done, as is usually the case with horror/suspense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Euthanasia, mercy killings, memory issuesetzar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just Wow. Laverne is merciless and perhaps gives a more realistic POV of how one would survive an end-of-world situation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
willow_the_wisp's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
othersociologist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
schnaucl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoyed it, although the more I think about it the less reliable I find the narrator.
I can't imagine how terrifying it would be if any time you came into contact with water it cost you some of your memory. And how long would it take to figure out that's what happened, especially if you lived alone?
While I understand why people would want to try and leave, their plan to do so was never quite clear to me other than maybe they can't shoot all of us? Except it seemed like they all expected to make it past the military barricade but without explaining how. Or what they planned to do once they were past it. It's set in modern times and I would imagine it's hard to prove you are who you say you are without some kind of proof. I get that a lack of birth certificate for the child isn't the most pressing concern in that situation but eventually it'll come up.
I also wonder how many people deliberately stood outside in the rain and deliberately lost themselves, particularly if they thought they couldn't make it past the military blockade. Would that be better or worse than being shot? The death would certainly be prolonged and death by starvation isn't pretty but if you're not aware enough to know that's what's happening or to be aware of your hunger maybe that's kinder?
As to the ending, if time is of the essence, I'm not sure it makes sense that she let the child cry for her mother for three minutes. It certainly makes for a dramatic end though. I'm also wondering how old the kid was supposed to be when she was allowed to read the journal/diary.
Anyway, it's a really interesting concept.
I can't imagine how terrifying it would be if any time you came into contact with water it cost you some of your memory. And how long would it take to figure out that's what happened, especially if you lived alone?
I also wonder how many people deliberately stood outside in the rain and deliberately lost themselves, particularly if they thought they couldn't make it past the military blockade. Would that be better or worse than being shot? The death would certainly be prolonged and death by starvation isn't pretty but if you're not aware enough to know that's what's happening or to be aware of your hunger maybe that's kinder?
As to the ending, if time is of the essence, I'm not sure it makes sense that she let the child cry for her mother for three minutes. It certainly makes for a dramatic end though. I'm also wondering how old the kid was supposed to be when she was allowed to read the journal/diary.
Anyway, it's a really interesting concept.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
jstilts's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A very short book that reveals the circumstances of it's world and characters swiftly but naturally through plot devices utterly intrinsic to the story. This is a delightfully shocking slice of apocalyptic domesticity, with an acerbic lead that lets the author cut straight to the point of every thought and situation. Brilliant, satisfying, horrifying - with the occasional twist of dark humour. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Dementia
not_another_ana's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A droplet's all it takes for confusion to set in. You lose your days as if they were melting off, going further and further into your past. Little sugar dolls left in the rain, that's what we are now.
In the town of Aloisville the rain takes memories. One drop is enough to cause confusion, more than that will do away with hours, then days, until its taken all that makes you a person. Laverne cannot remember when it all started but she does her best to not forget anything important by keeping a journal of the events. Little by little facts of the matter are revealed to us, like how the town seems to be under quarantine and surrounded by the military, or how the leftover residents are coping with this extraordinary event. Whatever is happening will force the citizens into a dangerous path.
Told through Laverne's journal entries this was a great read. The main character's voice is sharp and intelligent, and the narration is tense. The concept was fascinating, an exploration of the connection between memory and sanity. It never lowered the stakes, it just keep getting more and more complex. This book had me audibly saying FUCK twice, I was surprised that such a short novella had these powerful twists and turns. I cannot wait to read more of this author's output.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicidal thoughts
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is very bleak horror, with minimal nasty and much slow creeping dread. The viewpoint is very tightly first person--as diary entries--until the end, when it moves to second, and that works incredibly well in ratcheting up the emotional resonance of the story.
It is a story about forgetting, about an apocalypse--or maybe a pandemic--where one can survive, but not thrive. About the slow erosion of memory and the loss of self that goes with that.
There is no logic to what is going on, no explanation. Laverne, who is writing the diary, doesn't know the why. They know some of the what is happening in the now, and some memory of the bad things that have happened, but there is no indication that this is all the bad, just all the bad that they have remembered.
It is a story about forgetting, about an apocalypse--or maybe a pandemic--where one can survive, but not thrive. About the slow erosion of memory and the loss of self that goes with that.
There is no logic to what is going on, no explanation. Laverne, who is writing the diary, doesn't know the why. They know some of the what is happening in the now, and some memory of the bad things that have happened, but there is no indication that this is all the bad, just all the bad that they have remembered.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death
caterina_1212's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked how the story worked within its own constraints, cool concept
I don't believe Laverne and Zoe are not related, and who knows what other lies Laverne has been told
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit