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A review by selendrea
We Spread by Iain Reid
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
We Spread is a dizzying and thoughtful foray into the existentialist dread of growing older, losing your sense of identity, and finality versus infinity. The questions that unravel throughout this novel and its claustrophobic atmosphere completely engrossed me. Iain Reid always does a tremendous job at taking the reader on a wild yet thought-provoking ride, and this book is no exception. I found the characters simultaneously endearing and yet.. unnerving. I think both of those descriptions are apt for this book in general. Penny in particular was well fleshed out, and I felt so connected to her by the end.
Personally, I enjoy a story that leaves much up for interpretation. Unpacking and discussing an ending is oddly one of my favorite activities to do after a novel or movie's completion. We Spread is almost perfect for this. If you want Reid to spell out the ending completely for you, word for word, you won't find that here.
While I greatly enjoyed this book, there is one major flaw. There are generally two interpretations of this novel that one can take. No matter which interpretation you choose, there are still some unanswered questions that don't quite make sense. I don't want there to be only one correct answer, but I think that there were just a bit too many things that were left vague or red herrings that were left unexplained. Additionally, I think this plot isn't quite as punchy or hard-hitting as some of Reid's previous work. However, that doesn't take away from how incredibly enjoyable and gripping this book was to read.
Personally, I enjoy a story that leaves much up for interpretation. Unpacking and discussing an ending is oddly one of my favorite activities to do after a novel or movie's completion. We Spread is almost perfect for this. If you want Reid to spell out the ending completely for you, word for word, you won't find that here.
While I greatly enjoyed this book, there is one major flaw. There are generally two interpretations of this novel that one can take. No matter which interpretation you choose, there are still some unanswered questions that don't quite make sense. I don't want there to be only one correct answer, but I think that there were just a bit too many things that were left vague or red herrings that were left unexplained. Additionally, I think this plot isn't quite as punchy or hard-hitting as some of Reid's previous work. However, that doesn't take away from how incredibly enjoyable and gripping this book was to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, and Dementia