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mmoonlight's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
That was a great choice of a novel for a horror-related book club.
It was unsettling, intriguing, disorienting, very strange, and that mix really worked for me. The style of writing, and the way it constantly underlined how the main character was running out of time, inspired uneasiness, dread, and anxiety, especially since throughout most of the novella the main character wasn't aware of what she's supposed to be looking out for.
Another thing I enjoyed about the story was that, because I wasn't exactly sure what was happening, I assume it can be read in any way the reader likes: is it a supernatural horror story? Is it psychological horror? Is it magical realism? Is it an environmental horror? Is it a story about a mother experiencing anxiety and some sort of mental illness? It can be all of them, it can be none of them, it can be something else altogether. What I am sure of is that it certainly did read like a fever dream.
My only real complain is about the ending. I found it to be confusing and a bit anticlimactic, considering the pace of the rest of the story. It felt too abrupt.
But other than that? I really enjoyed the novella, and it's definitely worth of checking out.
It was unsettling, intriguing, disorienting, very strange, and that mix really worked for me. The style of writing, and the way it constantly underlined how the main character was running out of time, inspired uneasiness, dread, and anxiety, especially since throughout most of the novella the main character wasn't aware of what she's supposed to be looking out for.
Another thing I enjoyed about the story was that, because I wasn't exactly sure what was happening, I assume it can be read in any way the reader likes: is it a supernatural horror story? Is it psychological horror? Is it magical realism? Is it an environmental horror? Is it a story about a mother experiencing anxiety and some sort of mental illness? It can be all of them, it can be none of them, it can be something else altogether. What I am sure of is that it certainly did read like a fever dream.
My only real complain is about the ending. I found it to be confusing and a bit anticlimactic, considering the pace of the rest of the story. It felt too abrupt.
But other than that? I really enjoyed the novella, and it's definitely worth of checking out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Ableism and Grief
Minor: Stalking
feelincelestial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
A very tense and tragic novella. I finished it in a couple hours and enjoyed the feverish unease of the narrative. As someone with a lot of anxiety about the safety of my loved ones, that feeling of realizing you’ve prepared for every threat except the real one hits close to home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Miscarriage
daniellekat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was unsettling and disorienting in the best way. The writing was well done and I loved the building anticipation. I always felt tense while reading this, regardless of what was actually happening in the story. The ending was a let down after all the build up and I disliked the abruptness of it. I'd definitely seek out Schweblin's work again in the future, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Animal death
poisonthe_readingraven's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
wtf did i read? lmao This really does feel like a fever dream. It was interesting but I got lost several times while reading. It might have been better to physically read this, I read it audio style so that might have added to the confusion. It was a very fast read that provides that eerie feeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Abandonment
takecoverbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thoroughly disturbing to the point of inspiring dread more than fear, Fever Dream is a powerful work about unchecked agricultural development in rural Argentina, rendered as a ghost story. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it does. The only issue is: it’s a tough read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
itsradsmads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
keonaaw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Such an interesting read. The pace and length of the book definitely make it one that is better read in one sitting. Deeply unsettling. I also feel that there is some criticism of the bourgeoisie wrapped up in the text. Amanda's disgust with the local children's apparent illness without examining the root of their illness keeps her from seeing the bigger picture of the poisoning, and lands her own daughter in the same situation as David.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, and Medical content
bexcloud's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror and Medical content
nreyno's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Medical trauma
iseefirede's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Overall a very confusing, yet ominous read. I've read that the title "Fever Dream" is an inaccurate translation and that "Rescue Distance" makes more sense. Given the context of the book, I would agree. It delves into the guilt that is involved in parenting and that despite our best efforts, we can't protect our children from everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent