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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
3.5 stars rounded to 4
I loved the writing, the world, and the characters. I did enjoy this book, but I’m not sure I can recommend it.
Spoilers below:
My problem is that for the majority of the book, it never felt like Carol might actually die. Her allies either had the upper hand or, if they didn’t, whatever setbacks they might encounter were surely avoidable or reversible. I wasn’t worried for her until right toward the end, but even then, I was sure it would be okay. And then it turned out we were all worried for nothing! She already had a plan in place for in case this exact scenario might happen. Realizing this made it feel, to me, like the rest of the plot was filler.
I loved the writing, the world, and the characters. I did enjoy this book, but I’m not sure I can recommend it.
Spoilers below:
My problem is that for the majority of the book, it never felt like Carol might actually die. Her allies either had the upper hand or, if they didn’t, whatever setbacks they might encounter were surely avoidable or reversible. I wasn’t worried for her until right toward the end, but even then, I was sure it would be okay. And then it turned out we were all worried for nothing! She already had a plan in place for in case this exact scenario might happen. Realizing this made it feel, to me, like the rest of the plot was filler.
English / Español
when I heard the premise of this book (a woman falling into a coma and going into a "dark place"), I thought I'd love it. The idea of reading a book solely based on the inner struggle and facing your own demons in there sounded amazing... And then I started it and realized it was more like a western based on a race to save her life. I was kind of put off by the book, and so I slowly let it pass. Also I hate western stories, the whole cowboy vibe is not for me. But, I ended up forcing me to read, go past my initial expectations, and ended up falling in love with the characters, and I was really excited to keep on reading.
So this was a complex read and I have mixed feeling about the whole experience. Nonetheless, merit goes where it's deserved, and Malerman once again wrote an exciting book, filled with tension and a touch of horror. He made me love a western, let it be known hahaha
At the end, the book is a fun story about a race versus time to save an old loved one, but it's also about the regret for one's past and our mistakes, and how we come to terms with it. Sadly for me, it's a western, but I can see why and how the setting helps to elevate the story. Give it a go, it won't hurt.
_________________
Español
Cuando leí sobre la premisa de la historia me emocioné bastante. La idea de leer sobre una mujer en coma y su lucha interna contra sus propias ideas y pensamientos, y su pasado, me llamaba mucho la atención... Pero después resultó que el libro no trata de eso, sino que es más bien, una Carrera contra el tiempo para salvarla... en un ambiente "western". Yo en particular, odio los westerns, toda esa onda de vaqueros, pistoleros, duelos, etc. nunca fue de mi agrado, así que terminé dejando ir el libro poco a poco, pasando días y semanas sin tocarlo. Sin embargo, me forcé a leerlo e ir más allá de la época, y vaya si me alegro de haberlo hecho.
Así que, mis sentimientos con respecto al libro están bastante mezclados. Aunque mérito a quien lo merece, y Malerman construyó una historia llena de tensión y misterio, con elementos del género de horror suficientes para darle ese toque final a la historia.
Al final, este es un libro en la época del viejo oeste, que trata sobre una carrera contra el tiempo para salvar a alguien. Pero también, es un libro sobre los arrepentimientos que tenemos sobre el pasado y cómo logramos resolverlo para nosotros mismos, todo esto ambientado en el viejo oeste. Así que denle una oportunidad, no creo que se arrepientan.
when I heard the premise of this book (a woman falling into a coma and going into a "dark place"), I thought I'd love it. The idea of reading a book solely based on the inner struggle and facing your own demons in there sounded amazing... And then I started it and realized it was more like a western based on a race to save her life. I was kind of put off by the book, and so I slowly let it pass. Also I hate western stories, the whole cowboy vibe is not for me. But, I ended up forcing me to read, go past my initial expectations, and ended up falling in love with the characters, and I was really excited to keep on reading.
So this was a complex read and I have mixed feeling about the whole experience. Nonetheless, merit goes where it's deserved, and Malerman once again wrote an exciting book, filled with tension and a touch of horror. He made me love a western, let it be known hahaha
At the end, the book is a fun story about a race versus time to save an old loved one, but it's also about the regret for one's past and our mistakes, and how we come to terms with it. Sadly for me, it's a western, but I can see why and how the setting helps to elevate the story. Give it a go, it won't hurt.
