alexdelarge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
michaellouisdixon's review against another edition
4.0
All-in-all, this was a pretty good book. It pulls you in with a bit of a whimsical storyline, but then gets very, very dark.
MLD
MLD
raemelle's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to love this book. But the execution of the concept I read about in the description wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped for. The story was still well-written. I am now curious how the Dutch version ends - since this is apparently not the same book that was released in the Netherlands.
marina_michelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, Death, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Child death, Child abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Body horror, Car accident, and Sexism
samseyz's review against another edition
4.0
I have so many feelings … I was intrigued by this book after hearing it was incredibly bleak and depressing on tiktok and it did not disappoint with those feelings. If you’re into freaky small town horror I’d recommend this book, but I’d double check triggers because it does have some triggering content.
Btw why is Robert grim so fixated on foreheads???
Btw why is Robert grim so fixated on foreheads???
britt_zonnebloempit's review against another edition
dark
tense
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
2.0
Dear Thomas, please look up the Bechdel test. In case you were wondering: you failed.
This entire story consists of men (with a severe case of white knight syndrome) and a couple of women who seem to be incapable of deciding anything for themselves. The ones that do make their own decisions are deranged and fucked up.
This novel is exactly why I prefer books that aren't written by men, but upon reading the first couple of pages of this book I was hopeful and decided to give this one a chance...
2 stars just because the idea is actually good. The story itself is good, if only it wasn't for all the ridiculous characters.
This entire story consists of men (with a severe case of white knight syndrome) and a couple of women who seem to be incapable of deciding anything for themselves. The ones that do make their own decisions are deranged and fucked up.
This novel is exactly why I prefer books that aren't written by men, but upon reading the first couple of pages of this book I was hopeful and decided to give this one a chance...
2 stars just because the idea is actually good. The story itself is good, if only it wasn't for all the ridiculous characters.
utopologist's review against another edition
3.0
Hoo boy. So, I gave it three stars because I really really like the concept and because overall, it's competently told. I wondered throughout what the original Dutch version was like, since I think the translation is what causes the lack of linguistic flourishes one expects from fiction writers. The book also depicts grief in a very affecting way, acknowledging the completely irrational, mind-numbing or mind-altering nature it can sometimes take on.
That said, wow. There were a few things in this book that were incredibly offputting to the point where I don't feel the need to seek out more of this author's work. This book demonstrates a fundamental distaste towards women; the appearances of the women in the book are all described in bizarre, objectifying ways when the men have absolutely no physical description. Many such cases in literature! Also, this author has something weird going on with breasts and specifically nipples, as in there are multiple parts where women's nipples are damaged or abused. Super bizarre! Also, there's absolutely gratuitous sexual assault in this book, the kind where afterwards I thought I had missed something because of how little introduction or context it was given. Moving inwards regarding Heuvelt's thing about women, the only woman in the book given meaningful interiority is vile and unlikable, which of course isn't necessarily bad, but I felt like she was particularly odious. The other woman whose thoughts we enter for any stretch of time is a blank slate and might as well be an omniscient narrator for how little personality she's given.
That ties into a larger issue I had with the book, though. I didn't really like any of the characters. Flawed characters are great but nobody in this book felt like a real person or like someone who isn't a total asshole. So the larger issue with the book is its ultimately nihilistic views on people and society as a whole. It's trying to make a statement about Society and Religion and how we suck, which one is of course allowed to do, but politically this is really bad; it's a reactionary point of view that condemns collective action and collective struggle.
Also there are a handful of offhanded comments that Heuvelt sneaks in which let you know that you really don't want to ask this guy what he thinks about Islam. Average European author.
That said, wow. There were a few things in this book that were incredibly offputting to the point where I don't feel the need to seek out more of this author's work. This book demonstrates a fundamental distaste towards women; the appearances of the women in the book are all described in bizarre, objectifying ways when the men have absolutely no physical description. Many such cases in literature! Also, this author has something weird going on with breasts and specifically nipples, as in there are multiple parts where women's nipples are damaged or abused. Super bizarre! Also, there's absolutely gratuitous sexual assault in this book, the kind where afterwards I thought I had missed something because of how little introduction or context it was given. Moving inwards regarding Heuvelt's thing about women, the only woman in the book given meaningful interiority is vile and unlikable, which of course isn't necessarily bad, but I felt like she was particularly odious. The other woman whose thoughts we enter for any stretch of time is a blank slate and might as well be an omniscient narrator for how little personality she's given.
That ties into a larger issue I had with the book, though. I didn't really like any of the characters. Flawed characters are great but nobody in this book felt like a real person or like someone who isn't a total asshole. So the larger issue with the book is its ultimately nihilistic views on people and society as a whole. It's trying to make a statement about Society and Religion and how we suck, which one is of course allowed to do, but politically this is really bad; it's a reactionary point of view that condemns collective action and collective struggle.
Also there are a handful of offhanded comments that Heuvelt sneaks in which let you know that you really don't want to ask this guy what he thinks about Islam. Average European author.
darkcornerofthelibrary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hoosgracie's review against another edition
3.0
This was a mediocre horror story. It had it's moments but was not to my taste.
mccalab's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Domestic abuse
Does not pass Bechdel test