Reviews

Days Between Stations: A Novel by Steve Erickson

pedrodolto's review against another edition

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2.0

I first read Erickson's Zeroville and absolutely loved it. I decided to keep digging throughout his work and picked up Days Between Stations. I was quite pleased when I noticed some of the things I enjoyed the most from Zeroville carried over: the enticing, sharp, fast paced -almost feverish like- writing and a flooding love, deep knowledge and fascination for movies and everything they stand for. Sadly, the suspicious depictions of women that haunted Zeroville not only carried over, but grew and presented themselves in a clear manner. Every sex scene felt like an incel fantasy, abrasively masculine in its narration and perspective, leaving a violent, uncomfortable feeling that threw me off a book I was set on enjoying.

devindevindevin's review against another edition

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5.0

My first adventure into Erickson. This isn't a book to be taken lightly. I read it too fast and need to go re-read it, because it's one hell of an adventure into prose and lands i've never been.

ellioth_mess's review against another edition

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5.0

Este libro provocó lo que pocos libros me provocan: que sienta pena por sus personajes, construída desde el apego. Hay mucho de inevitable, mucho de destino que se encuentra sin querer, y ese destino implica una vida sórdida vivida al extremo con remansos de pasión incontrolable y una duda por quién es quién. Eso le pasa a un par de personajes y nos pasa a nosotros como lectores, que nos perdemos en historias que develan el rostro tarde (en un giro muy bien llevado, como en el cuento "María la rubia", de Dalmiro Sáenz) para provocarnos casi una alegría en la sorpresa de reconocer al personaje perdido.

El manejo de los tiempos está buenísimo, y el relato queda pegoteado en un ambiente medio onírico. Es como uno de esos sueños en los que uno trata de alcanzar la puerta y la puerta se aleja, donde estás en tu casa pero en realidad no es tu casa, y donde reconocemos a nuestros amigos y amores sin que las caras que vemos coincidan con las que recordamos. Librazo.

tackerly's review against another edition

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5.0

Moving. Surreal. Brilliant. One of the finest novels I've ever read.

dameguillotine's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Realmente me encantó la cualidad surreal, onírica, de este libro. Las personas aparecen y desaparecen y se manifiestan, viven fuera del lugar y del tiempo, son varios y ninguno a la vez. Lo enmarcaría sin problemas en el realismo mágico (la naturalidad de lo sobrenatural, la alienación de la sociedad humana y el incesto como manifestación de aquelll, el énfasis en los lugares y sus historias, la obsesión, todas cosas que me recuerdan a clásicos del género) pero curiosamente lejos de la latinoamericanidad.

Me pareció fascinante la forma del sexo en esta novela. Es algo inevitable, no necesariamente deseado pero no por eso sufrido, una aceptación de lo inaceptable que a la vez naturaliza la violencia. Lo estoy diciendo como el orto pero de verdad me pareció fascinante, la exploración de lo humano como animal. Creo que sería un error condenarlo en esos aspectos; la perspectiva femenina es comprensiva y compasiva. Si esperás encontrar una deshumanización en esa igualación frecuente del sexo y la violación, en mi opinión no la hay. Las decisiones y las emociones de Lauren son casi las únicas que conducen el relato.

Se pueden decir mil cosas. No es para todo el mundo, de más está decir. A mí me transportó, en ese universo de destrucción en donde lo único que importa en última instancia son las personas. Me va a dar vueltas en la cabeza por un buen tiempo. Aunque el final un poco precipitado, diré.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kateewald's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

cheyene_218's review against another edition

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1.0

Even though the intertwined stories were intriguing, I became fed up with all the rape and assault scenes, after which the women embraced the predator in a loving way. Lauren is at the center of multiple scenes like this and Janine also is the victim at the hands of Adolphe during the filming if the movie. Does Erickson think it's sexy or something? He writes them as if he doesn't realize that what's happening is completely non-consensual. In all instances, Lauren and and Janine are somehow completely unaware of their surroundings enough to not realize immediately that a penis is inside them. And this serves nothing to the plot. I stopped reading when again Michael just appears and starts having sex with Lauren but she doesn't realize what's happening. It's pretty gross and I don't recommend this book.

scheu's review

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5.0

Erickson is one of those polarizing authors whom I seem to love while other people are driven away. It's hard to deny the surreal, dreamlike quality of his stories; in fact, the best way for me to describe this book is to say that "it was like reading a dream". The world slowly disintegrates about the main characters. Cities fall inexplicably into ruin. Herds of white buffalo foretell vague portents. Time falls out of joint and a young couple falls apart.

I originally picked up this novel after nosing around Wikipedia for something different in terms of reading material. I hadn't heard of 'slipstream' before but I had read some Auster and Murakami and had enjoyed what I'd read. DBS just amazed me. I'm the kind of reader who can live or die by the emotional content of a book - does it move me or not? - and this book just totally wowed me in that respect.

May not be for all readers. Use as directed.

getradified's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

asreen's review against another edition

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3.5

I just couldnt stand Lauren and the love story was not interesting to me……