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katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
I read PRETTY/UGLY as part of a book club and while I can’t think of another book in this exact genre (I think it’s literary horror) that I’ve read before, I was immediately sucked in by the author’s storytelling and skillful way of painting pictures with words. We follow several characters as a global pandemic breaks out. For all of us who have recently lived through a global pandemic and had to deal with the trauma and anxiety of that experience in our own ways, this isn’t always an easy read. But it tells an important story, and I loved how the backstories of Omelia and Sam were developed in such a way, tragic as they were, that made me feel for them so deeply. That to me, is the mark of a great book, one that makes you feel and think about the characters long after the book is over. 5/5 stars.
shcleveland's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I found this book challenging to finish. The beginning went by quickly; I was gripped by the sheer horror of the sickness as it swept over the characters' lives. After that it started to drag and I lost interest in chunks of it. It's definitely a character driven story with very little in the way of plot after the initial onset of the virus. The book goes for a more literary feel than a genre horror or thriller.
I do think I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been written with an omniscient narrator. It was jarring and head-hoppy in places. There were also some spots where it felt like the book was written in present tense but edited into the past and I found that distracting. Still, much of the writing was haunting and beautiful.
I do think I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been written with an omniscient narrator. It was jarring and head-hoppy in places. There were also some spots where it felt like the book was written in present tense but edited into the past and I found that distracting. Still, much of the writing was haunting and beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer and Child death
afictionalhubbard's review against another edition
5.0
Pretty/Ugly is a lyrical, hallucinogenic train ride through the end of the world. It’s the story of two people falling in and out of loneliness as the end draws near. Each moment is more beautiful and terrifying than the last. Pretty/Ugly is the combination of Contagion and Lost in Translation I didn’t know I needed. It’s Lost in Contagion.
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