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A review by tracyreads
A Place for Sinners by Aaron Dries
4.0
Dear Mr. Dries, thank you for bringing my nightmares to life. This book contains SO MANY things that make me squirm: “teeth” issues, BUGS, and an overall sense of entrapment were the three biggies for me. I have no doubt that other readers will no doubt find their very own “special moments” within these pages. -Sincerely, Tracy.
A Place for Sinners is at once a novel about family and survival as well as a no-holds-barred, evil island extravaganza. There are no safe places within these pages and I really dig the way Dries handles some of these moments. The beginning starts off with a bang, literally. We get some character development and plot movement, and then the battle royale at the worst island ever.
The first time we “visit” the island there is a scene with a machete that Dries delivers in such an off-handed way. As if this is just par for the course here on the island. I re-read that part a couple times because it read as if someone was tying their shoes or performing some other ordinary daily task, not the devastation that was actually taking place. Here on the island, these things ARE the norm and I love that the author introduces this in this manner.
I actually had the opportunity to read this book with a group of bookish friends. One thing we discussed really stuck out to me. There are no perfect characters here. All of them flawed, all of them with their own demons. There is “the shark”, a buggy kind of guy, and several other characters that fit this flawed theme. I suppose one can name Amity as the main protagonist, a girl and then a woman who seems to be a victim of circumstance. She experiences growth as a character and does her best to thrive, but even she joins the ranks of flawed people. Think about it, we all are “damaged” in some way and I appreciate this portrayal.
I had a good time with this book. There were a few moments and changes in storytelling that I personally didn’t gel with, but I already know these particular things work great for other readers; group/buddy reads have the BEST discussions. Previously, I read Dries’ book House of Sighs and liked it. After experiencing this book I will show up for all of this author’s future work.
A Place for Sinners is at once a novel about family and survival as well as a no-holds-barred, evil island extravaganza. There are no safe places within these pages and I really dig the way Dries handles some of these moments. The beginning starts off with a bang, literally. We get some character development and plot movement, and then the battle royale at the worst island ever.
The first time we “visit” the island there is a scene with a machete that Dries delivers in such an off-handed way. As if this is just par for the course here on the island. I re-read that part a couple times because it read as if someone was tying their shoes or performing some other ordinary daily task, not the devastation that was actually taking place. Here on the island, these things ARE the norm and I love that the author introduces this in this manner.
I actually had the opportunity to read this book with a group of bookish friends. One thing we discussed really stuck out to me. There are no perfect characters here. All of them flawed, all of them with their own demons. There is “the shark”, a buggy kind of guy, and several other characters that fit this flawed theme. I suppose one can name Amity as the main protagonist, a girl and then a woman who seems to be a victim of circumstance. She experiences growth as a character and does her best to thrive, but even she joins the ranks of flawed people. Think about it, we all are “damaged” in some way and I appreciate this portrayal.
I had a good time with this book. There were a few moments and changes in storytelling that I personally didn’t gel with, but I already know these particular things work great for other readers; group/buddy reads have the BEST discussions. Previously, I read Dries’ book House of Sighs and liked it. After experiencing this book I will show up for all of this author’s future work.