Reviews

Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman

smaber23's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.0

Unfortunately, not as strong of an ending as I was hoping for but a wrangler of a start! Page one left me hooked and I didn't put this down until I finished it. 

I've been reading a ton of dense, depressing non fiction lately which may explain why I found this book such a pleasure to read. The imagery is haunting with lots of body horror and entomophobia. The author kept it short, sweet, and created whole dynamics between characters with so few words and flourishes.

Is this book perfect? Certainly not. Can some of the writing be repetitive? Yes. But I don't believe those two traits detract too much from the book. The ending sort of fizzled out for me but the overall impression of this quick read was ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Torture, and Grief

Minor: Infertility and Abortion

lcg527's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

aoibheann's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

3.0

A book I would not recommend to anyone but also would not discourage anyone from reading. Just very predictable, I could see the main twist and general plot points coming from a mileeee away. Plus, the writing can at times be quite repetitive. I did find it to be a really easy quick read tho, and I certainly don't regret reading it. It had some emotional points! And alot of the discription of Eden physical condition was consise and horrifying which is a skill in itself. 

naharobed's review against another edition

5.0

This slim novel hooked me from the first page and it packs a powerful punch. There are three characters—our omniscient narrator, Eden, and his wife Mary. Our unnamed narrator is Eden’s best friend, both soldiers in the Iraq War. The narrator was killed by the same explosive that has left Eden with horrific injuries. Eden is trapped in his mind, unable to do anything except be haunted by his memories. Mary has stood vigil by Eden’s hospital bedside for the past three years, grappling with mixed emotions of guilt, loyalty, and love. This book was heartbreaking. It illustrates the effects of war, not just on the soldiers themselves, but on those they leave behind. It explores the complexities of marriage, family, and friendship. The writing was understated, yet poignant.

j_k_nelson's review against another edition

5.0

I literally couldn’t put this book down, read it cover to cover in one night.

satellitehabits's review against another edition

3.0

It might be impossible for me to write a review for this book without giving away any spoilers. Definitely a good book club pick as there will be lots to discuss. Probably more of a 3 and 1/2 star read but alas goodreads still hasn’t changed their rating system.

stephco724's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

lorbach's review against another edition

4.0

If you haven’t been directly affected by a war then you may not understand the gravity of what one can do to the human soul. Eden, along with his friend, the ghost that is there waiting with him and for him, and the rest of the men in his unit hit a plate in the Iraq war. Eden is alive but he lays in a hospital bed, a shell of the man he used to be. Burned literally beyond recognition, his wife Mary, for three years, waits by his side. The message, the writing, the impact of war, is profoundly described in this book. The way in which Ackerman puts forth the things that have taken place, from the dead friend’s point of view, leaves you sad and hurting for these three characters. I’m thankful I’ve read this book and I would recommend it, I don’t know if it will stick with me. Maybe because of the length, I don’t feel like I really had a chance to get invested in the characters. Ultimately, I understand what Ackerman was trying to express was achieved and the point of the story was delivered.

reydeam's review against another edition

5.0

“As prepared as she felt to let him go, and as much as she wanted that final release for him, and for herself, she now felt a desperate want for him to hold on.”

Wow. Simply wow. This slim book, all of 173 pages, is packed tightly with beautiful prose full of emotion, depth, reality, strength, love, agony, and trauma. It’s a quick read only because it will not let you go until you’ve heard, witnessed, and felt Mary and Eden’s story.

This slim book held me tightly, and left me feeling like my heart was ripped out. It’s haunting.

This is a powerful story about the cost of war.

trin's review against another edition

4.0

BRUTAL.