spookyscenes_steamyreads's review against another edition
3.0
Scary in the worst real-life way. A world not often explored that just happens to be just on the next street over.
twilliamson's review against another edition
4.0
In Blood Sugar, Kraus takes an urban legend, treats it as though it were borne of a men's adventure magazine, and gives it the voice of an impoverished and uneducated child. He treats the subject with a certain amount of respect, adding sufficient nuance and empathy to the story through his adolescent narrator to keep the story immersive.
And immersion is definitely the name of the game here. The narrator's voice is distinct (and apparently divisive to those unable or unwilling to grapple with its grammatical inaccuracy), but what surprises me most is its consistency. Jody, the narrator, seems as understandable as any children in his situation, and although his pop culture references and unique diction may turn some readers away, I find Kraus's consistency with the character's voice adds a kind of verisimilitude that kept me turning page after page.
The story, too, is surprisingly nuanced, drawing from multiple sources to craft what feels like an uncontrollable spiral for each of the characters. The theme of the story is definitively the ways in which our society helps create these disenfranchised sociopaths, and while it's easy to see their rage as misguided, it's also easy to see how easily we can be misled through the continual cynicism we are fed through an economic system that casts us off when we lose our utility to it.
Kraus certainly has a finger on the pulse of American life in 2019, and although this may not be an actual story of literal events, his allegorical purpose is powerful. I really loved every line of this "diseased" narrative, and although it is not perfect, it's far more subversive and beautifully decrepit than the purposefully cheesy cover might suggest. It's a perfect example of why Hard Case Crime is one of the best publishers today: it offers a story so entertaining that readers can almost forget it's actually saying something worth reading.
And immersion is definitely the name of the game here. The narrator's voice is distinct (and apparently divisive to those unable or unwilling to grapple with its grammatical inaccuracy), but what surprises me most is its consistency. Jody, the narrator, seems as understandable as any children in his situation, and although his pop culture references and unique diction may turn some readers away, I find Kraus's consistency with the character's voice adds a kind of verisimilitude that kept me turning page after page.
The story, too, is surprisingly nuanced, drawing from multiple sources to craft what feels like an uncontrollable spiral for each of the characters. The theme of the story is definitively the ways in which our society helps create these disenfranchised sociopaths, and while it's easy to see their rage as misguided, it's also easy to see how easily we can be misled through the continual cynicism we are fed through an economic system that casts us off when we lose our utility to it.
Kraus certainly has a finger on the pulse of American life in 2019, and although this may not be an actual story of literal events, his allegorical purpose is powerful. I really loved every line of this "diseased" narrative, and although it is not perfect, it's far more subversive and beautifully decrepit than the purposefully cheesy cover might suggest. It's a perfect example of why Hard Case Crime is one of the best publishers today: it offers a story so entertaining that readers can almost forget it's actually saying something worth reading.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A 2019 staff favorite recommended by Mark. Listen to Mark and Lindsay talk about favorite horror books on the Cook Memorial Library podcast:
https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2019/10...
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sblood%20sugar%20daniel%20kraus__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2019/10...
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sblood%20sugar%20daniel%20kraus__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
naokamiya's review against another edition
4.0
I cannot fucking write but this was great and a lot more formally inventive than I expected
spooky_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
God this was so good. Never in a million years did I think a book with such a dark, unsettling, heartbreaking premise could be so funny! Getting to experience this story through the perspective of our young protagonist Jody, soaking in his endearing, insightful (and many time’s funny) thoughts reminded me so much of Holden Caulfield from “The Catcher in the Rye”, a classic that happens to be a favorite of mine. I’m so glad I’ve ended my October with this gem and I highly recommend others add it to their October reading lists for next year!
scottneumann's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
jmmoore2003's review against another edition
5.0
My feelings about this book are complicated. It is beautifully written, and a beautifully told the story, and I did expect something dark but not in this way. I’m not sure if I should recommend this book to everyone I know or warn people away from it.
ryneb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0