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bruacioly's reviews
1157 reviews
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Reminiscent of the movie Get Out, this book raises important discussions about gentrification, the displacement of the poor from their original homes, and how this socioeconomic issue is closely tied to race.
I learned a lot I didn't know about this topic and about Brooklyn, New York as well, and would recommend it for anyone looking for more socially conscious thrillers.
I didn't find it to be slow paced at all, as I've seen mentioned in other reviews and was actually a lot of fun to listen to - although I did find the ending to be a bit sudden.
I learned a lot I didn't know about this topic and about Brooklyn, New York as well, and would recommend it for anyone looking for more socially conscious thrillers.
I didn't find it to be slow paced at all, as I've seen mentioned in other reviews and was actually a lot of fun to listen to - although I did find the ending to be a bit sudden.
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I feel strange reviewing this book, because first of there was a lot of it I didn't fully understand (outside of the main story line). But I think that's ok. I don't think it is something you are supposed to understand all in one go.
I also feel strange because I did not necessarily like most of what I read - I hated the character of Johnny Truant. I hated his pretentiousness, I hated his footnotes, I hated his madness even.
So, I did not like this book - but I did become a little bit obsessed with it. I consumed it as it consumed me, as it ingrained itself into the very fabric of my soul. I don't know if I can ever look at other regularly written books the same way again. Other books are just books. This book is something different. Not necessarily better, not necessarily even necessary, but something other.
Anyway, I am probably becoming as mad as the book, but I am typing this as I exhaustedly review my notes on what I have just read and try to collect my thoughts.
This book is about many things and it invites discussions on many different topics - the causes of fear, the primordial fear of the dark, the fear of nothingness, the fear of loneliness, the fear of losing oneself (to death, to madness, to others). It is about a house - but is a house a physical house only, or is it just as much the contents of an insane mind, a mind collapsing onto itself.
I don't know. The book offers a lot more questions than it does answers - it invites thought and study and it is tiring and it is unrewarding. I would not recommend it to anyone. I can't recommend, because one needs to be ready to read it.
It is not likeable, it is not enjoyable, it is not fun. But it is well crafted, it is a valuable work of art, it drives one to think, it consumes, it inspires, it instigates.
Not everyone will feel this way, they may say it is too much work and it is too pretentious, and they are not wrong. But if are willing to enter - the house will take you.
I also feel strange because I did not necessarily like most of what I read - I hated the character of Johnny Truant. I hated his pretentiousness, I hated his footnotes, I hated his madness even.
So, I did not like this book - but I did become a little bit obsessed with it. I consumed it as it consumed me, as it ingrained itself into the very fabric of my soul. I don't know if I can ever look at other regularly written books the same way again. Other books are just books. This book is something different. Not necessarily better, not necessarily even necessary, but something other.
Anyway, I am probably becoming as mad as the book, but I am typing this as I exhaustedly review my notes on what I have just read and try to collect my thoughts.
This book is about many things and it invites discussions on many different topics - the causes of fear, the primordial fear of the dark, the fear of nothingness, the fear of loneliness, the fear of losing oneself (to death, to madness, to others). It is about a house - but is a house a physical house only, or is it just as much the contents of an insane mind, a mind collapsing onto itself.
I don't know. The book offers a lot more questions than it does answers - it invites thought and study and it is tiring and it is unrewarding. I would not recommend it to anyone. I can't recommend, because one needs to be ready to read it.
It is not likeable, it is not enjoyable, it is not fun. But it is well crafted, it is a valuable work of art, it drives one to think, it consumes, it inspires, it instigates.
Not everyone will feel this way, they may say it is too much work and it is too pretentious, and they are not wrong. But if are willing to enter - the house will take you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Rape