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whaydengilbert's review
2.0
(Mild spoilers) I'm mainly disappointed because the book starts so well. The first few chapters are beautifully sad and place you in an environment rich with atmosphere. The scenes between Bram and Marian are great, but then, the book takes a turn when the character journeys into, as the synopsis calls it, "the afterlife." Now, the afterlife as a concept is one for many interpretation, and thus should not be criticized objectively. But frankly Antosca's vision of the afterlife is insanely boring and disappointingly unimaginative.
As soon as the main character meets with a child named Adam, the book really begins its nosedive which it never really recovers from. Adam is one of the most insufferably annoying characters I've ever had the displeasure of following, and while I'm sure that was his intention, it doesn't make it any better. Once they begin searching the afterlife for their victim, it seems he just begins to waste out time, almost causing me to put it down halfway and not return. The vignettes are short, but repetitive and don't matter at all. And the prose itself really doesn't justify it in any poetic manner.
I really just wanted Jacob Bunny to kill the kid all over again. This book was a waste of time.
As soon as the main character meets with a child named Adam, the book really begins its nosedive which it never really recovers from. Adam is one of the most insufferably annoying characters I've ever had the displeasure of following, and while I'm sure that was his intention, it doesn't make it any better. Once they begin searching the afterlife for their victim, it seems he just begins to waste out time, almost causing me to put it down halfway and not return. The vignettes are short, but repetitive and don't matter at all. And the prose itself really doesn't justify it in any poetic manner.
I really just wanted Jacob Bunny to kill the kid all over again. This book was a waste of time.
antkneeomonster's review
4.0
Atmospheric and moody novella. It feels, particularly around the midsection, a bit like a David Lynch film. Bit of an abrupt ending, but the writing is deft. Keen to read more Antosca.
bethzovko47's review
4.0
Whoa. This book was so surreal, but very well written--Antosca NAILED the visions and feelings of a dreamlike state. The ending wasn't as satisfying as the blurb lead on (no fault of the author, but that did skew my expectations.) Still, this was an eerie and beautiful and creepy read by one of my new favorite horror writers.
md0's review
4.0
7 out of 10. Nice short interesting read. Has a slow start and gets repetitive some times, but also manages to paint a clear picture and manages get you involved.
zukythebookbum's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
petra_reads's review
4.0
My original Midnight Picnic audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
When Midnight Picnic started with Bram accidentally running over a dog and trying but ultimately failing to aid the dying animal, I was convinced I would hate this. However, the engaging writing, the flow of the language coupled with the haunting atmosphere really pulled me into this dark and sad story.
Bram is basically a decent bloke living a mundane life with an on/off sexual relationship with the depressed girl living on the same floor as him above Moms bar. His accident is the start of a journey that leads Bram to the land of the dead where he follows six-year-old Adam who is consumed with the concepts of right, wrong and punish. Adam was murdered by Jacob Bunny and is seeking help from Bram to settle the score with Jacob. Author Nick Antosca provides heartbreaking vignettes of the tragic lives of these well-drawn characters and portrays a dim and eerie afterlife.
Not so much a scary ghost story, but a highly emotional and unsettling, surreal road trip, Midnight Picnic was utterly spellbinding exploring issues such as loneliness, evil, and redemption. Only four and a half hours long, I listened to this in one sitting. I’m still not sure what to make of the ending, though.
With regards to the narration, it was performed by R. C. Bray. Need I say more? As always, outstanding. His tone matched the tension and eeriness of the story perfectly. Quite often, if a young child is a major part of the story, I find the narration suffers. In this case, I was in awe how authentic six-year-old Adam sounded. There were no issues with the production.
Story 4 stars
Narration 5 stars
If you enjoy unique surreal stories this is for you.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
When Midnight Picnic started with Bram accidentally running over a dog and trying but ultimately failing to aid the dying animal, I was convinced I would hate this. However, the engaging writing, the flow of the language coupled with the haunting atmosphere really pulled me into this dark and sad story.
Bram is basically a decent bloke living a mundane life with an on/off sexual relationship with the depressed girl living on the same floor as him above Moms bar. His accident is the start of a journey that leads Bram to the land of the dead where he follows six-year-old Adam who is consumed with the concepts of right, wrong and punish. Adam was murdered by Jacob Bunny and is seeking help from Bram to settle the score with Jacob. Author Nick Antosca provides heartbreaking vignettes of the tragic lives of these well-drawn characters and portrays a dim and eerie afterlife.
