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A review by waywardskyril
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
1.0
Content Warning: Sizism, sexism, misogyny, possibly racism, underage drinking, drug use, homophobia, sexualization of a minor, non-con voyeurism (ish), nudity, attempted rape, general creepyness and grossness throughout
Stupid, banal, monotonous, and overall without heart. Monument 14 reads like a very rough first draft with plot devices thrown is as they occurred to the author. It needed a massive overhaul. I'm 99% sure I have edited this review more than the author edited her book. Basically, the writing alone was so bad I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS PUBLISHED!!!!
On top of that, I had so MANY issues with the plot and characters, I have never loathed a book more.
Yes--loathed.
It's that infuriating. Just wait to find out why.
As this book was an unqualified trainwreck from start to finish there'll be a comment after this review full of some of the notes, quotes, and snark I took while reading.
Before that, however, the bullet points--or, highlights from hell.
Now, to kick this off I will start with my first issue, the awful writing.
I thought I would never read anything worse than Pawn, but here we are. Where do I even start? The grammar wasn't great, but honestly compared to everything else that was minor.
The sentences were annoyingly repetitive. Let's play: How Many Consecutive Simple Sentences Beginning with "I" Can We Fit in One Paragraph-
With little variation in sentence structure and abrupt course re-directions that come out of left field (and note: the formatting and punctuation is also taken directly from the book)-
Zero sense descriptions beyond sight, cliche adjectives, robotic descriptions-
With these nonsensical analogies peppered throughout-
On top of ALL OF THAT, there were time discrepancies and plot holes, the kids didn’t act or sound like kids, and the teenagers and adults were to all appearances either psychos or robots.
Ultimately, I can’t even describe to you how bad the quality of the writing was from beginning to tedious end without copying and pasting the entire book into this review.
Besides, this wasn’t even nearly the most infuriating element of this dumpster fire.
Strap in, because this is gonna get gross.
But let’s slip into this gently, shall we?
(As a Supernatural fan, the name "Dean" claims an individual place in my heart. Therefore, our MC will hence forth be known by his prank name from the book: "Geraldine.")
The plot.
The plot devolves from (badly written) apocalypse (plot holes, stupid science) to… wait for it… teen drama. For a huge middle chunk of the book, it’s what they’re having for lunch, jealousy over who’s dating whom, and how dare my little brother Alex like Niko more than me.
I... I wish I were joking.
Afraid for their lives? Constantly assaulted by new catastrophic threats? In-group fighting? Thrills? Suspense? All as the synopsis subtly suggests? I WISH!! How can a story with such a great outline be so dull?
What is this?? Codependency? Or just psycho stalker possessive Geraldine again?
Now that I’ve eased you in, time to talk about... the characters. From the very start I had issues with all of them, especially Geraldine, and they only multiplied.
For example, from literally page two I was skeptical about the way Geraldine described people, beginning with his bus driver--"morbidly obese." Sadly, that was only foreshadowing. He proceeded to describe the same little girl, Chloe, whom he found annoying, as "chunky" and "chubby." Not just once, in passing, as a natural description of her appearance, but repeatedly, almost whenever she was a featured character, as well as another child, Max (at one point, twice on the same page), which was... weird? He never described anyone as "skinny," let alone repeated that description whenever the character appeared as he did with these-
If it was once only, then okay. Sure, there are fat children in the world. Nothing wrong with that.
But, he kept describing her this way pages, at most, apart. THIS WAS NOT NECESSARY. And, as it was a recurring theme throughout the book with several side characters, there's nothing else to call it but what it is: sizest. And it was just the first black mark on an increasing tally of characteristics Geraldine and the book at large exhibited.
For instance, Geraldine read at times like a freaking psychopath.
I don't even...
How can I describe it better?
He wasn't INTENDED this way, but how he's written is... unsettling.
He's apathetic. He has these sudden strong likes and dislikes of people. He's short-tempered, especially with the kids, and so possessive of his brother that he's HAPPY when he has a fight with his friend. His attention is always drawn to skin, and he seems to STALK the girl he likes. Basically, he exudes this creepytastic vibe, and on top of his wimpyness and cowardice, I loathed him.
Stalker much? (Also, how convenient she happened to work here and happens to know how to run the ovens in the store they happened to crash into..... This is not the last time this happens.)
It gets worse. Here are some of the thoughts that go through his head about Astrid-
Trigger Warning: rapey
Full disclosure: that last quote (last quote only) was while he was under the influence of chemicals that affected his aggression, but I legitimately do not care what the excuse is. The main character was written in a way that had him wanting to rape a girl and that is not okay!
TW end
And on top of this already disturbing behavior, he: A) Thought everyone should die during the hailstorm in the first pages-
B) is freaking bizarrely sleepy and warm and comfortable in a bus full of blood and killed kids-
C) Thought writing a poem was "gay" and something to be embarrassed about-
And D) enjoyed tying up an 8-year-old girl-
Geraldine was disgusting, and were he to spontaneously combust, I would've cheered.
Direct quotes from the book, people. Sizism, mysogyny, GENERAL CREEPYNESS. How--no, why--am I supposed to like or support the main character, when he’s constantly demonstrating these horrifying characteristics?
Unfortunately Geraldine wasn't the only weak character (spoiler alert: they all were). Every character was his or her own cliche, but what disturbed me the most about them all was the sexism and misogyny vomited all over the pages of this book. Of the two 16-year-old teenage girls, both were made babysitter and nurturer to the children. Pushed back to watch while the big strong men took care of business. Neither barely remembered she could argue that dynamic and barely fought it when a strong male told her what to do-
Josie literally washed the kids, put them in clean clothes with sheets on their beds, told them bedtime stories, and was called "Mother Josie," while the five capable teenage BOYS... drank... took drugs... played board games... and were big strong men defending the castle from... nothing.
While this was disturbing enough as it was, it wasn’t even the worst of this mess of a book. And this is where some of those revolting content warnings come in, so brace yourself.
From third graders discussing a strip club-
And “jokes” about boy scouts’ masturbation skills-
To drunk teenage boys bonding over how great sex is-
To the non-consensual SPYING of a girl stripping in front of her boyfriend and watching as he fondles her, to the constant sexualization of a thirteen year old child and her attempted rape, this book was BRIMMING with inappropriate innuendos and vulgarity.
this is about a THIRTEEN year old girl. Literally the entire book describes what Sahalia is wearing at any given time, going into too much detail and turning her into a sex icon whenever possible. There is no adjective I can find to describe how wrong this is, ever, but especially here, in a young adult novel geared primarily towards teenagers.
What are they supposed to take from this book? That girls should be ashamed of the way they dress? Or that it’s an invitation to be raped? That boys can be immature slack-offs and sleeze-bags??
Shred this garbage!!
There was so much in this book I haven’t even fit in because it was too much. I can’t even, in good conscious, give this book away, or leave it somewhere for someone else to find because I don’t want young adults who are just beginning to understand themselves and this world to take this data that is so, so wrong and apply it to their own psyche and lives.
Men and women and boys and girls can be so. Much. Better than this.
If you take anything from this review, take that. And don’t read this freaking book, y’all. It is not worth the minutes.
I'm done!
Stupid, banal, monotonous, and overall without heart. Monument 14 reads like a very rough first draft with plot devices thrown is as they occurred to the author. It needed a massive overhaul. I'm 99% sure I have edited this review more than the author edited her book. Basically, the writing alone was so bad I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS PUBLISHED!!!!
On top of that, I had so MANY issues with the plot and characters, I have never loathed a book more.
Yes--loathed.
It's that infuriating. Just wait to find out why.
As this book was an unqualified trainwreck from start to finish there'll be a comment after this review full of some of the notes, quotes, and snark I took while reading.
Before that, however, the bullet points--or, highlights from hell.
Now, to kick this off I will start with my first issue, the awful writing.
I thought I would never read anything worse than Pawn, but here we are. Where do I even start? The grammar wasn't great, but honestly compared to everything else that was minor.
The sentences were annoyingly repetitive. Let's play: How Many Consecutive Simple Sentences Beginning with "I" Can We Fit in One Paragraph-
I pulled my sweater over my face and began to walk to my car. I got in my car and took care not to turn on the lights. I turned on the radio and heard the emergency broadcast that explained what was happening around me. I attempted to drive back to my home.
With little variation in sentence structure and abrupt course re-directions that come out of left field (and note: the formatting and punctuation is also taken directly from the book)-
We were locked in.
The little kids lost it. "What's happening?" "We're trapped!" "I want to go home!" That kind of thing.
Niko just stood, watching the gate come down.
"We should like get something under it. To like wedge it open," Jake shouted.
He grabbed a shopping cart and rolled it forward, under the central gate.
But the gate dropping just pushed the cart out of the way.
The three gates settled with a heavy CLANK that rang with finality.
"We're locked in," I said.
"And everyone else is locked out," Niko said quietly.
"All right," Jake said, clapping his hands. "Which one of you little punks is gonna teach me how to play Chutes and Ladders?"
Zero sense descriptions beyond sight, cliche adjectives, robotic descriptions-
I fought the young man off for a moment, but he might have injured me seriously if he had not been attacked in turn by another person. It was an elderly man who had earlier told me he was there for chicken wire. I watched as the old man and the young man fought each other to death.
