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keen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I love surreal horror. I love surrealism in general. This book was one long strange experience from start to finish. It was painfully tense. As I described it to friends, it had "bad vibes."
Based on my own anxiety disorder and dissociative episodes, this entire book felt like one long anxiety attack. It felt like I was dissociating. Nothing felt right. Everything was off, slightly to the right, slightly to the left. Putting my finger on specific parts that made me feel that way didn't help me express why it did. Like a dissociative experience, explaining it to people who haven't dissociated (or, in this case, haven't read the book) would be confusing.
This is not a book if you aren't interested in self-reflection, philosophy, or a semi-slow pace. The offness of everything might help keep your attention, and there are several key events in the book, but it's not particularly fast either. You need to be patient and attentive for the story to settle in. Even then, you might want to reread it. I'll definitely be going back to analyze passages, maybe entire chapters, to see what I missed and how everything built up upon each other.
Based on my own anxiety disorder and dissociative episodes, this entire book felt like one long anxiety attack. It felt like I was dissociating. Nothing felt right. Everything was off, slightly to the right, slightly to the left. Putting my finger on specific parts that made me feel that way didn't help me express why it did. Like a dissociative experience, explaining it to people who haven't dissociated (or, in this case, haven't read the book) would be confusing.
This is not a book if you aren't interested in self-reflection, philosophy, or a semi-slow pace. The offness of everything might help keep your attention, and there are several key events in the book, but it's not particularly fast either. You need to be patient and attentive for the story to settle in. Even then, you might want to reread it. I'll definitely be going back to analyze passages, maybe entire chapters, to see what I missed and how everything built up upon each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Stalking, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Self harm and Blood
rebelstorm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4,3/5
Quality of writing: 5
Plot development: 4
Pace: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of reading: 5
Quality of writing: 5
Plot development: 4
Pace: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of reading: 5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
luckydragonnerd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
this is an objectively good book, but i guess i just wasn't in the right mood. m expectations were also pretty high so that probably had a part in me not liking it as much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying
farmerzonly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
after being in a reading rut for a while i finally got back into novels with this one and I’m SO GLAD i did. i watched the movie first so i knew the end of the narrative which really let me relax and get into it without worrying about the plot that much. the end was soooo jarring and spooky as hell. the book was overall much more satisfying than the movie. brb going to read foe now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders