The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
another_dahlia's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
Interesting concept, way too many characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Child death, Suicide, Violence, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Fatphobia
Minor: Alcohol
toffishay's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
3.25
Shirley Jackson really has a way with setting a scene. We learn so much about out characters over the course of the summer, learning about their flaws and times when they strive for more. I will say that there is a twist of sorts that really caught me off guard, but I'm not sure if it was in a good way. It felt a little out of nowhere and I think that other actions and characters were set up that could have been part of the final act. But I think that is the point with Shirley Jackson too: to have a cast of characters all with their own cruelties and pain and just going about life. As a first novel, it's still pretty great and you can see where she grows as a writer in her other works, most of which I love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Antisemitism, Blood, Child death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Incest
edwardestlinoffical's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
5.0
I liked this book so much more than I thought I would, it has a very Desperate Housewives idea to it but even more sinister!Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Racism, and Racial slurs
missbreathing's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
Jacksonâs debut is a dark and tense look at suburban life. Some of the themes in it would be present in her later, more celebrated works. Though it moves slowly, the ending was unexpected and ominous. This book is further testament to Jacksonâs keen eye for the evils in every day life.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
coffinfinite's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A cold and biting satire of middle-class America and all its pretensions, The Road Through The Wall may not be Jacksonâs best work, but has become one of my favourites. Introducing us to a roster of characters who are all mundane and exhibit the casual cruelty of conformity, Jackson doesnât hold the readerâs hand when etching out her vision of Pepper Street. I kept notes as I read to help me keep everyone - The Donalds, The Roberts, The Byrnes, and many, many more - straight in my head. The lack of distinction between each family save the number of children and religious identity feels very much a part of Jacksonâs commentary.Â
The story itself - what there is of a story, as much of the book is simply observations, the reader eavesdropping on conversations, pacts and trysts along with childrenâs games - is told in a long series of vignettes, showing different members of Pepper Street going about their lives in various combinations, the whole while building up to a tragedy. Jackson lays false paths for the reader, who knows (as is described on the blurb) something terrible is going to happen, but not quite what. When it finally does happen, you realise it couldnât have been anything else all along.
The story itself - what there is of a story, as much of the book is simply observations, the reader eavesdropping on conversations, pacts and trysts along with childrenâs games - is told in a long series of vignettes, showing different members of Pepper Street going about their lives in various combinations, the whole while building up to a tragedy. Jackson lays false paths for the reader, who knows (as is described on the blurb) something terrible is going to happen, but not quite what. When it finally does happen, you realise it couldnât have been anything else all along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, and Death
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