Scan barcode
cait_henry56's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
5.0
A brutal read, up there with Requiem for a Dream but before Fight Night by Miriam Toews. Another reflection on the resiliency (apathy?) of people to their circumstances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Rape
Minor: Incest and Sexual violence
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
The format of this book was a challenging form. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view and each chapter builds upon the chapter before it. This leads to the feeling of disjointedness. It is not helped that all the characters are unreliable witnesses to the events being told. The story is interesting, the characters are all unlikable and do terrible things in the story. All and all, it was hard to enjoy because of all the roadblocks placed in front of the reader.
jadegoestothebrary's review against another edition
3.0
This was fine. Didn't blow me away or anything, but overall it wasn't terrible. These people make the characters on It's Always Sunny seem like saints tho
sandygx260's review against another edition
2.0
This book read like Children of the Damned on steroids. No character was likable or remotely sympathetic. Seriously, I just wanted a sinkhole to open up and suck down the creepy, sick town into the swamp.
rbixby's review against another edition
4.0
This...is interesting. Well worth a read. Just know that the characters are all absolutely bat shit crazy fucked up. Not in an over-the-top, howling at the moon, Napoleonic kind of way, but in a Dave Foley needing to get his axe sharpened kind of way. His suit is covered in blood and it's dripping from his axe, but the dude sharpening his axe doesn't notice. The characters are at once the axe sharpener oblivious to the horror standing in front of him and Dave Foley nonchalantly discussing the difficulty of holding down a screaming woman so he can cut off her head. This dichotomy is what makes this book so disturbing. That's the way it is in Hemmersmoor.
Update: I vacillated between three and four stars as I wrote this. I liked it but didn't love it but the stories linger on my mind. Because of that, I give it 4.
Update: I vacillated between three and four stars as I wrote this. I liked it but didn't love it but the stories linger on my mind. Because of that, I give it 4.
jane_moriarty's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cannibalism and Deportation
rodneywilhite's review against another edition
3.0
Mostly this novel in stories was brutal in a very masculine way--Goth in the skronky Birthday Party fashion rather than the elegant Siouxsie fashion. I found it difficult to enjoy, as there was very little compassion for any character's experience, not from the other characters, not really from the author.
It's very well-written, and I'm sure a lot of people enjoy this sort of nastiness. But it's not for me.
There's one story, though, the second-to-last one from Christian's perspective,...yeah, I found that story devastating and definitely worthwhile.
Recommended? Not for sensitive flowers like me, but if you like (to borrow from my favorite Steve Martin bit) Death and Grief and Sorrow and Murder, this might be up your alley.
It's very well-written, and I'm sure a lot of people enjoy this sort of nastiness. But it's not for me.
There's one story, though, the second-to-last one from Christian's perspective,
Spoiler
that has a reveal I didn't see coming at all even though it was obvious in retrospect (and had been informing the entire novel all alongRecommended? Not for sensitive flowers like me, but if you like (to borrow from my favorite Steve Martin bit) Death and Grief and Sorrow and Murder, this might be up your alley.
jjkook13's review against another edition
2.0
Atmospheric writing. Pulled off a few shocking twists that unnerved me. However, the whole time I was reading I kept asking the same questions over and over: "Why? What's the point of all these violence and crimes and secrets? What does it all lead to?" Reading 90% of the book felt like that steep climb of the rollercoaster, but by the time it ends, you'd realize you touched the ground without falling.
Dark and haunting, but an overall disappointment.
Dark and haunting, but an overall disappointment.
angelicaro's review against another edition
dark
slow-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
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
I was very excited to want to pick up this book and read it. I was in the mood for a good horror story. Unfortunately for me this book missed the mark. It moved very slowly and the characters were uninteresting to me. I thought the back story about each character in regards to where they came from would help with the story. It would shed light as to what prompted them to do what they did but all it showed me was the children grew up in sad families and then started getting in trouble and being trouble makers. I got about almost half way and then I skimmed the rest of the book. Just so I could find out what happened in the end.
This book was more about the drawing out of the characters then it was about the scare factor. This is what I wanted. The scare might have been there but it was subtle. However I do have to give it up to the graphic art department for the creepy book cover. If you hold the book at just the right angle you can see the imprinted embossed words that over lay the cover and they say “If You Tell On Me You’re Dead”. Now that is creepy.
This book was more about the drawing out of the characters then it was about the scare factor. This is what I wanted. The scare might have been there but it was subtle. However I do have to give it up to the graphic art department for the creepy book cover. If you hold the book at just the right angle you can see the imprinted embossed words that over lay the cover and they say “If You Tell On Me You’re Dead”. Now that is creepy.