stephanieluxton's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I wanted to love this book but it was totally different than what I imagined it to be.
It was kind of like The Shape of Water meets Little Shop of Horrors.
I did love the main character. She's an old widow who is just trying to live in peace but is being bullied into selling her home by a billionaire who wants to bulldoze the town and build a resort, basically.
Then she discovers a creature on the beach and her life changes.
Something I really hated in this book was the cruelty between humans. It was intense and I just can't fathom people behaving this was towards eachother.
Some of the gorey parts were written in a way that was almost comical which felt out of place amongst the generally serious tone of the story.
The ending was fine. I wish things had played out a little different but overall it was fair. There were some parts that were quite clever.
It was kind of like The Shape of Water meets Little Shop of Horrors.
I did love the main character. She's an old widow who is just trying to live in peace but is being bullied into selling her home by a billionaire who wants to bulldoze the town and build a resort, basically.
Then she discovers a creature on the beach and her life changes.
Something I really hated in this book was the cruelty between humans. It was intense and I just can't fathom people behaving this was towards eachother.
Some of the gorey parts were written in a way that was almost comical which felt out of place amongst the generally serious tone of the story.
The ending was fine. I wish things had played out a little different but overall it was fair. There were some parts that were quite clever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Gun violence
jalecd's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
This novel takes body horror to a level I had never even conceived and yet somehow still told a wonderful story of love, aging, and remembering the things that matter. Muriel is an icon of the ages, and such a joy of a protagonist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Violence, Body horror, Cursing, Excrement, Murder, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Vomit
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