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jordynjohnson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really, really enjoyed this book. The world was so immersive, dark and thought provoking and I found myself feeling so upset for Christopher and his mother. I was so shocked with the twist that the Nice Man was actually the bad guy and the Hissing Lady was the one trying to help everyone. The themes were really confronting but it was definitely a worthwhile read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job, her performance was really moving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, and Suicide
keen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
violetwraith's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
Minor: Sexual assault
mattlefevers's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-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? No
2.0
It's been a long time since I was legitimately so mixed on a book.
On paper, "the author of YA sensation Perks of Being A Wallflower attempts a riff on the classic Stephen King format of 'small town gradually destroys itself'" sounds like exactly my jam. And that's definitely the pattern Chbosky is following here — think Needful Things, Under the Dome, and the like. Many characters, lots of hopping between viewpoints, and this idyllic small town slowly coming unraveled. It seems like it'd be amazing.
But somehow this book felt long in a way that those comparable King books don't, to me. The prose is readable, I wasn't usually having too bad of a time while I had it open, but every time I closed it I'd look to see how much progress I'd made and the Kindle readout would be 1% further along. It's so long and I'm not sure the book makes the best use of all that space.
Part of what makes a The Stand or something work is diving deep into the psyches of that sprawling cast of characters, really making each one a fully fleshed out human being. Chbosky apes that format here but each of the characters in the town has precisely one (1) character trait, and repeats it indefinitely. This woman is a drunk, and one hundred percent of her viewpoint chapters are about wanting alcohol. This other character was abused, and every line of her inner monologue is her thinking about that. All of the characters are sketched so thinly that there wound up only being about two or three that I cared about in the whole town. It's telling that two of the primary protagonists of the entire novel are referred to as "Christopher's mom" and "the sheriff", even in their own viewpoint chapters.
Similarly, it's hard to tell what (if any) agency any of these characters are supposed to have. Without divulging too much about the plot (there are some terrific twists I'd rather leave unspoiled) the back half of the novel has things descending into chaos, but it's never even remotely clear whether characters are possessed (and have no free will at all), or whether they're being tempted by their own secret desires and fears (but are giving in to that temptation as conscious agents?) or if they're essentially just zombies from a low rent horror film. I don't know what the point is of introducing dozens of friends and bullies and classmates and neighbors and lovers and coworkers only to have all of them end up in basically the same position regardless of their interior life.
Really in all respects the stakes here are baffling. For a story that starts out as a pretty grounded slow burn, the latter half of the book is surreal and hard to track. People are escaping from places, then going back into those places, then escaping again; people unlock amazing powers and then six sentences later they're powerless to defend themselves; the villain's plan is thwarted two thirds of the way through but nothing changes and eventually they have to be thwarted again; sometimes things are happening in a dream and sometimes they aren't but seem like they are. I never have any idea what anybody is trying to accomplish or how. It's truly a story of people running back and forth across town while things happen to them.
The language is repetitious to a fault — I did a Kindle search for the words "baby teeth" (21), "cool side of the pillow" (13), and "floods" (55), which are only a handful of the mantras the author keeps returning to in a Groundhog Day style loop. (He also gets a lot of mileage out of the word 'son' sounding like the word 'sun'.)
So why did I read all seven hundred something pages of a book that annoyed me this much? Partly because I've only ever not finished about five books in my life and I owe Chbosky enough loyalty to not add his sophomore novel to that pile. But there are also things here that do work. I felt a lot of love for Kate (sorry, 'Christopher's mother') as a character, and for the journey of faith that Mary Katherine undergoes in the novel. There were moments that startled me, or moved me, or spread a savage grin across my face. And some of the twists... there's a reason I'm talking around the actual plot of this book. There are surprises and reveals and reversals in here that legitimately delighted me. Every time I was this close to putting it down and never coming back, I'd hit a chapter that turned everything upside down and made me excited about it again.
So... I don't know. It's very hard for me to recommend a book that feels this long and has this many flaws, but. If you were already planning to read it, I hope you enjoy it. There are things here to like.
On paper, "the author of YA sensation Perks of Being A Wallflower attempts a riff on the classic Stephen King format of 'small town gradually destroys itself'" sounds like exactly my jam. And that's definitely the pattern Chbosky is following here — think Needful Things, Under the Dome, and the like. Many characters, lots of hopping between viewpoints, and this idyllic small town slowly coming unraveled. It seems like it'd be amazing.
But somehow this book felt long in a way that those comparable King books don't, to me. The prose is readable, I wasn't usually having too bad of a time while I had it open, but every time I closed it I'd look to see how much progress I'd made and the Kindle readout would be 1% further along. It's so long and I'm not sure the book makes the best use of all that space.
Part of what makes a The Stand or something work is diving deep into the psyches of that sprawling cast of characters, really making each one a fully fleshed out human being. Chbosky apes that format here but each of the characters in the town has precisely one (1) character trait, and repeats it indefinitely. This woman is a drunk, and one hundred percent of her viewpoint chapters are about wanting alcohol. This other character was abused, and every line of her inner monologue is her thinking about that. All of the characters are sketched so thinly that there wound up only being about two or three that I cared about in the whole town. It's telling that two of the primary protagonists of the entire novel are referred to as "Christopher's mom" and "the sheriff", even in their own viewpoint chapters.