_________________
Español
Cuando leí sobre la premisa de la historia me emocioné bastante. La idea de leer sobre una mujer en coma y su lucha interna contra sus propias ideas y pensamientos, y su pasado, me llamaba mucho la atención... Pero después resultó que el libro no trata de eso, sino que es más bien, una Carrera contra el tiempo para salvarla... en un ambiente "western". Yo en particular, odio los westerns, toda esa onda de vaqueros, pistoleros, duelos, etc. nunca fue de mi agrado, así que terminé dejando ir el libro poco a poco, pasando días y semanas sin tocarlo. Sin embargo, me forcé a leerlo e ir más allá de la época, y vaya si me alegro de haberlo hecho.
Así que, mis sentimientos con respecto al libro están bastante mezclados. Aunque mérito a quien lo merece, y Malerman construyó una historia llena de tensión y misterio, con elementos del género de horror suficientes para darle ese toque final a la historia.
Al final, este es un libro en la época del viejo oeste, que trata sobre una carrera contra el tiempo para salvar a alguien. Pero también, es un libro sobre los arrepentimientos que tenemos sobre el pasado y cómo logramos resolverlo para nosotros mismos, todo esto ambientado en el viejo oeste. Así que denle una oportunidad, no creo que se arrepientan.
Solid plot, great writing, bland characters.
I’m a character reader so if I don’t believe in your characters I can’t love the book. Still enjoyed it for the most part.
I’m a character reader so if I don’t believe in your characters I can’t love the book. Still enjoyed it for the most part.
In the days when news travels only as fast as an outlaw can ride a horse, and a doctor can determine death only by pulse or fog on a mirror, Carol is in peril each time she slips into a waking slumber that is nearly indistinguishable from death. When her husband, Dwight, seeks to take advantage of her next "spell" and have her buried as soon as possible, will her former outlaw-lover arrive in time to save her from the dreadful fate of being buried alive?
Far better than Mad Black Wheel but nowhere near as good as Bird Box -- this felt like ideas for two separate novellas got mashed together. Up until the last 30-40 pages, there are two distinctly different narratives that are barely connected; even the towns that James Moxie visits along the Trail feel nothing like the town of Harrows, where Carol's story takes place. Pulled apart, edited, and given poignant endings, the Moxie/Smoke story and the Carol/Dwight story would each be pretty interesting, but mashed together, the whole is a bit of a slog.
3 stars
I really wanted this to be more than what it was. I wanted it to be spooky and creepy and claustrophobic. I wanted to feel dread and I wanted that feeling of running out of time.
Sadly I didn’t get any of those vibes. The story meanders along at its own pace, told more like a western than a thriller or suspense novel.
The story felt less about Carol than about everyone else involved.
I really wanted this to be more than what it was. I wanted it to be spooky and creepy and claustrophobic. I wanted to feel dread and I wanted that feeling of running out of time.
Sadly I didn’t get any of those vibes. The story meanders along at its own pace, told more like a western than a thriller or suspense novel.
The story felt less about Carol than about everyone else involved.
Thank you to the publisher for an Advanced Reader's Copy for all seven of the Night Worms review group in exchange for honest reviews. This book is out on April 10th.
Of course, after reading Bird Box, I put Josh Malerman in the group of "authors that write books I want to read." Malerman's female protagonist in Bird Box exists in an apocalyptic state of events with a major physical handicap. In this book, Unbury Carol, our protagonist Carol is in a "wild, wild west" setting and also suffers from a major, physical handicap.
But the emphasis really isn't on Carol--it's on the cast of male characters introduced to us through their involvement with her and her strange condition.
I feel like the first 25% of this book was a very slow burn. I figured early on that this wasn't going to be a scary story--this is not horror. So my push here is to make sure horror fans and Bird Box fans, know that.
