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picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A mysterious, weird, surreal read that leaves you wondering in the best way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Minor: Alcohol
This is a very mysterious book where things are not always what they same, and the reader and narrator isn’t sure what is going on. Some things (e.g. psychosis, suicide, institutional gaslighting) could simply be that, or there could be other explanations for it.nialiversuch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Suicide attempt
blueacorn1991's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
I've always loved the movie adaptation, because I do love me a good, weird, sci-fi story. So when I was told the books were supposed to be even better, I was on board!
Having read the first part now. It is definitely very weird, but also very different from the movie. It doesn't give much in the form of answers to any questions you might have. It keeps giving me that prickly feeling of just getting enough info to keep me going, while also giving me more and more questions.
I do love how the narrator acknowledges that she at times keeps information hidden from us readers, and admits she is an unreliable narrator. And even she is not sure if she can trust her own senses most of the time.
Curious to see where the next books go, and to know more about this world that the movie initially introduced me to.
Having said that, I can totally understand that this kind of storytelling is not for everyone and why the reviews are so divided.
Having read the first part now. It is definitely very weird, but also very different from the movie. It doesn't give much in the form of answers to any questions you might have. It keeps giving me that prickly feeling of just getting enough info to keep me going, while also giving me more and more questions.
I do love how the narrator acknowledges that she at times keeps information hidden from us readers, and admits she is an unreliable narrator. And even she is not sure if she can trust her own senses most of the time.
Curious to see where the next books go, and to know more about this world that the movie initially introduced me to.
Having said that, I can totally understand that this kind of storytelling is not for everyone and why the reviews are so divided.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Grief
maryconney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence and Grief
ruune's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Cancer
thegrossgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Summary of my review: Book and film aren't alike AT ALL, fascinating and shocking discoveries, character depth (protagonist only), special nickname, first person POV prevented us readers to get to know more and feel more indulged while reading the story, too little happened for a stand-alone story
Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms … to share with the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives.
I watched the film when it came out and I did know there was a book, but didn't read it till now. But here we are!
(And before you ask: The film is VERY different from the book. Some ideas were implanted into the film, but most didn't even exist in the book)
As said near the beginning of the book all characters were trained to leave personal stuff behind; Meaning that one is only there for the task to discover Area X and should only focus on that. So we of course don't get any friendship or the sort there. But we get the backstory of our main character which at least makes us connect a bit with her.
There were so many crazy things happening, but can't mention them as that would spoiler the fun. But they were so cool and interesting to read about!
The backstory we got of the main character was so detailed. We get every now and then a bit new information or just general memories of her. It made me feel more connected to the character, especially with relatable scenes like this:
"I didn’t care about politics except in how politics impinged upon the environment. I wasn’t religious. All of my hobbies were bound up in my work. I lived for the work, and I thrilled with the power of that focus but it was also deeply personal."
Some might disagree now but the nickname the husband gave the protagonist sounds so special and original. Like I never got called like that and the best thing is; It doesn't sound cringe (since there is a meaning behind it).
I like third and first person, but for this story I would say the third person would have been better (bonus points for different POV's as that would make the story more exciting).
We are reading this story to DISCOVER. How do you discover a story the best? By having a narrator that knows everything and isn't RESTRICTED.
We had only 4 characters and it felt too little, honestly. Originally it was 5, but 1 left us already before they even got introduced to us readers. Or maybe character depth was the thing I missed, as the protagonist was the only one we really got to know. But there is a reason behind why we don't get to know the others so can't quite argue with that. I don't know it felt like something was missing, especially in the plot. It felt slow-paced sometimes, but in the end we didn't get as much information or intense scenes as I initially thought before reading this book. Feel disappointed.
03. August 2024
Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms … to share with the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives.
I watched the film when it came out and I did know there was a book, but didn't read it till now. But here we are!
(And before you ask: The film is VERY different from the book. Some ideas were implanted into the film, but most didn't even exist in the book)
As said near the beginning of the book all characters were trained to leave personal stuff behind; Meaning that one is only there for the task to discover Area X and should only focus on that. So we of course don't get any friendship or the sort there. But we get the backstory of our main character which at least makes us connect a bit with her.
There were so many crazy things happening, but can't mention them as that would spoiler the fun. But they were so cool and interesting to read about!
The backstory we got of the main character was so detailed. We get every now and then a bit new information or just general memories of her. It made me feel more connected to the character, especially with relatable scenes like this:
"I didn’t care about politics except in how politics impinged upon the environment. I wasn’t religious. All of my hobbies were bound up in my work. I lived for the work, and I thrilled with the power of that focus but it was also deeply personal."
Some might disagree now but the nickname the husband gave the protagonist sounds so special and original. Like I never got called like that and the best thing is; It doesn't sound cringe (since there is a meaning behind it).
I like third and first person, but for this story I would say the third person would have been better (bonus points for different POV's as that would make the story more exciting).
We are reading this story to DISCOVER. How do you discover a story the best? By having a narrator that knows everything and isn't RESTRICTED.
We had only 4 characters and it felt too little, honestly. Originally it was 5, but 1 left us already before they even got introduced to us readers. Or maybe character depth was the thing I missed, as the protagonist was the only one we really got to know. But there is a reason behind why we don't get to know the others so can't quite argue with that. I don't know it felt like something was missing, especially in the plot. It felt slow-paced sometimes, but in the end we didn't get as much information or intense scenes as I initially thought before reading this book. Feel disappointed.
03. August 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Sexual content, Excrement, Grief, and Alcohol
chris_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
kuronekostea's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. The way Jeff VanderMeer builds the mystery of area X keeps you guessing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence and Suicidal thoughts