litwrite's review against another edition
4.0
If you had sunstroke and were laid up in a makeshift shack in the middle of the steamy, Louisiana swamp, I would imagine that the nightmarish dreams of your fevered mind would take form similar to the plotline of Tom Piccirilli's A Choir of Ill Children. This is not your Mother's 'Southern Gothic' tale - this is definitely dark, and horrific, but still poetic and beautiful in its own right.
You can definitely see the roots of his work here in William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor - two of the Southern Gothic greats, but I see the most similarity here with the earlier works of another great dark Southern Gothic practitioner, the great Cormac McCarthy. I was especially reminded of [b:Child of God|293625|Child of God|Cormac McCarthy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320509467s/293625.jpg|389945], and to some extent, [b:Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West|394535|Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West|Cormac McCarthy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1335231647s/394535.jpg|1065465], two very dark books that cross that line between horror genre and that elusive label of 'literary fiction'.
Piccirilli really pulls out all the stops here of the Southern Gothic horror tropes - inbred, deformed family members (in the form of conjoined triplets that are attached together by the same frontal lobe), underaged nymphets, and dark family secrets. There is definitely a dreamlike quality to the language and the book that draws you in and makes you feel somewhat suffocated at the same time which I think really worked for the story and the subject matter. While I usually complain about loose ends in a novel, I think in this one the (few) loose ends that were not completely tied up felt somewhat justified in the book and didn't leave me feel lacking. This was a strong, amazing book to start out my yearly October Halloween Spookathon, I'd easily recommend it to those who enjoy horror and are looking for something more challenging and different.
You can definitely see the roots of his work here in William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor - two of the Southern Gothic greats, but I see the most similarity here with the earlier works of another great dark Southern Gothic practitioner, the great Cormac McCarthy. I was especially reminded of [b:Child of God|293625|Child of God|Cormac McCarthy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320509467s/293625.jpg|389945], and to some extent, [b:Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West|394535|Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West|Cormac McCarthy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1335231647s/394535.jpg|1065465], two very dark books that cross that line between horror genre and that elusive label of 'literary fiction'.
Piccirilli really pulls out all the stops here of the Southern Gothic horror tropes - inbred, deformed family members (in the form of conjoined triplets that are attached together by the same frontal lobe), underaged nymphets, and dark family secrets. There is definitely a dreamlike quality to the language and the book that draws you in and makes you feel somewhat suffocated at the same time which I think really worked for the story and the subject matter. While I usually complain about loose ends in a novel, I think in this one the (few) loose ends that were not completely tied up felt somewhat justified in the book and didn't leave me feel lacking. This was a strong, amazing book to start out my yearly October Halloween Spookathon, I'd easily recommend it to those who enjoy horror and are looking for something more challenging and different.
onikaj's review against another edition
2.0
Wanted to give the book a 1.5 but as thats not possible, i rounded up to 2 stars. The writing is wonderful. But this books lacked overall cohesion. Thomas was not even close to a likeable character. It consistently feels like he's rewarded for inaction, to the point of not truly looking for his best friend even though he had a risk of being lynched. His conjoined triplet brothers didn't truly factor into the story other than to give some vague ramblings and honestly more of the book is spent on Thomas' real or imagined sexual exploits. I found the book unenjoyable and I do hope that Tom Piccirilli's other books prove more satisfactory to me.
bean0530's review against another edition
5.0
*whines* Why was this allowed to have an ending!?
I'm usually not so taken by books like this. It was eerie, unsettling, and even quite uncomfortable at times. But in the best way!
The death and violence that occurred seemed so beautiful and poetic in a sense. Or perhaps I'm crazy like the rest of them. Maybe I should find myself washed up on flat rock.
It was strange to me. Like watching someone else's dream. Like the characters floated around me. When I was finished reading all I knew is that I needed to read another book from this author. I am in love.
I'm usually not so taken by books like this. It was eerie, unsettling, and even quite uncomfortable at times. But in the best way!
The death and violence that occurred seemed so beautiful and poetic in a sense. Or perhaps I'm crazy like the rest of them. Maybe I should find myself washed up on flat rock.
It was strange to me. Like watching someone else's dream. Like the characters floated around me. When I was finished reading all I knew is that I needed to read another book from this author. I am in love.
jant8's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
georgey1809's review against another edition
4.0
I've thought a lot about this book since finishing it in January and I've decided to up my rating from the previous 3.5๐ to 4 ๐.
This is the first American Gothic novel I've read and I did not know what to expect when I started it. I will admit that the first couple chapters I was VERY unsure and didn't know whether to continue with it but once I hit the half way mark I knew I needed to know the ending and what happens. Although I still have many questions after this book I would recommend it. There are some really strange elements and maybe it's not a book I would have picked for myself but it makes me interested in exploring other Tom Piccirilli works.
This is the first American Gothic novel I've read and I did not know what to expect when I started it. I will admit that the first couple chapters I was VERY unsure and didn't know whether to continue with it but once I hit the half way mark I knew I needed to know the ending and what happens. Although I still have many questions after this book I would recommend it. There are some really strange elements and maybe it's not a book I would have picked for myself but it makes me interested in exploring other Tom Piccirilli works.
nia_guy's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
bergamint's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I have ever read. Not for everyone but I found it thought provoking on many levels.
bookmonkey98's review
4.0
This book was so weird, with parts that were great, but little connective tissue through the novel. It almost seems as if there is no plot, because the narrator doesn't see the connections. And then right near the end, two chapters drop the big answers. Some of the answers are to questions the reader isn't aware of, which makes them extra impactful, and ties up things fairly neatly.
Sure there are some leftover plots, and the narrator actually acknowledges this, and that he intends to pursue the answers, and even speculates what the answers might be.
It is barely a horror novel, yet the atmosphere is so creepy. Sometimes funny, often disgusting, and a few time revolting, it kind of weaves together well. The narrator hand waves some fairly offensive perversions in the book as a product of the story's locale, so beware that statutory rape is treated both casually and seriously in this book.
Sure there are some leftover plots, and the narrator actually acknowledges this, and that he intends to pursue the answers, and even speculates what the answers might be.
It is barely a horror novel, yet the atmosphere is so creepy. Sometimes funny, often disgusting, and a few time revolting, it kind of weaves together well. The narrator hand waves some fairly offensive perversions in the book as a product of the story's locale, so beware that statutory rape is treated both casually and seriously in this book.