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viviala_viviv's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
_kristinsworld's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
4.0
A lonely med school student kidnaps the girl of his dreams and embarks on a twisted journey across Brazil.
Teo had way more than a few screws loose. Look up synonyms for ‘delusional’ and I guarantee you will see his name at the top of the list. 😭 All it took was a brief encounter at a bbq to ignite his unhealthy fixation with aspiring screenwriter, Clarice. Teo was fully convinced that she was warming up to the idea of their “relationship” and even showed some annoyance towards her understandable uneasiness while being held captive by him. In spite of the gory scenes, there were some surprisingly humorous moments. I couldn’t help but to giggle at some of the wild comments made in his inner dialogue: “Patricia was wearing a dress as old and crumpled as herself.” 🤣
This story was so sick and freakin twisted, and dare I say it…I enjoyed almost every minute of it. I always find it fascinating reading from the psychotic character’s POV. The ending was absolutely sickening. 🥴
Teo had way more than a few screws loose. Look up synonyms for ‘delusional’ and I guarantee you will see his name at the top of the list. 😭 All it took was a brief encounter at a bbq to ignite his unhealthy fixation with aspiring screenwriter, Clarice. Teo was fully convinced that she was warming up to the idea of their “relationship” and even showed some annoyance towards her understandable uneasiness while being held captive by him. In spite of the gory scenes, there were some surprisingly humorous moments. I couldn’t help but to giggle at some of the wild comments made in his inner dialogue: “Patricia was wearing a dress as old and crumpled as herself.” 🤣
This story was so sick and freakin twisted, and dare I say it…I enjoyed almost every minute of it. I always find it fascinating reading from the psychotic character’s POV. The ending was absolutely sickening. 🥴
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
ultramarine316's review against another edition
2.0
I didn’t care for the writing style. The short, choppy sentences were probably a stylistic choice to convey how cold, calculating, emotionally dead, etc. the main character was, but it was boring to read. After 100 pages, I wasn’t interested in the story but decided that since it was such a short book, I might as well finish it. The ending
The only real pleasure I got out of the book was comparing the events of Clarice’s screenplay to the events of the novel, which was the only part of the story that wasn’t directly served to the reader in that bland, straightforward style.
Spoiler
Wasn’t worth it though. I’ll buy a twist ending like that in a short story, but a book needs a REAL ending. The author did warn that he was going to throw some cliché twist at us and expect us to swallow it. Two of the characters discuss a screenplay which ends with a character waking up to find that it was all a dream. The writer of the screenplay, Clarice, defends it as making the ending ambiguous and deep but I have to agree with the insane protagonist that no, it’s just a bad ending.The only real pleasure I got out of the book was comparing the events of Clarice’s screenplay to the events of the novel, which was the only part of the story that wasn’t directly served to the reader in that bland, straightforward style.
souymuilk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shelf_love's review against another edition
3.0
This was the book in my Muse Monthly subscription. I liked this subscription service since it was not just another YA and it wasn't full of a bunch of pointless items that would end up in a junk drawer. Its a book and tea, cant go wrong there.
Teo Avelar could be a perfect boyfriend, if only Clarice was cooperative she would not currently be stuffed into a pink Samsonite suitcase.
Teo is a medical student and shows sociopathic tendencies (I would say that his character can make emotional attachments and feel empathy, it is his conviction of love for Clarice that drives his behavior). He keeps to himself and his best friend, a cadaver named Gertrude, when he comes across Clarice at a barbecue and immediately feels a connection to her.
Clarice is a university student off for break. She wants to get away and finish writing her screenplay about a group of girls that go on a road trip. The screenplay ends with the character waking up, it was all a dream. Is this ending a reflection that Clarice wants to wake up from her own personal nightmare?
The plot follows the emotions of Teo, mellow and slightly colorless. He spends weeks doing the same thing. Then there will be a “well that escalated quickly†moment. Example, let me tell this girl I like her, by bashing her head with a book that was meant to be a gift. Teo cannot just leave her to wake up mad though, he loves her. She would love him too if she just would warm up to the idea. Teo uses Clarice’s vacation plans and screenplay as his opportunity and carts her away in the suitcase. Good boyfriend material that he is, he takes time to make sure she looked comfortable!
The plot fell apart a little at the middle end and there were a lot of questionable transitions and questions that were left unanswered so could only give 3 stars. I did really love the last lines though.
Teo Avelar could be a perfect boyfriend, if only Clarice was cooperative she would not currently be stuffed into a pink Samsonite suitcase.
Teo is a medical student and shows sociopathic tendencies (I would say that his character can make emotional attachments and feel empathy, it is his conviction of love for Clarice that drives his behavior). He keeps to himself and his best friend, a cadaver named Gertrude, when he comes across Clarice at a barbecue and immediately feels a connection to her.
Clarice is a university student off for break. She wants to get away and finish writing her screenplay about a group of girls that go on a road trip. The screenplay ends with the character waking up, it was all a dream. Is this ending a reflection that Clarice wants to wake up from her own personal nightmare?
The plot follows the emotions of Teo, mellow and slightly colorless. He spends weeks doing the same thing. Then there will be a “well that escalated quickly†moment. Example, let me tell this girl I like her, by bashing her head with a book that was meant to be a gift. Teo cannot just leave her to wake up mad though, he loves her. She would love him too if she just would warm up to the idea. Teo uses Clarice’s vacation plans and screenplay as his opportunity and carts her away in the suitcase. Good boyfriend material that he is, he takes time to make sure she looked comfortable!
