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necropolis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW this book was tremendous. it was an exceptional world to get lost in. i came to love the main character a lot and i wanted to cry when her story wrapped up. what a beautiful piece of fiction.
i wanted to rate it 4.5 because of the grooming plotline, but it deserves 5. i think that was handled about as well as it could be, but it really didn’t sit well with me. but again, american elsewhere deserves the five stars for being genuinely frightening, beautiful, rich, mystical, and touching.
i wanted to rate it 4.5 because of the grooming plotline, but it deserves 5. i think that was handled about as well as it could be, but it really didn’t sit well with me. but again, american elsewhere deserves the five stars for being genuinely frightening, beautiful, rich, mystical, and touching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, and Pedophilia
cwhite616's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
1.0
At about the 60% mark of this book, a character reflects that “familiarity breeds contempt.”
This is the problem with so many stories in the “cosmic horror” genre — as soon as the “mystery beyond words” is revealed by an unskilled author, that author has no tools but words to describe that which is inherently beyond words.
Sadly, this author takes the path of turning to gross-out gore and incredibly depressing violence, including absolutely horrible scenes of children being murdered.
I’m actually angry with Storygraph for recommending this book to me. It’s disturbing, disgusting, and almost completely without redeeming features. What’s particularly sad is that the first 40% of the book is incredibly interesting (albeit confusing) before turning into a depressing, gore-saturated pulp.
This is the most disappointing book I’ve read in decades. I’m so sad I read it.
This is the problem with so many stories in the “cosmic horror” genre — as soon as the “mystery beyond words” is revealed by an unskilled author, that author has no tools but words to describe that which is inherently beyond words.
Sadly, this author takes the path of turning to gross-out gore and incredibly depressing violence, including absolutely horrible scenes of children being murdered.
I’m actually angry with Storygraph for recommending this book to me. It’s disturbing, disgusting, and almost completely without redeeming features. What’s particularly sad is that the first 40% of the book is incredibly interesting (albeit confusing) before turning into a depressing, gore-saturated pulp.
This is the most disappointing book I’ve read in decades. I’m so sad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
its_kievan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The epitome of great writing and terrible editing. The story of an ex-cop investigating an ominous 50s Americana town is a great one, with one of my new favourite protagonist. But the mystery itself is almost immediately spoiled, as the viewpoint shifts to the Lovecraftian monsters inhabiting the town in the first few chapters. Even the secondary twist is underwhelming as a result. As it is, American Elsewhere is interesting but underwhelming. Cut out about 200 pages, and it could have been a masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Racism and Rape