Similarly, it's hard to tell what (if any) agency any of these characters are supposed to have. Without divulging too much about the plot (there are some terrific twists I'd rather leave unspoiled) the back half of the novel has things descending into chaos, but it's never even remotely clear whether characters are possessed (and have no free will at all), or whether they're being tempted by their own secret desires and fears (but are giving in to that temptation as conscious agents?) or if they're essentially just zombies from a low rent horror film. I don't know what the point is of introducing dozens of friends and bullies and classmates and neighbors and lovers and coworkers only to have all of them end up in basically the same position regardless of their interior life.
Really in all respects the stakes here are baffling. For a story that starts out as a pretty grounded slow burn, the latter half of the book is surreal and hard to track. People are escaping from places, then going back into those places, then escaping again; people unlock amazing powers and then six sentences later they're powerless to defend themselves; the villain's plan is thwarted two thirds of the way through but nothing changes and eventually they have to be thwarted again; sometimes things are happening in a dream and sometimes they aren't but seem like they are. I never have any idea what anybody is trying to accomplish or how. It's truly a story of people running back and forth across town while things happen to them.
The language is repetitious to a fault — I did a Kindle search for the words "baby teeth" (21), "cool side of the pillow" (13), and "floods" (55), which are only a handful of the mantras the author keeps returning to in a Groundhog Day style loop. (He also gets a lot of mileage out of the word 'son' sounding like the word 'sun'.)
So why did I read all seven hundred something pages of a book that annoyed me this much? Partly because I've only ever not finished about five books in my life and I owe Chbosky enough loyalty to not add his sophomore novel to that pile. But there are also things here that do work. I felt a lot of love for Kate (sorry, 'Christopher's mother') as a character, and for the journey of faith that Mary Katherine undergoes in the novel. There were moments that startled me, or moved me, or spread a savage grin across my face. And some of the twists... there's a reason I'm talking around the actual plot of this book. There are surprises and reveals and reversals in here that legitimately delighted me. Every time I was this close to putting it down and never coming back, I'd hit a chapter that turned everything upside down and made me excited about it again.
So... I don't know. It's very hard for me to recommend a book that feels this long and has this many flaws, but. If you were already planning to read it, I hope you enjoy it. There are things here to like.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mykieangelno's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
incredible horror novel with an intriguing slightly uplifting ending, had some cheesy lines and motifs that made me cringe a little
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Alcohol
this book is great but includes every trigger warning under the sunepeolatrist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Xenophobia
lokidotter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
nikimorr's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
UPDATE: A year later, I still think about this book regularly.
This is the kind of book where you could read it more than once and each time find a new message or meaning in it. Overall, I felt like this book came together in the end and answered almost all of the lingering questions. Also, what a creative story idea! This took a special kind of story telling to bring this all together.
My favorite part of the book was the beginning. A mother and son, both of whom are trying to do their best for each other. I really loved their bond and their struggles. I couldn’t wait to get off work to rejoin them in this story, especially for the first ~100 pages. The power of a mother’s love resonates through every chapter, beginning to end.
It is a long book, but I never really got tired of it. I think part of the enjoyment comes from different character perspectives in short chapters. My favorite type of book is from various points of view.
There is a lot of religion in this book. I was not raised in a religious environment, so I would not be surprised to learn that there was a lot more to get from these parts, especially from Mary Katherine. I struggled with liking her character, but what I did gather from her message (spoiler) is that she goes from the side of religion that is focused on being perfect/fear to what the true goal should be - love. I am still pondering the meaning of her pregnancy (besides the “Virgin Mary” reference).
Spoiler - I found the ending of the book to be quite wonderful. What resonated with me is that the true Hell comes from within - especially with our own guilt and not letting go. We create our own hell. The only freedom can come from within and forgiving ourselves. Also, the importance of coming from a place of love and forgiveness, even with those who have done wrong. Finally, recognizing when we are wrong and working to fix/repent. It ended up being a very positive book with a worthwhile message.
This is the kind of book where you could read it more than once and each time find a new message or meaning in it. Overall, I felt like this book came together in the end and answered almost all of the lingering questions. Also, what a creative story idea! This took a special kind of story telling to bring this all together.
My favorite part of the book was the beginning. A mother and son, both of whom are trying to do their best for each other. I really loved their bond and their struggles. I couldn’t wait to get off work to rejoin them in this story, especially for the first ~100 pages. The power of a mother’s love resonates through every chapter, beginning to end.
It is a long book, but I never really got tired of it. I think part of the enjoyment comes from different character perspectives in short chapters. My favorite type of book is from various points of view.
There is a lot of religion in this book. I was not raised in a religious environment, so I would not be surprised to learn that there was a lot more to get from these parts, especially from Mary Katherine. I struggled with liking her character, but what I did gather from her message (spoiler) is that she goes from the side of religion that is focused on being perfect/fear to what the true goal should be - love. I am still pondering the meaning of her pregnancy (besides the “Virgin Mary” reference).
Spoiler - I found the ending of the book to be quite wonderful. What resonated with me is that the true Hell comes from within - especially with our own guilt and not letting go. We create our own hell. The only freedom can come from within and forgiving ourselves. Also, the importance of coming from a place of love and forgiveness, even with those who have done wrong. Finally, recognizing when we are wrong and working to fix/repent. It ended up being a very positive book with a worthwhile message.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
amberjackonski's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault