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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
i’ve read 3 of eric’s works and i’m officially declaring myself a fan. i want to sit down with him, go inside his mind, maybe eat his brain idk. he can tell these haunting, intense stories in such few words (though, sometimes i do think some more words are needed such as the case with things have gotten worse but i think for this book, the short length is perfect) and the stories are always unique. i love this guy!
we can never leave this place is very explicitly about generational trauma but i throughout the story, i also had the reading of an allegory for the way predators often prey on vulnerable single mothers in order to get access to their children. the way mothers can often be complicit in the sexual abuse of their child even if they’re not exactly the ones inflicting the abuse itself but by seeing a man as above their child, they think that if they just pretend everything will be fine, if they keep quiet and just comply with the man’s needs, it will be okay. situations like this often leave the children feeling totally isolated. if person that’s supposed to be in their corner the most is the one allowing them to be harmed then who else can they trust? who can they turn to? their home is invaded by pests that they have no power to get rid of. their view of the world becomes riddled with filth, destruction and decay. you often see these children turning to fictional worlds (books, movies, tv shows, stories in general) as a means of escapism and coping just like the mc has. i’m not sure if it’s meant to possibly be read like that but
Merged review:
i’ve read 3 of eric’s works and i’m officially declaring myself a fan. i want to sit down with him, go inside his mind, maybe eat his brain idk. he can tell these haunting, intense stories in such few words (though, sometimes i do think some more words are needed such as the case with things have gotten worse but i think for this book, the short length is perfect) and the stories are always unique. i love this guy!
we can never leave this place is very explicitly about generational trauma but i throughout the story, i also had the reading of an allegory for the way predators often prey on vulnerable single mothers in order to get access to their children. the way mothers can often be complicit in the sexual abuse of their child even if they’re not exactly the ones inflicting the abuse itself but by seeing a man as above their child, they think that if they just pretend everything will be fine, if they keep quiet and just comply with the man’s needs, it will be okay. situations like this often leave the children feeling totally isolated. if person that’s supposed to be in their corner the most is the one allowing them to be harmed then who else can they trust? who can they turn to? their home is invaded by pests that they have no power to get rid of. their view of the world becomes riddled with filth, destruction and decay. you often see these children turning to fictional worlds (books, movies, tv shows, stories in general) as a means of escapism and coping just like the mc has. i’m not sure if it’s meant to possibly be read like that but
we can never leave this place is very explicitly about generational trauma but i throughout the story, i also had the reading of an allegory for the way predators often prey on vulnerable single mothers in order to get access to their children. the way mothers can often be complicit in the sexual abuse of their child even if they’re not exactly the ones inflicting the abuse itself but by seeing a man as above their child, they think that if they just pretend everything will be fine, if they keep quiet and just comply with the man’s needs, it will be okay. situations like this often leave the children feeling totally isolated. if person that’s supposed to be in their corner the most is the one allowing them to be harmed then who else can they trust? who can they turn to? their home is invaded by pests that they have no power to get rid of. their view of the world becomes riddled with filth, destruction and decay. you often see these children turning to fictional worlds (books, movies, tv shows, stories in general) as a means of escapism and coping just like the mc has. i’m not sure if it’s meant to possibly be read like that but
Merged review:
i’ve read 3 of eric’s works and i’m officially declaring myself a fan. i want to sit down with him, go inside his mind, maybe eat his brain idk. he can tell these haunting, intense stories in such few words (though, sometimes i do think some more words are needed such as the case with things have gotten worse but i think for this book, the short length is perfect) and the stories are always unique. i love this guy!
we can never leave this place is very explicitly about generational trauma but i throughout the story, i also had the reading of an allegory for the way predators often prey on vulnerable single mothers in order to get access to their children. the way mothers can often be complicit in the sexual abuse of their child even if they’re not exactly the ones inflicting the abuse itself but by seeing a man as above their child, they think that if they just pretend everything will be fine, if they keep quiet and just comply with the man’s needs, it will be okay. situations like this often leave the children feeling totally isolated. if person that’s supposed to be in their corner the most is the one allowing them to be harmed then who else can they trust? who can they turn to? their home is invaded by pests that they have no power to get rid of. their view of the world becomes riddled with filth, destruction and decay. you often see these children turning to fictional worlds (books, movies, tv shows, stories in general) as a means of escapism and coping just like the mc has. i’m not sure if it’s meant to possibly be read like that but
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I understood what the plot was trying to do but honestly, the writing was all over the place. The plot was not coherent, character descriptions actually did not help or make much sense and the ending was not redeeming enough to read the entire book. Spent a majority of time wondering what the hell was happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
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:
N/A
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately didn’t land for me. The writing style never captured me and felt a bit all over the place. Characters felt flat, the point felt obvious but belabored. The language and descriptions didn’t really add to the story or give character perspective (at least until a reveal at the end) that still didn’t give enough premise to really set the horror of anything. And maybe personally, severing an arm, eating guts, lots (lots) of throw up does not really do enough to set the tone for me.