Reviews with content warning for Suicide - I'm Thinking of Ending Things

A compelling psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of identity, memory, and the human psyche. The novel is framed through the perspective of a young woman on a road trip with her boyfriend, Jake, to visit his parents' secluded farm. What begins as a seemingly mundane journey quickly spirals into a disorienting and unsettling narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Plot and Narrative Style

The novel's strength is a lot in the narrative and the way it plays with our perceived reality. The unnamed narrator's thoughts, often interrupted by enigmatic phone calls and eerie observations, create a sense of unease. Her repeated refrain, "I'm thinking of ending things," initially seems to refer to her relationship with Jake, but as the story progresses, it takes a lot darker meaning. One that leaves this novel to explore existential dread and fear for what we do not know.

The book being written in a disjointed and kinda ‘piece together’ was leaves us to get a better grasp of the narrators unstable mind. For example, the descriptions of Jake's parents' house are laden with peculiar details, such as the basement door being locked and a strange, oppressive atmosphere that pervades the home. These elements build a claustrophobic tension that permeates the narrative.

Character Development

While the characters are not deeply explored in traditional ways (one of the things that actually draggs it down for me alot), their interactions and dialogue offer insight into their psychological complexities.

Jake, for instance, is depicted as an intelligent but somewhat aloof person. His conversations with the narrator touch on abstract concepts like consciousness and existence, making the blurring of lines between reality and illusion more there.

Themes and Symbolism

The narrator's uncertainty about her own thoughts and feelings is mirrored by the increasingly surreal and disjointed narrative. The story's climax, set in an eerie high school, involves a surreal sequence where the lines between the characters blur, and the narrator's sense of self unravels completely. This sequence is particularly effective in conveying the novel's philosophical underpinnings, questioning the stability of identity and reality.

The title itself, "I Am Thinking of Ending Things," shows and can alos be read alot into. I mean like mentioned earlier we first believe it is Jake and that relationship. But the more we read the more it can read into and seen that it can also show the desire to leave. To escape the burdens of existence. Eventually even escaping the decay of life.

The final scenes leaves me to just have thought even after finishing. A thing I tend to really appreciate in books.

Conclusion

"I Am Thinking of Ending Things" is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that challenges readers to question the nature of reality and identity. Reid's use of an unreliable narrator, combined with the book's eerie atmosphere and philosophical undertones, creates a deeply unsettling reading experience. Some readers may find the novel to be too abstractand it can probably be frustrating (even I was at times honestly and I love these style of writings). It's a story that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers to ponder its meaning and implications.

I do not however think I will be using time to watch the movie as I dont want to ruin what I have in my brain

Content Warnings