A review by zosiablue
The Elementals by Michael McDowell

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book at first feels like a cute little Southern drama with a little weirdness & then suddenly, McDowell gives you the creepiest sentence you've ever read. And then the creepy sentences outnumber the cute ones until you're drowning in them, just like the sand in the book covers the houses in Beldame. Really well done. Except for, you know, that special brand of 1980s racism that's trying to wink at you "I know this is racist but I'm just doing it for the plot!", but is actually just plain racist. 

Bonus: My dad is from Mobile and this takes place in that area, so it was fun to picture places my dad would've been. (But hopefully he wasn't getting devoured by sand creatures.) 
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