The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
ilana_pop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Dementia
Moderate: Body horror
jae0141's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Death
gibetal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Dementia
pigeon_'s review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
fadeddpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Dementia and Death
vanesst's review
4.5
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Suicide
samarakroeger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
also, for something labeled as horror, this had literally no creepiness or intrigue or sense of tension or foreboding element to it. the plot was basically nonexistent and the characters were so deeply unrealistic (has Iain Reid ever talked to someone suffering from Alzheimer's before? and why did he decide to write a book about it???).Â
my main problems, other than simply being very bored, revolve around the writing, the clunky first person present tense perspective, and the incredibly flawed depiction of dementia. first of all, women in their 90s/people with dementia do NOT talk like pretentious teens written by John Green. simply inaccurate. and they certainly don't think in complete sentences and have a serviceable short-term working memory. does he understand that short-term working memory loss is basically the first sign of dementia????Â
I also really don't like how Reid decided that "the real horror is neurodegenerative disease" and like, yes, I agree, I am not a fan of neurodegeneration, but I think it is incredibly misguided to make it the "horror element" to your "horror" book. also, the ~quirky fungus element that isn't properly explored~ was just thrown in. it did not add any suspense or sense of mystery or any horror. I think Alzheimer's could potentially be used as an element in a well-done body horror book, but not from a first person perspective that had no character to it.
and the ending -- I fully disagree with the incredibly heavy-handed message that was shoved down the reader's throat.... I don't think a life without a clear end is meaningless and I don't think that not romanticizing death is a bad thing. death is just part of life. let's stop fretting about it so much. I actually laughed at the ending of this book because it was ridiculous.
Graphic: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement
mbmayo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The book is told through Penny's eyes and we readers are left wondering whether her fears, paranoia and lost time are real and sinister or a merely a symptom of dementia? Reid's prose leaves either possibility open.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Body horror, and Dementia
Moderate: Suicide
bookcaptivated's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Medical content, Mental illness, and Suicide
keen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Dementia and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Suicide, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Animal death, and Emotional abuse