In the beginning, there is lots of build-up and stage setting, traveling, planning, character building but very little actually happening. There were some phrases or words planted so many times that I actually wondered if there was a hidden treasure map or message of some sort tugging for attention (I don't need to highlight those words, you'll see for yourself).
But hang in there!
The last 75% of the book makes it all worth while.
The tension begins to build, you start becoming very invested in the villains of the story rather than our damsel in distress. The beauty of this tale is that it is so unique and strange it almost feels like it could have come from the mind of Neil Gaiman--like a dark, whimsical fantasy and I kept reminding myself that this came from the same author of Bird Box, so I was pretty impressed with Malerman's versatility. Not to mention, he treats this plot with an attention to detail and a seriousness that makes the book stand by itself, outside any genre-normative stereotypes. This isn't horror, it's not a fantasy, it's not a Western, it's just it's own style and it deserves to be read by fans of just about anything. I also want to say that during the dialog I had with fellow Night Worms and also having read some early reviews (I didn't want to read them but I kind of had to-long story) I kept seeing people talk about how Carol's situation is just another misogynistic plot trope but my argument to that is: Carol's housekeeper, Farrah, evens out the scales and the two women, Farrah and Carol can almost be considered as one--Carol's mind and Farrah's physical execution-to which, she (the two characters) make one, complete and pretty bad ass character. (without getting too spoilery)
My final thoughts: If you are a fan of Malerman, this is one for the collection. It shows his range and his knack for out of the box, imaginative stories. He's writes great characters and brilliant dialog. I'm looking forward to reading Black Mad Wheel and Goblin next. I want a full Malerman collection at the end of the day.
Of course, after reading Bird Box, I put Josh Malerman in the group of "authors that write books I want to read." Malerman's female protagonist in Bird Box exists in an apocalyptic state of events with a major physical handicap. In this book, Unbury Carol, our protagonist Carol is in a "wild, wild west" setting and also suffers from a major, physical handicap.
But the emphasis really isn't on Carol--it's on the cast of male characters introduced to us through their involvement with her and her strange condition.
I feel like the first 25% of this book was a very slow burn. I figured early on that this wasn't going to be a scary story--this is not horror. So my push here is to make sure horror fans and Bird Box fans, know that.
In the beginning, there is lots of build-up and stage setting, traveling, planning, character building but very little actually happening. There were some phrases or words planted so many times that I actually wondered if there was a hidden treasure map or message of some sort tugging for attention (I don't need to highlight those words, you'll see for yourself).
But hang in there!
The last 75% of the book makes it all worth while.
The tension begins to build, you start becoming very invested in the villains of the story rather than our damsel in distress. The beauty of this tale is that it is so unique and strange it almost feels like it could have come from the mind of Neil Gaiman--like a dark, whimsical fantasy and I kept reminding myself that this came from the same author of Bird Box, so I was pretty impressed with Malerman's versatility. Not to mention, he treats this plot with an attention to detail and a seriousness that makes the book stand by itself, outside any genre-normative stereotypes. This isn't horror, it's not a fantasy, it's not a Western, it's just it's own style and it deserves to be read by fans of just about anything. I also want to say that during the dialog I had with fellow Night Worms and also having read some early reviews (I didn't want to read them but I kind of had to-long story) I kept seeing people talk about how Carol's situation is just another misogynistic plot trope but my argument to that is: Carol's housekeeper, Farrah, evens out the scales and the two women, Farrah and Carol can almost be considered as one--Carol's mind and Farrah's physical execution-to which, she (the two characters) make one, complete and pretty bad ass character. (without getting too spoilery)
My final thoughts: If you are a fan of Malerman, this is one for the collection. It shows his range and his knack for out of the box, imaginative stories. He's writes great characters and brilliant dialog. I'm looking forward to reading Black Mad Wheel and Goblin next. I want a full Malerman collection at the end of the day.
Carol has lived her whole life with a bizarre condition where she goes into death-like comas for days on end, and the only person besides her husband Dwight--who married Carol for her fortune--who knows about her condition has just passed away. Naturally, Dwight seizes the opportunity to wait for Carol to fall into her next coma, and then have her buried alive. (Dwight is a chicken shit without the stomach for outright hands-on murder.)
However, Carol's maid Farah suspects something, and has sent a message to the only other person who knew about Carol's condition--her long-ago lover & legendary outlaw, James Moxie. James suspects what has happened and rides to save Carol, while at the same time, someone and/or something else is coming after him.
A completely different beast than Bird Box--not quite as dark, a completely different vibe and setting--but still fantastically written and executed. I tried categorizing it (spec fic western???) but really had no idea where to start. Super entertaining & a page turner!
However, Carol's maid Farah suspects something, and has sent a message to the only other person who knew about Carol's condition--her long-ago lover & legendary outlaw, James Moxie. James suspects what has happened and rides to save Carol, while at the same time, someone and/or something else is coming after him.
A completely different beast than Bird Box--not quite as dark, a completely different vibe and setting--but still fantastically written and executed. I tried categorizing it (spec fic western???) but really had no idea where to start. Super entertaining & a page turner!
NetGalley provided ARC.
I wasn't sure what to expect from a pseudo western themed horror story, but Josh Malerman has created quite a unique novel with an equally unique cast of characters.
I wasn't sure what to expect from a pseudo western themed horror story, but Josh Malerman has created quite a unique novel with an equally unique cast of characters.
Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman was an interesting tale of a terrifying condition, an evil scheme, violence along the trail, and love.
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, once I bought a copy, it sat there in my TBR pile... Slowly getting pushed further and further down the list.
I'm so happy that I was finally able to pick it up!
Sitting down to write my review, I just had the hardest time trying to organize my thoughts. I don't want to give away too much of the story, even though most of it is in the synopsis...
So I've decided to just touch upon a few key elements that I enjoyed and a few that I didn't like.
The storyline
The plot was definitely a bit nerve-wracking. After all, how terrifying is it just to think about having a condition that suddenly overcomes you and makes you look like you're dead?! And then of course when you find out that the main characters husband is up to no good, it makes everything so much worse.
And gosh, thinking about someone being buried alive is absolutely horrifying! I was so anxious to see how this would play out.
The characters
I found them all so interesting, even if they were a bit undeveloped! Take the main character, Carol, or example. We meet her very briefly before she falls into her coma-like state. Throughout the book, we get glimpses here and there that help us learn more about her childhood and her condition, but outside of that, we don't really learn all that much about her.
Same with the outlaw Moxie; we learn that he's a no-nonsense, lovesick outlaw that played a trick and got famous for it.
Even the main bad guy, Smoke, was a bit flat. Though I did find it super interesting that we saw him slowly lose his mind the closer he got to his end goal.
Then there were various other characters that popped in and out of the story. The chapters for each of these quick characters were fun to read, but I feel like I've already forgotten most of them.
The organization of the storyline
On on hand, I loved that we got right into the thick of things in the first few chapters, but on the other I wish that we had gotten more build up before all of the action.
I also really enjoyed that we were introduced to seemingly random characters here and there in various chapters that were centered on each character throughout the main storyline. It was interesting to see how each of the characters, no matter how small their role seemed, were part of this crazy web of deception.
The organization of the storyline also helped to build a bit of anxiety when it came to the burial. Would Dwight crack up and take an even more extreme step than he already has? Would John Moxie make it to town in time, or would he arrive too late? Would Sheriff Opal find evidence that helps prove his gut feeling? It was certainly exciting to wait to see how it all played out!
Beware, the negatives:
The pacing, I will admit, was a bit slow for my taste. There were a few chapters that I felt really bogged the story down.
I didn't really care for the ending. It seemed a bit rushed and a little too scattered. One element that came into play near the end was a gift from Hattie, which was really interesting. However, I felt that the situation caused by Rot made that reveal super underwhelming when it could have been really great.
On that note, things with Rot got a little odd. Again, because things seemed so rushed, I don't think we got enough information about this element and why it was affecting those it affected. Was it simply affecting those close to Carole because it wanted her so badly? That's what I would assume, but it's hard to say.
So clearly I was also left with some unanswered questions... quite a few of them, in fact. I'm usually okay with a few unanswered questions, but when that's paired with a rushed ending, I close the book with a bit of frustration.
