Scan barcode
melissa10's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
erinlcrane's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn’t really sure what to rate this! I really liked the writing and the tone. Part Two, though it feels random at first, was a great read. But I was definitely hoping for more actual horror. Based on other reviews, that’s a common feeling. I also feel like I got to the end and didn’t understand everything I was supposed to understand. It’s just a little too obtuse for me.
kaylovestoread's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
hhollins's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
nooneyouknow's review against another edition
3.0
Felt like a sad, creepy, low budget horror/loss story. I didn't really love the bumpy narrative style, but kept reading to see how everything might tie together.
elfangor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
leila's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Based on a lot of the reviews I figured that I might not end up liking this book very much, but that actually wasn’t the case. A lot of the negative reviews aren’t wrong, you really just have to go into it not expecting a horror book and willing to not be 100% satisfied with the resolution of the story. I appreciated it for what it was 👍🏼
disenchanting's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.0
gkazumi's review against another edition
3.0
So, I don't think that Universal Harvester was bad. But I also don't think it was that good. It was okay which is okay! It is okay to be average.
The beginning caught my attention with Jeremy's repetitive mundane life working at the video hut and living with his father and then this strange happening of the VHS tapes at work being dropped essentially into his lap.
However, after that it started to drag. I know that there are some 5 star reviews that say that the horror in it is the mundane reputation of an empty life in a quiet town and if you didn't like that you don't get it. But I think some of us did. Obviously not everyone but I'd like to believe a good amount of people did.
As it starts to slow down it really does start to feel like time is slowing to a crawl. There's still the underlying anxiety of what's happening with the tapes and Jeremy feels it as his boss becomes more obsessed with them. But I feel like it's too slowed down by the intention.
The intention was good and really interesting in concept. I've said before in other reviews that I don't mind books where the plot is a bit meandering to make a point in mundanity but it has to be executed well. This was better than a Murakami book since it's not 600 pages of meandering so I do appreciate how short it was.
If I had to say the best chapters where I could really feel the uneasy energy of something darker under the surface along with the pure tragedy and unfulfillment of a boring life was in Irene Sample's chapters. The slow indoctrination into the cult, the willful ignorance of her husband as he sees the subtle changes, the repetitive nature of being a housewife in a small town it was all so well written. If the whole book had been that I feel like I would have liked it more. I even enjoyed reading about the chores, the schedules of the housewives and how they rotated watching the kids, scraping by to save money so her daughter could have nice things instead of feeling left out. It's the kind of chapter that really makes you think holy crap I could be indoctrinated into a cult. I think that's the most chilling thing sort of like everyone watching Midsommer and thinking the cult was in the right.
All in all not necessarily my cup of tea but not the worst book I've read either. I can walk away from this and say I would be open to reading more from John Darnielle.
The beginning caught my attention with Jeremy's repetitive mundane life working at the video hut and living with his father and then this strange happening of the VHS tapes at work being dropped essentially into his lap.
However, after that it started to drag. I know that there are some 5 star reviews that say that the horror in it is the mundane reputation of an empty life in a quiet town and if you didn't like that you don't get it. But I think some of us did. Obviously not everyone but I'd like to believe a good amount of people did.
As it starts to slow down it really does start to feel like time is slowing to a crawl. There's still the underlying anxiety of what's happening with the tapes and Jeremy feels it as his boss becomes more obsessed with them. But I feel like it's too slowed down by the intention.
The intention was good and really interesting in concept. I've said before in other reviews that I don't mind books where the plot is a bit meandering to make a point in mundanity but it has to be executed well. This was better than a Murakami book since it's not 600 pages of meandering so I do appreciate how short it was.
If I had to say the best chapters where I could really feel the uneasy energy of something darker under the surface along with the pure tragedy and unfulfillment of a boring life was in Irene Sample's chapters. The slow indoctrination into the cult, the willful ignorance of her husband as he sees the subtle changes, the repetitive nature of being a housewife in a small town it was all so well written. If the whole book had been that I feel like I would have liked it more. I even enjoyed reading about the chores, the schedules of the housewives and how they rotated watching the kids, scraping by to save money so her daughter could have nice things instead of feeling left out. It's the kind of chapter that really makes you think holy crap I could be indoctrinated into a cult. I think that's the most chilling thing sort of like everyone watching Midsommer and thinking the cult was in the right.
All in all not necessarily my cup of tea but not the worst book I've read either. I can walk away from this and say I would be open to reading more from John Darnielle.
stumpnugget's review against another edition
4.0
Such an excellent book, made more excellent because most of the action happened within 30 minutes of my house. And can I say that it's really not fair that one the best and most literate song writers of my generation is also a seriously good novelist?