The plot fell apart a little at the middle end and there were a lot of questionable transitions and questions that were left unanswered so could only give 3 stars. I did really love the last lines though.
easchesm's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
redamahmoud's review against another edition
5.0
"تيو"شاب وحيد يعيش مع أمه المقعدة وكلبها في مدينة ريو دي جانيرو، يدرس الطب ولا يشعر بالحرية إلا حول النقالات المتناثرة والجثث المشرحة والأطراف والأعضاء التي في القوارير، بالنسبة إليه هو إحساس لا يمكن أن يجده في أي مكانٍ آخر.
تسير حياته بروتينية قاتلة وملل يتسرب إلى كل جوانب حياته. ولكن ما أن يقابل "كلاريس" التي تطبع على خديه قبلة الحياة حتى يقع فريسة لها.
"لقد أصبح رهينة لهذه القبلة المختلسة التي تمت في سرية"
يريد تيو بشدة وبأي طريقة ممكنة أن يثبت ل كلاريس أنه يحبها، وأنه لن يستطيع أحد أن يهتم بها مثله، لكنه مع الوقت يجد نفسه في مواجهات جديدة عليه وأمام قرارات مصيرية لم يكن يحسب لها.
يعتمد المؤلف في الرواية على عنصر المفاجأة والصدمة؛ فالأحداث متلاحقة وسريعة. الأمر الذي يجعل القارئ لا يقدر أن يضع الرواية جانبا. وحقيقة، لم أقدر أن أتركها إلا مرغما جدا.
هي رواية عن النفس والمرض النفسي وكيف يمكن للإنسان أن يكون وحشا بعدما كان ملاكا؟ إلى أي مدى قد تسيطر رغبات الإنسان وهوسه عليه؟ لقد فعل تيو كل ما فعله من أجل ألا ينسى وأن يحب! ربما عقدة النرجسية أو هو الاضطراب ثنائي القطب أو لعله الهوس والافتنان كما قالت له كلاريس. كتابة عن الحياة والتشبث بها ولو على الحافة. كلاريس تتمسك ببقايا الحياة الت تعطى لها بل وتحارب من أجلها باستماتة.
المشاعر أثناء القراءة متضاربة جدا؛ ففى الوقت الذي تشعر بأن تيو يحبها وأنه بعيدا عن انحطاط النفس يفاجئنا بفعل ما، وما أن تملك كلاريس زمام الامور حتى تسيء استخدامها. وحينما تعود الأمور مع تيو يدهشنا بفعل مخزي ومدهش وبشع! لكنها النفس البشرية.
الكثير كتب عن الشر بداخل الإنسان ولكن وجهة النظر هنا مختلفة؛ فدوما ينتصر الضعيف وينتقم من الشرير لكن هنا شيء آخر، ربما لذلك جاءت النهاية صادمة للكثير جدا وأحدثت نقاشا حول الرواية.
رواية جميلة جدا وخفيفة الأسلوب وبسيطة لكن أفكارها عميقة وبين السطور هناك الكثير ليقال. ربما نوع جديد لي في القراءة وجاء موفقا جدا.
"الحب جميل لو صادفنا إنسانًا يجعلنا أحسن مما نحن عليه".
كما يقول د.مصطفى محمود "بداخل كل إنسان تعرفه إنسان لا تعرفه"
تسير حياته بروتينية قاتلة وملل يتسرب إلى كل جوانب حياته. ولكن ما أن يقابل "كلاريس" التي تطبع على خديه قبلة الحياة حتى يقع فريسة لها.
"لقد أصبح رهينة لهذه القبلة المختلسة التي تمت في سرية"
يريد تيو بشدة وبأي طريقة ممكنة أن يثبت ل كلاريس أنه يحبها، وأنه لن يستطيع أحد أن يهتم بها مثله، لكنه مع الوقت يجد نفسه في مواجهات جديدة عليه وأمام قرارات مصيرية لم يكن يحسب لها.
يعتمد المؤلف في الرواية على عنصر المفاجأة والصدمة؛ فالأحداث متلاحقة وسريعة. الأمر الذي يجعل القارئ لا يقدر أن يضع الرواية جانبا. وحقيقة، لم أقدر أن أتركها إلا مرغما جدا.
هي رواية عن النفس والمرض النفسي وكيف يمكن للإنسان أن يكون وحشا بعدما كان ملاكا؟ إلى أي مدى قد تسيطر رغبات الإنسان وهوسه عليه؟ لقد فعل تيو كل ما فعله من أجل ألا ينسى وأن يحب! ربما عقدة النرجسية أو هو الاضطراب ثنائي القطب أو لعله الهوس والافتنان كما قالت له كلاريس. كتابة عن الحياة والتشبث بها ولو على الحافة. كلاريس تتمسك ببقايا الحياة الت تعطى لها بل وتحارب من أجلها باستماتة.
المشاعر أثناء القراءة متضاربة جدا؛ ففى الوقت الذي تشعر بأن تيو يحبها وأنه بعيدا عن انحطاط النفس يفاجئنا بفعل ما، وما أن تملك كلاريس زمام الامور حتى تسيء استخدامها. وحينما تعود الأمور مع تيو يدهشنا بفعل مخزي ومدهش وبشع! لكنها النفس البشرية.
الكثير كتب عن الشر بداخل الإنسان ولكن وجهة النظر هنا مختلفة؛ فدوما ينتصر الضعيف وينتقم من الشرير لكن هنا شيء آخر، ربما لذلك جاءت النهاية صادمة للكثير جدا وأحدثت نقاشا حول الرواية.
رواية جميلة جدا وخفيفة الأسلوب وبسيطة لكن أفكارها عميقة وبين السطور هناك الكثير ليقال. ربما نوع جديد لي في القراءة وجاء موفقا جدا.
"الحب جميل لو صادفنا إنسانًا يجعلنا أحسن مما نحن عليه".
كما يقول د.مصطفى محمود "بداخل كل إنسان تعرفه إنسان لا تعرفه"