My favorite passages:
Thoughts were always shinier, wider, more difficult to corral on the Trail.
Moxie has heard more than his share of Trail myths, yarns rolled down steep hillsides, unraveling until they shape-shifted from fiction to fact.
Memories more like nightmares and dreams like true visions, scattered, fallen from a shelf, out of order, or maybe proof that the order never mattered to begin with…
My final thoughts:
This book was so difficult for me to review!
This was definitely one of those books that was really enjoyable while reading, but after finishing it, I was left feeling a little odd. Like I had been hoping to get something more from it, but didn't... I hate that feeling!
I think this calls for a reread!
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, once I bought a copy, it sat there in my TBR pile... Slowly getting pushed further and further down the list.
I'm so happy that I was finally able to pick it up!
Sitting down to write my review, I just had the hardest time trying to organize my thoughts. I don't want to give away too much of the story, even though most of it is in the synopsis...
So I've decided to just touch upon a few key elements that I enjoyed and a few that I didn't like.
The storyline
The plot was definitely a bit nerve-wracking. After all, how terrifying is it just to think about having a condition that suddenly overcomes you and makes you look like you're dead?! And then of course when you find out that the main characters husband is up to no good, it makes everything so much worse.
And gosh, thinking about someone being buried alive is absolutely horrifying! I was so anxious to see how this would play out.
The characters
I found them all so interesting, even if they were a bit undeveloped! Take the main character, Carol, or example. We meet her very briefly before she falls into her coma-like state. Throughout the book, we get glimpses here and there that help us learn more about her childhood and her condition, but outside of that, we don't really learn all that much about her.
Same with the outlaw Moxie; we learn that he's a no-nonsense, lovesick outlaw that played a trick and got famous for it.
Even the main bad guy, Smoke, was a bit flat. Though I did find it super interesting that we saw him slowly lose his mind the closer he got to his end goal.
Then there were various other characters that popped in and out of the story. The chapters for each of these quick characters were fun to read, but I feel like I've already forgotten most of them.
The organization of the storyline
On on hand, I loved that we got right into the thick of things in the first few chapters, but on the other I wish that we had gotten more build up before all of the action.
I also really enjoyed that we were introduced to seemingly random characters here and there in various chapters that were centered on each character throughout the main storyline. It was interesting to see how each of the characters, no matter how small their role seemed, were part of this crazy web of deception.
The organization of the storyline also helped to build a bit of anxiety when it came to the burial. Would Dwight crack up and take an even more extreme step than he already has? Would John Moxie make it to town in time, or would he arrive too late? Would Sheriff Opal find evidence that helps prove his gut feeling? It was certainly exciting to wait to see how it all played out!
Beware, the negatives:
The pacing, I will admit, was a bit slow for my taste. There were a few chapters that I felt really bogged the story down.
I didn't really care for the ending. It seemed a bit rushed and a little too scattered. One element that came into play near the end was a gift from Hattie, which was really interesting. However, I felt that the situation caused by Rot made that reveal super underwhelming when it could have been really great.
On that note, things with Rot got a little odd. Again, because things seemed so rushed, I don't think we got enough information about this element and why it was affecting those it affected. Was it simply affecting those close to Carole because it wanted her so badly? That's what I would assume, but it's hard to say.
So clearly I was also left with some unanswered questions... quite a few of them, in fact. I'm usually okay with a few unanswered questions, but when that's paired with a rushed ending, I close the book with a bit of frustration.
My favorite passages:
Thoughts were always shinier, wider, more difficult to corral on the Trail.
Moxie has heard more than his share of Trail myths, yarns rolled down steep hillsides, unraveling until they shape-shifted from fiction to fact.
Memories more like nightmares and dreams like true visions, scattered, fallen from a shelf, out of order, or maybe proof that the order never mattered to begin with…
My final thoughts:
This book was so difficult for me to review!
This was definitely one of those books that was really enjoyable while reading, but after finishing it, I was left feeling a little odd. Like I had been hoping to get something more from it, but didn't... I hate that feeling!
I think this calls for a reread!