Scan barcode
sinisterbeard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
3.5
Llewellyn Hayman is the biggest piece of shit in literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Abortion
bickleyhouse's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first book by this author. I've been familiar with her name for many years, but, for some reason, had never read any of her books. After reading this one, I'm sure to read more. I really enjoyed this book.
This one is short, barely over 200 pages. It begins with our main character, Abby (not her real name, as we find out), getting off a city bus (at the wrong stop), and then rather absentmindedly stepping off the curb right in front of the bus, getting hit by it, which sends her into a coma for a bit. Oh, I forgot to mention, this was the morning after her wedding.
As the people in her life try to figure out if this was intentional or accidental, we get Abby's back story, the story of her parents. And all throughout, we keep returning to the scene of a couple skeletons that Abby found when she was a child.
Ms. Oates does a magnificent job of putting us in the heads of the different characters. Sometimes, we are in Abby's head. Sometimes we are in her father's head (he was capital C "Crazy"), and sometimes we are in her mother's head. The domestic abuse that occurs in that horrible excuse for a marriage is disturbing, to say the least. Abby's father was a classic case of "toxic masculinity." Sometimes, we are in the head of Abby's new husband, Willem.
The psychological nature of this book is thrilling. It is called "A Novel of Suspense" on the cover, and it certainly is. Right down to the last page. It's a quick read, and if you're into this kind of thing, I highly recommend it.
This one is short, barely over 200 pages. It begins with our main character, Abby (not her real name, as we find out), getting off a city bus (at the wrong stop), and then rather absentmindedly stepping off the curb right in front of the bus, getting hit by it, which sends her into a coma for a bit. Oh, I forgot to mention, this was the morning after her wedding.
As the people in her life try to figure out if this was intentional or accidental, we get Abby's back story, the story of her parents. And all throughout, we keep returning to the scene of a couple skeletons that Abby found when she was a child.
Ms. Oates does a magnificent job of putting us in the heads of the different characters. Sometimes, we are in Abby's head. Sometimes we are in her father's head (he was capital C "Crazy"), and sometimes we are in her mother's head. The domestic abuse that occurs in that horrible excuse for a marriage is disturbing, to say the least. Abby's father was a classic case of "toxic masculinity." Sometimes, we are in the head of Abby's new husband, Willem.
The psychological nature of this book is thrilling. It is called "A Novel of Suspense" on the cover, and it certainly is. Right down to the last page. It's a quick read, and if you're into this kind of thing, I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Domestic abuse
doomluz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a dark story. I enjoyed the nonlinear storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
archaicrobin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I don’t really have much to say about this one. I just finished Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo which was very near 500 pages, so I wanted to pick up a shorter novel next. Pursuit is only 216 pages and I’d heard amazing things about Joyce Carol Oates so I was excited to try out one of her books.
This is listed as a mystery suspense thriller and is about a newly married woman, Abby, that has some kind of traumatic episode and walks in front of a bus. From there Abby works on recovering both from her recent injuries and coming to terms with her traumatic past. Together Abby and her husband finally tackle her parents’ tragic disappearance.
I didn’t hate this book, I wasn’t bored with it, it was a quick and easy read. My issue with this book and why I gave it 1 star is because nothing about it stands out. The writing was fine, the story was fine, the character were just fine, I didn’t love or enjoy anything about this book. I got absolutely nothing out of it and don’t really care about it in any way. Usually I save 1 stars for books I absolutely hated or can’t stand but this time I’m giving it because the book is just.....uninspiring. I might try other books by this author further down the line but right now I’m not planning on it.
This is listed as a mystery suspense thriller and is about a newly married woman, Abby, that has some kind of traumatic episode and walks in front of a bus. From there Abby works on recovering both from her recent injuries and coming to terms with her traumatic past. Together Abby and her husband finally tackle her parents’ tragic disappearance.
I didn’t hate this book, I wasn’t bored with it, it was a quick and easy read. My issue with this book and why I gave it 1 star is because nothing about it stands out. The writing was fine, the story was fine, the character were just fine, I didn’t love or enjoy anything about this book. I got absolutely nothing out of it and don’t really care about it in any way. Usually I save 1 stars for books I absolutely hated or can’t stand but this time I’m giving it because the book is just.....uninspiring. I might try other books by this author further down the line but right now I’m not planning on it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
inmyshelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Este fue mi primer libro de la autora y no sabía con lo que me iba a encontrar.
La escritura es lo que me llamó más la atención. Si bien suelo leer misterios y thrillers, pocos están así de bien escritos y con una estructura tan particular. Joyce Carol Oates claramente tiene facilidad para transmitirte con palabras simples y concisas la profundidad de los sentimientos de los involucrados y el lado creepy de la trama.
Encima de eso, tiene una trama atrapante.
La única falla en el libro, en mi opinion, es el impacto de la historia. En mi caso, sé que no es una trama en la que estaré pensando por semanas. Es muy buena novela, pero no fue trascendental y buenísima.
La recomendaría para todos lo que quieran una introducción a la escritura de la autora. La novela es corta y lográs poner un pie en su obra de una forma fácil y accesible. Yo seguro voy a seguir leyendo más de Oates en un futuro
La escritura es lo que me llamó más la atención. Si bien suelo leer misterios y thrillers, pocos están así de bien escritos y con una estructura tan particular. Joyce Carol Oates claramente tiene facilidad para transmitirte con palabras simples y concisas la profundidad de los sentimientos de los involucrados y el lado creepy de la trama.
Encima de eso, tiene una trama atrapante.
La única falla en el libro, en mi opinion, es el impacto de la historia. En mi caso, sé que no es una trama en la que estaré pensando por semanas. Es muy buena novela, pero no fue trascendental y buenísima.
La recomendaría para todos lo que quieran una introducción a la escritura de la autora. La novela es corta y lográs poner un pie en su obra de una forma fácil y accesible. Yo seguro voy a seguir leyendo más de Oates en un futuro
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Medical trauma
More...