With these nonsensical analogies peppered throughout-
-These tears, like jelly beans, plopping out of his eyes and running down his face . . .
-Everything was getting electric at the edges of my field of vision. Little zapping fish swimming up and nearly taking me down with them.
On top of ALL OF THAT, there were time discrepancies and plot holes, the kids didn’t act or sound like kids, and the teenagers and adults were to all appearances either psychos or robots.
Ultimately, I can’t even describe to you how bad the quality of the writing was from beginning to tedious end without copying and pasting the entire book into this review.
Besides, this wasn’t even nearly the most infuriating element of this dumpster fire.
Strap in, because this is gonna get gross.
But let’s slip into this gently, shall we?
(As a Supernatural fan, the name "Dean" claims an individual place in my heart. Therefore, our MC will hence forth be known by his prank name from the book: "Geraldine.")
The plot.
The plot devolves from (badly written) apocalypse (plot holes, stupid science) to… wait for it… teen drama. For a huge middle chunk of the book, it’s what they’re having for lunch, jealousy over who’s dating whom, and how dare my little brother Alex like Niko more than me.
I... I wish I were joking.
Afraid for their lives? Constantly assaulted by new catastrophic threats? In-group fighting? Thrills? Suspense? All as the synopsis subtly suggests? I WISH!! How can a story with such a great outline be so dull?
I didn't like Niko spending more time with Alex than I did. It didn't feel right to me. We were brothers. I should know everything he knew and vice versa.
What is this?? Codependency? Or just psycho stalker possessive Geraldine again?
Now that I’ve eased you in, time to talk about... the characters. From the very start I had issues with all of them, especially Geraldine, and they only multiplied.
For example, from literally page two I was skeptical about the way Geraldine described people, beginning with his bus driver--"morbidly obese." Sadly, that was only foreshadowing. He proceeded to describe the same little girl, Chloe, whom he found annoying, as "chunky" and "chubby." Not just once, in passing, as a natural description of her appearance, but repeatedly, almost whenever she was a featured character, as well as another child, Max (at one point, twice on the same page), which was... weird? He never described anyone as "skinny," let alone repeated that description whenever the character appeared as he did with these-
-A chunky little girl named Chloe started to cry.
-The little kids cheered, especially Chloe, who made a big show of jumping up and down and clapping her chubby little hands. She seemed a little fickle, emotion-wise. And a little annoying.
-Chloe was the third grader who had been whining when Mrs. Wooly said she was going for help. Chloe was chubby and tan and very energetic.
If it was once only, then okay. Sure, there are fat children in the world. Nothing wrong with that.
But, he kept describing her this way pages, at most, apart. THIS WAS NOT NECESSARY. And, as it was a recurring theme throughout the book with several side characters, there's nothing else to call it but what it is: sizest. And it was just the first black mark on an increasing tally of characteristics Geraldine and the book at large exhibited.
For instance, Geraldine read at times like a freaking psychopath.
I don't even...
How can I describe it better?
He wasn't INTENDED this way, but how he's written is... unsettling.
He's apathetic. He has these sudden strong likes and dislikes of people. He's short-tempered, especially with the kids, and so possessive of his brother that he's HAPPY when he has a fight with his friend. His attention is always drawn to skin, and he seems to STALK the girl he likes. Basically, he exudes this creepytastic vibe, and on top of his wimpyness and cowardice, I loathed him.
"I can make us lunch if need be," Astrid said. "I actually know how to run the ovens and the pizza shop because I had a job here last summer."
I knew she'd had a job at Greenway. It had been a summer that involved a lot of superstore browsing for me.
Stalker much? (Also, how convenient she happened to work here and happens to know how to run the ovens in the store they happened to crash into..... This is not the last time this happens.)
It gets worse. Here are some of the thoughts that go through his head about Astrid-
Trigger Warning: rapey
-I savored being near Astrid.
-Her shirt rode up in the scuffle and I caught sight of her lower back. Tan, muscled, gorgeous.
-Just the idea of . . . well, the idea of washing her hair, made me feel really, very awake.
-What I wanted was Astrid. She looked so good to me I wanted to take her, in a dark and terrible way.
Full disclosure: that last quote (last quote only) was while he was under the influence of chemicals that affected his aggression, but I legitimately do not care what the excuse is. The main character was written in a way that had him wanting to rape a girl and that is not okay!
TW end
And on top of this already disturbing behavior, he: A) Thought everyone should die during the hailstorm in the first pages-
"The bus is on fire!" "It's going to explode!" and "We're going to die!"
And I thought, They're right. Yes, we'll die. But it's okay. It's fine. It is as it should be. We are going to die.