Not so much a scary ghost story, but a highly emotional and unsettling, surreal road trip, Midnight Picnic was utterly spellbinding exploring issues such as loneliness, evil, and redemption. Only four and a half hours long, I listened to this in one sitting. I’m still not sure what to make of the ending, though.
With regards to the narration, it was performed by R. C. Bray. Need I say more? As always, outstanding. His tone matched the tension and eeriness of the story perfectly. Quite often, if a young child is a major part of the story, I find the narration suffers. In this case, I was in awe how authentic six-year-old Adam sounded. There were no issues with the production.
Story 4 stars
Narration 5 stars
If you enjoy unique surreal stories this is for you.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
sshabein's review
4.0
How our living selves affect the afterlife has been, and will continue to be, a matter of debate. In literature alone, countless stories have explored the stages of death, of grieving, and that of otherworldly retribution. In Midnight Picnic, Nick Antosca leaves religion out of the discussion and instead explores feelings of abandonment, anger and regret.
This is no great story of redemption, nor is it one of God and ghosts. If anything, it’s about making peace with the living self before everything is gone. With Autumn and Halloween approaching, it might just be the essential book to usher in the season. It’s certainly worth a look.
(Full review can be found on Glorified Love Letters.)
This is no great story of redemption, nor is it one of God and ghosts. If anything, it’s about making peace with the living self before everything is gone. With Autumn and Halloween approaching, it might just be the essential book to usher in the season. It’s certainly worth a look.
(Full review can be found on Glorified Love Letters.)
ctgt's review
5.0
This was a strange, wonderful, weird fever dream of a book. So many images/ideas packed into a small book and I'm still not sure what to think of the ending.
We meet Bram(on a dark and stormy night :/ that's me not the author), he pulls into the parking lot of the bar that he lives above and promptly runs over the bar's mascot dog, Baby. He tries to get to the dog but she has dragged herself under the crawlspace of the building. He decides the humane thing to do is put the dog out of her misery and decides to borrow a gun from a neighbor. He hops in the car but it won't start and promptly walks a half a mile down the road while it continues pouring rain. Gets back but can't find the dog and believes she has now dragged herself into the woods. He gives up and goes up to his room where we meet the girl from the other apartment, Marian, who is lying in his bed. There is a scene in his bedroom(no sex), a scene in the bathtub(no sex), where we learn more of Marian's background. In the morning Bram wanders out toward the woods where he sees a slow witted neighbor who hands him a bundle which is filled with bones. Not just any bones, the bones of a child.
Obviously I just did a fair amount of paraphrasing but get this, this all takes place in the first chapter, up to page 26! In chapter two we meet Owen, who gave Bram the bundle and learn more of his background while Bram takes the bundle up to his room when suddenly a small boy appears in his room and down the rabbit hole we go!
Your mileage may vary but this will be one those books I'll be thinking about and re-reading for years to come.
Oh, and this is one the reasons I joined GR. One of my friends reviewed this several months ago, otherwise I would have never in a million years been aware of this title. I know there is plenty of discussion right now about the negatives around GR(and there are some) but let's try to remember there are some really positive parts, mainly, good friends and good books. Thanks Gregor!
We meet Bram(on a dark and stormy night :/ that's me not the author), he pulls into the parking lot of the bar that he lives above and promptly runs over the bar's mascot dog, Baby. He tries to get to the dog but she has dragged herself under the crawlspace of the building. He decides the humane thing to do is put the dog out of her misery and decides to borrow a gun from a neighbor. He hops in the car but it won't start and promptly walks a half a mile down the road while it continues pouring rain. Gets back but can't find the dog and believes she has now dragged herself into the woods. He gives up and goes up to his room where we meet the girl from the other apartment, Marian, who is lying in his bed. There is a scene in his bedroom(no sex), a scene in the bathtub(no sex), where we learn more of Marian's background. In the morning Bram wanders out toward the woods where he sees a slow witted neighbor who hands him a bundle which is filled with bones. Not just any bones, the bones of a child.
Obviously I just did a fair amount of paraphrasing but get this, this all takes place in the first chapter, up to page 26! In chapter two we meet Owen, who gave Bram the bundle and learn more of his background while Bram takes the bundle up to his room when suddenly a small boy appears in his room and down the rabbit hole we go!
Your mileage may vary but this will be one those books I'll be thinking about and re-reading for years to come.
Oh, and this is one the reasons I joined GR. One of my friends reviewed this several months ago, otherwise I would have never in a million years been aware of this title. I know there is plenty of discussion right now about the negatives around GR(and there are some) but let's try to remember there are some really positive parts, mainly, good friends and good books. Thanks Gregor!
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