dorkiki's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fan.
Je serais curieuse d'en savoir plus sur le type de créature qu'est Elinor. Mais ça n'aurait pas vraiment eu sa place directement dans le roman.
Je serais curieuse d'en savoir plus sur le type de créature qu'est Elinor. Mais ça n'aurait pas vraiment eu sa place directement dans le roman.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Death, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Body horror
jimmypat's review against another edition
2.0
This was a case of over-promising and under-delivering. I don't need to have all the answers, but this book left more questions than anything, making me wonder what this book was supposed to really be about.
oranours's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
armchair_vibes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Stunning southern gothic horror.
In terms of vibes they are maxed out. We have the oppressive heat, sticky swampland and occasional torrential downpours. Then we have the muddy Perdido river that threatens to wipe away the town. These elements are used brilliantly to create such vivid imagery and atmosphere.
Despite this being a horror it doesn't try too hard to be scary. Its main focus is the
Caskey family and their internal struggles against each other whilst trying to maintain their social status and wealth.
I would say it's slow paced but there is lots of drama and fascinating characters so it never felt boring. The horror elements are used sparingly and executed perfectly at the right moments.
Mcdowell crafts a dark, intimate and often tragic family tale that spans several generations. He explores many themes, including death, loneliness, parenthood and generational trauma. All the while the threat of something much scarier and mysterious lurks at the heart of the family.
This book is stunning, so much to love about it. I can happily say it has taken the number one spot of best horror I have read to date.
In terms of vibes they are maxed out. We have the oppressive heat, sticky swampland and occasional torrential downpours. Then we have the muddy Perdido river that threatens to wipe away the town. These elements are used brilliantly to create such vivid imagery and atmosphere.
Despite this being a horror it doesn't try too hard to be scary. Its main focus is the
Caskey family and their internal struggles against each other whilst trying to maintain their social status and wealth.
I would say it's slow paced but there is lots of drama and fascinating characters so it never felt boring. The horror elements are used sparingly and executed perfectly at the right moments.
Mcdowell crafts a dark, intimate and often tragic family tale that spans several generations. He explores many themes, including death, loneliness, parenthood and generational trauma. All the while the threat of something much scarier and mysterious lurks at the heart of the family.
This book is stunning, so much to love about it. I can happily say it has taken the number one spot of best horror I have read to date.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
marplatense's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a sucker for Southern Gothic and this book have everything I could dream about the genre. The great and detailed descriptions use a lot of vocabulary (although English is not my mother tongue, I have been reading books in that language for years and this is the first time I have use the dictionary so much) and you get plenty of muddy waters and dangerous swamps, hot Alabama nights and iced tea. If you are ok to learn the life and death of a family with more than 20 members from 1919 until early seventies, this book is for you. I enjoyed it just like I would do with Faulkner (the fantastic undertones made me remember 100 years of solitude too).
When it comes to horror, it is not the key element that moves the story forward: the horror set pieces are distributed sparingly and they are bound to happen when the situation requires them. However, they are really well plotted, merciless and pretty gory and I might say I found them very scary, something that does not happen often. It is clear that McDowell knew how to write some good horror story.
Needless to say, I am planning to read more books from this author.
When it comes to horror, it is not the key element that moves the story forward: the horror set pieces are distributed sparingly and they are bound to happen when the situation requires them. However, they are really well plotted, merciless and pretty gory and I might say I found them very scary, something that does not happen often. It is clear that McDowell knew how to write some good horror story.
Needless to say, I am planning to read more books from this author.
grimmlin666's review against another edition
5.0
In college I did an independent study on American Gothic, and I think if I could do it all over again I would do an independent study just on this book. There’s so much to chew on here. Between the generational trauma and usage of classic southern American landscapes, I could have written an entire thesis. Michael McDowell you have a new life long fan. (He also wrote Beetlejuice so I shoulda know this would be a match made in heaven)
And while this book is incredible and goes on my favorites list, the audiobook is by far the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. Matt Godfrey—a native of Alabama, just like the family in the book—not only juggles 15+ characters, he also ages their voices throughout the narration. Just by one sentence you know who’s speaking and how old they are which takes an incredible amount of skill! He compliments McDowell’s writing so beautifully and together they build this insanely immersive world. I recommend this 30+ hour experience to anyone thinking of checking out this series.
And while this book is incredible and goes on my favorites list, the audiobook is by far the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. Matt Godfrey—a native of Alabama, just like the family in the book—not only juggles 15+ characters, he also ages their voices throughout the narration. Just by one sentence you know who’s speaking and how old they are which takes an incredible amount of skill! He compliments McDowell’s writing so beautifully and together they build this insanely immersive world. I recommend this 30+ hour experience to anyone thinking of checking out this series.