B) is freaking bizarrely sleepy and warm and comfortable in a bus full of blood and killed kids-
There was a lot of shouting and people helping one another over the battered seats and slipping on the hail on the floor, slipping because everything was sticky, now with the blood of the kids who had been crushed and Mr. Reed and maybe also motor oil or gasoline, maybe . . . but, see, I was so warm and sleepy.
C) Thought writing a poem was "gay" and something to be embarrassed about-
I know. A poem. Gay. What can I say?
And D) enjoyed tying up an 8-year-old girl-
Chloe was an annoying kid anyway, it was a pleasure to restrain her. I held her fat little wrists with a big mean smile on my face.
Geraldine was disgusting, and were he to spontaneously combust, I would've cheered.
Direct quotes from the book, people. Sizism, mysogyny, GENERAL CREEPYNESS. How--no, why--am I supposed to like or support the main character, when he’s constantly demonstrating these horrifying characteristics?
Unfortunately Geraldine wasn't the only weak character (spoiler alert: they all were). Every character was his or her own cliche, but what disturbed me the most about them all was the sexism and misogyny vomited all over the pages of this book. Of the two 16-year-old teenage girls, both were made babysitter and nurturer to the children. Pushed back to watch while the big strong men took care of business. Neither barely remembered she could argue that dynamic and barely fought it when a strong male told her what to do-
-"Don't stick me with the little kids," she protested. "I'm just as strong as you guys are!"
"Just do as I say!" Niko hollered.
She did.
-"Josie, please stay here and make sure the kids stay safe.”
“I want to come,” she whispered. “They're asleep. They'll be fine.”
“We need you here,” Niko said.
“Come on, dude, she wants to come,” Brayden argued.
Trying to win points with his new girlfriend.
“The answer is no. I need to know that the kids are safe and here,” Niko said. “The rest of you come on."
I followed with the other boys and Josie crossed her arms and stayed behind.
Josie literally washed the kids, put them in clean clothes with sheets on their beds, told them bedtime stories, and was called "Mother Josie," while the five capable teenage BOYS... drank... took drugs... played board games... and were big strong men defending the castle from... nothing.
While this was disturbing enough as it was, it wasn’t even the worst of this mess of a book. And this is where some of those revolting content warnings come in, so brace yourself.
From third graders discussing a strip club-
Max, Batiste, Ulysses, and Chloe were discussing Emerald's, a strip club located near an off-ramp on the outskirts of town.
And “jokes” about boy scouts’ masturbation skills-
”You know,” Jake said, after he drained his cup. “I love Boy Scouts. You know why?”
“Why?” Niko asked.
“They give a real good hand job.”
We cracked up.
“No, really. All that time up in the mountains with nothing to do. They always come prepared, too, with the little lotion bottles.”
To drunk teenage boys bonding over how great sex is-
"Oh man, getting laid is so awesome," Jake said, scratching his head. "It's just absolutely the best thing ever. Once you get it, all you can think of is getting it again. Sometimes I'm having sex and I'm worried about the next time I'm gonna have sex!"
To the non-consensual SPYING of a girl stripping in front of her boyfriend and watching as he fondles her, to the constant sexualization of a thirteen year old child and her attempted rape, this book was BRIMMING with inappropriate innuendos and vulgarity.
-Now her behind is facing us, and they are SHORT shorts she is wearing. So we can see . . too much. We can see skin under the leg of her shorts. The creamy skin of her inner, inner thigh. It was like a Sports Illustrated bikini-issue spread.
-But it got worse (or better, depending on your POV).
She stood up and turned to face us.
And her T-shirt was all wet.
Now we could see her breasts outright, through the material of her T-shirt.
We could see the nipples. Everything about them, we could see.
It was hot. It was crazy.
this is about a THIRTEEN year old girl. Literally the entire book describes what Sahalia is wearing at any given time, going into too much detail and turning her into a sex icon whenever possible. There is no adjective I can find to describe how wrong this is, ever, but especially here, in a young adult novel geared primarily towards teenagers.
What are they supposed to take from this book? That girls should be ashamed of the way they dress? Or that it’s an invitation to be raped? That boys can be immature slack-offs and sleeze-bags??
Shred this garbage!!
There was so much in this book I haven’t even fit in because it was too much. I can’t even, in good conscious, give this book away, or leave it somewhere for someone else to find because I don’t want young adults who are just beginning to understand themselves and this world to take this data that is so, so wrong and apply it to their own psyche and lives.
Men and women and boys and girls can be so. Much. Better than this.
If you take anything from this review, take that. And don’t read this freaking book, y’all. It is not worth the minutes.
I'm done!
