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cryosphinx's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
nerdkitten's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, Genocide, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
briannafenty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
alsira98's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
book__reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
ivana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Colonisation
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Rape
singrequiem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Gun violence and Vomit
Existential dread and unanswered questionsblueshirt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
- Johnny Truant's sections are so self-indulgent/-congratulatory. I have no patience for some misogynistic twerp's #sodeep musings.
- I'm never actually convinced that Navidson is a good guy. He just makes one stupid, selfish choice after another. I'm glad Karen cheated on him and I think she should do it again.
- Karen's character is defined solely by her beauty (or lack thereof, at the end) and how much she Needs A Man. Gross.
- The children are not real characters, they are given no depth or development.
- Reston has no purpose beyond talking about how cool Navidson is.
- Tom is great, no notes.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Pedophilia
eemi42's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
In my opinion, no.
This is the book equivalent of a found-footage film, except the film in question doesn't exist. What we read is the old man Zampanò's essay analyzing this nonexistent film, and Johnny Truant's attempts to piece together the old man's writings. I was drawn to this book because of the horror aspect, though this is more psychological horror than monster or ghost story.
The essay feels pretentious at times, adding to the frustration while reading. Sometimes the book felt gimmicky. And I didn't like Johnny Truant at all (likeable characters are a big deal to me). There were many times where he would meet up with women to discuss the book, only to launch into—ahem—other activities without much preamble. It got repetitive and annoying.
I can respect the obvious amount of work that went into this book. I enjoyed the unconventional formatting and puzzles. It even made me stop and think several times and question my own sanity. But ultimately, if like me you're looking for an enjoyable read with likeable characters, probably just skip it.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence