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curlywhirlygirly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-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? Yes
4.75
hallieknipp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
raygersh's review against another edition
4.0
Lakewood is a haunting and masterfully written debut from Megan Giddings. I am expecting fantastic things to come from her. In this fever dream of a novel, a strapped-for-cash Lena is invited to a mysterious research study promising unbelievable financial compensation – but at what cost? Lena’s journey is muddled and hard to follow, with the novel ebbing and flowing its way through climaxes while providing very few answers. But one thing is abundantly clear: Lena is a young Black woman completely at the mercy of the white authorities around her.
Lena’s experience worms its way under your skin. The whole novel forces the reader to be uncomfortable, to come face-to-face with some of the disturbing realities in the world. While it is primarily speculative fiction, Giddings’ tale is closer to the truth than many of us would like to admit. With parallels to Flint, MI and the Tuskegee syphilis study, we find ourselves disconcertedly aware of how the truth can be stranger than fiction. Lakewood highlights the many instances throughout America’s history in which Black bodies have been sacrificed in the name of science. It is eerie and compelling and leaves us to wonder when it will end.
Overall: a terrifying and creepy tale that leaves you unsettled in a good way.
Lena’s experience worms its way under your skin. The whole novel forces the reader to be uncomfortable, to come face-to-face with some of the disturbing realities in the world. While it is primarily speculative fiction, Giddings’ tale is closer to the truth than many of us would like to admit. With parallels to Flint, MI and the Tuskegee syphilis study, we find ourselves disconcertedly aware of how the truth can be stranger than fiction. Lakewood highlights the many instances throughout America’s history in which Black bodies have been sacrificed in the name of science. It is eerie and compelling and leaves us to wonder when it will end.
Overall: a terrifying and creepy tale that leaves you unsettled in a good way.
gritandflowers's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ihateprozac's review against another edition
3.0
I need to go into literary sci-fi knowing that it's probably not going to satisfy me.
I loooooved everything about this premise: it's equal parts Get Out, [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578028274l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185], and [b:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878144l/6493208._SX50_.jpg|6684634]. There was a lot of room for commentary about how Black bodies have been used to advance science without their consent, how far people have to go to access healthcare in America, and medical racism.
Unfortunately it didn't really go anywhere. The experiments were horrifying and unsettling to read in the moment, but don't expect a major story arc or resolution by the end. It's clear that Lena is part of an industrial complex that's as old as the United States itself, but this is not a story about her taking down that complex. She is sadly another Person of Colour chewed up and spit out by a nefarious government machine.
I thought the writing was unsettling and atmospheric, and I'm super keen to read more speculative fiction from Megan Giddings! It's just a shame that this quiet meandering narrative structure doesn't work for me, personally. I wanted Lena to have justice and vengeance but this is a story of ambiguities and unknowns.
I loooooved everything about this premise: it's equal parts Get Out, [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578028274l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185], and [b:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878144l/6493208._SX50_.jpg|6684634]. There was a lot of room for commentary about how Black bodies have been used to advance science without their consent, how far people have to go to access healthcare in America, and medical racism.
Unfortunately it didn't really go anywhere. The experiments were horrifying and unsettling to read in the moment, but don't expect a major story arc or resolution by the end. It's clear that Lena is part of an industrial complex that's as old as the United States itself, but this is not a story about her taking down that complex. She is sadly another Person of Colour chewed up and spit out by a nefarious government machine.
I thought the writing was unsettling and atmospheric, and I'm super keen to read more speculative fiction from Megan Giddings! It's just a shame that this quiet meandering narrative structure doesn't work for me, personally. I wanted Lena to have justice and vengeance but this is a story of ambiguities and unknowns.
sofya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shikiralmorris's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this one. The story drags on and it doesn't get interesting until the end.
lovelykd's review against another edition
3.0
Lena’s grandmother dies—leaving her with much of the financial responsibility of caring for her ailing mother, Deziree.
In order to make ends meet, and provide a more stable life for them both, Lena decides to answer an ad requesting subjects take part in a research study.
Lena has her doubts but the money is too good to pass up and she knows without it, Deziree’s condition will get worse, and Lena doesn’t want to let her mother down.
As Lena’s gets deeper into the study, she begins to question its merit and wonders who it’s meant to benefit.
Furthermore, she wonders why mostly minorities and poor people have been chosen to take part—calling into question the ethics of scientists as it pertains to choosing subjects.
The story takes place in modern times but it could have easily been set in the 50’s, 60’s, or 70’s, as the small town of Lakewood feels like a place stuck in a time warp: the people are oddly disconnected from the outside world and many of the interactions they have with Lena read like something out of the Twilight Zone.
At one point, Lena begins to wonder if the town itself is part of a bigger experiment.
I don’t wish to give away too much, but it’s clear there is a lot going on behind the scenes, and Lena seems to be an important part of everything.
Overall, a very interesting story, but it lagged in places and wrapped up without giving proper closure to certain key aspects of the plot; that left me a bit flustered and wanting.
Furthermore, not knowing the fate of some of the main characters, despite being reminded of their importance, via the impact they had on Lena and other parts of the story, was a bit unnerving.
Aside from that, the story is good and the discussion it invokes, regarding medical ethics, and whether the value of using human specimens trumps the inhumanity those persons could potentially suffer, is one worth having.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced eGalley. Opinion is my own.
In order to make ends meet, and provide a more stable life for them both, Lena decides to answer an ad requesting subjects take part in a research study.
Lena has her doubts but the money is too good to pass up and she knows without it, Deziree’s condition will get worse, and Lena doesn’t want to let her mother down.
As Lena’s gets deeper into the study, she begins to question its merit and wonders who it’s meant to benefit.
Furthermore, she wonders why mostly minorities and poor people have been chosen to take part—calling into question the ethics of scientists as it pertains to choosing subjects.
The story takes place in modern times but it could have easily been set in the 50’s, 60’s, or 70’s, as the small town of Lakewood feels like a place stuck in a time warp: the people are oddly disconnected from the outside world and many of the interactions they have with Lena read like something out of the Twilight Zone.
At one point, Lena begins to wonder if the town itself is part of a bigger experiment.
I don’t wish to give away too much, but it’s clear there is a lot going on behind the scenes, and Lena seems to be an important part of everything.
Overall, a very interesting story, but it lagged in places and wrapped up without giving proper closure to certain key aspects of the plot; that left me a bit flustered and wanting.
Furthermore, not knowing the fate of some of the main characters, despite being reminded of their importance, via the impact they had on Lena and other parts of the story, was a bit unnerving.
Aside from that, the story is good and the discussion it invokes, regarding medical ethics, and whether the value of using human specimens trumps the inhumanity those persons could potentially suffer, is one worth having.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced eGalley. Opinion is my own.