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sugarbowl's reviews
542 reviews
Wolf In White Van by John Darnielle
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i have never stopped thinking about this book in the 10 years since i first read it. then, i liked it, i thought it was interesting and well written, but parts of it were still a mystery to me. this time, i recognise its masterpiece quality. despite the highly emotional content, this book is a study, a rumination, methodical. the prose is gorgeous, as you’d expect from a lyricist such as darnielle. it’s an examination of the boredom and isolation of youth, of living your present life alongside the ghosts of the people you used to be. this is one of those books i wish i could read again for the first time.
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
the author really thought he was cooking with this!!!
early on there were signs i maybe shouldn’t have bothered but i was willing to overlook those for the promise of mystery and creativity. i shouldn’t have. the promise that it centres on librarians in charge of different catalogs is basically irrelevant. it glorifies weaponry and military tactics which it tries to hide beneath a thin veneer of dark academia tinged horror/fantasy. it was a constant barrage of weapon names and makes that completely took me out of the story. i think the author thinks it’s cool? or something? i do not agree.
i’m very willing to let things go largely unexplained in fantasy if the mechanics hold up under any amount of scrutiny. the justification for the mechanics in this basically amount to “physics or whatever” or “don’t worry about, i had to study for 60,000 years to understand” no!!! insufficient! lazy!!
then there’s the lazy, simplistic depiction of women AND rape!! re: the first s.a. scene, i quote:
it wasn’t pleasant, but neither was it as bad as, say, her homecoming banquet.
!!!!! utterly callous and out of touch.
i gave it 1.5 stars towards the attempt at originality, it was buck-wild and impossible to try and explain, but i don’t especially care to anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Alcohol, and War