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heytherekaity's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
gondorgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Animal death
ceilidhwilliams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
encryptedorchardpest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Grief
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- A student of Catherine House through their first, second, and third (final) year of the program. Just before admission they were involved in an incident where they witnessed a traumatic event, leaving them oscillating between catatonic mania and indifference.
- Set at a secretive, elite academic institution in a remote area of rural Pennsylvania
- Selective description of people, places, and things – lots of room for rich imaginings
- Captures the angst and undertones of academia – jumping through hoops, uncomfortable limbo of being a "new adult", peers that are both moral support and a competitive threat, the whole maze of pretension, pressure, and potential
- Secretive sci-fi feeling that seems purposefully underdeveloped, even magical. We don’t understand the science/magic exactly, how being a graduate allows for power and prestige, or how final the consequences of “failure” may be
- I get how this could be boring or too weird. Not much happens and yet a lot happens? It isn’t repetitive but also isn’t rooted in any specific plot.
- The characters are strange…it isn’t that they aren’t well developed, but it’s that they seem like ghosts. They are likeable and I could identify with them sometimes, but they also seem slightly “off” somehow. I loved it, but if you aren’t in the mood or a fan of that type of read, then it could be disconnecting.
- Dosing could make a big diff in the reading experience. I read it all one cold, rainy day. If I had to take extended breaks I can imagine being confused or forgetting where we left off.
- Character-driven studies in isolated settings
- Mash up of absurdist, magical realism, dark academia
- Mad scientist sci-fi / witchy soft fantasy energy
- Subjective commentary on academic institutions, education, and student experience
- Speculative fiction filled with symbolism, similes, metaphors
- No plot, only vibes
😍 This was one of my Favourite Books of 2023
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
johannawilbur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol
homebodywitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Alcohol
aisabel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Alcohol
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Suicide
styleofdress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death