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jei_alexander's review against another edition
Pretentious writing. Chapter 3 was a shopping list. Transphobic later in the book. Talks too much about naked bodies. No plot. The main character Amanda is awful. No explanation for anything that happens in the book. Amanda is racist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Transphobia
aeoliver's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Not the book that I thought it would be — surprising, tense, and a very unsatisfying ending , but atmospheric and well written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Vomit
elisamorvena's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Intriguing concept but I could not stand the writing style. There was so much attention paid to unnecessary details and not a whole lot of explanation on the bigger picture. The story is very slow but also does not really qualify for stream of consciousness writing which I enjoy. Unnecessarily vulgar depictions of sexuality thrown in every once in a while also did not work for me. Annoyingly vague ending. Really disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content
emcatbee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This had a very Stephen King vibe - hard to get into, weird, out of context sexual parts, and then a high paced horror ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Sexual content
sporadicreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was mostly atmosphere, writing, and philosophy. It's not really about the characters and it doesn't have a plot. This book is about the human condition, period. These characters don't develop or grow. Nothing is really supposed to "happen" as far as I can tell. It is a vehicle through which to examine humanity - it is a thought exercise - it is The Republic, Sophie's Choice, The Stranger, The Trial, etc. I think you have to go into this book thinking of it as such or you will be disappointed. Also, have a dictionary at the ready while reading this because the author likes his obscure, thesaurus words.
There are moments of terror here, namely, existential terror. There is an interesting concept brewing in this book of a world falling apart but the privileged (either by race or wealth or simply location) are saved and they have to constantly wrestle with that privilege or live in willful ignorance while lamenting how unblissful the ignorance is ("first world problems"). There also seems to be commentary on technology. How in certain circumstances we would like to be rid of it to relax fully but when it is taken from us we cannot relax fully. The writing at times is beautiful but it does meander quite a bit without much rhyme or reason. It is a bit overwrought. The perspective shifts are disorienting and it is hard to tell if this is purposeful or sloppy. If several characters are in the same room, perspectives will change with each paragraph. This made me crave characters in isolation or in pairs which does make me think it was an intentional decision. What is interesting too is once the characters were on their own or reduced to pairs, there was such foreboding created in the atmosphere of their isolation that I wanted them to quickly reunite. I think this book would be good to read in a book club setting because it is short and it could generate some great discussion.
I gave it 3 stars because ultimately I don't think it was executed well; rather, it is not transparent about what it is - a philosophy book. It sets up like it is a thriller and from what I've seen it was marketed as a thriller and in my opinion it is not a thriller in the slightest.
There are moments of terror here, namely, existential terror. There is an interesting concept brewing in this book of a world falling apart but the privileged (either by race or wealth or simply location) are saved and they have to constantly wrestle with that privilege or live in willful ignorance while lamenting how unblissful the ignorance is ("first world problems"). There also seems to be commentary on technology. How in certain circumstances we would like to be rid of it to relax fully but when it is taken from us we cannot relax fully. The writing at times is beautiful but it does meander quite a bit without much rhyme or reason. It is a bit overwrought. The perspective shifts are disorienting and it is hard to tell if this is purposeful or sloppy. If several characters are in the same room, perspectives will change with each paragraph. This made me crave characters in isolation or in pairs which does make me think it was an intentional decision. What is interesting too is once the characters were on their own or reduced to pairs, there was such foreboding created in the atmosphere of their isolation that I wanted them to quickly reunite. I think this book would be good to read in a book club setting because it is short and it could generate some great discussion.
I gave it 3 stars because ultimately I don't think it was executed well; rather, it is not transparent about what it is - a philosophy book. It sets up like it is a thriller and from what I've seen it was marketed as a thriller and in my opinion it is not a thriller in the slightest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Vomit
Moderate: Body horror
shereadytoread's review against another edition
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A book about what happens when SOMETHING happens. The reader is meant to (or try to) align themselves with a middle class white family who rents an airbnb for vacation, and slowly it is revealed how internal biases and general dependence on every day luxuries leave us stranded in times of confusion.
It plays into race and class when the middle class family is unexpectedly faced with the rich black homeowners unexpectedly crashing their vacation. How do we decide who to trust and who is part of our community and safety.
This style of writing knocked it down a little for me. It is overly descriptive in areas of little importance and then big issues seemed to be glossed over. It is written in a relatable way since our brains often work that way, but it can be off-putting just looking at some else's internal monologue for that long when there are other things to focus on.
One issue for a lot of people is the rather abrupt ending, but I think that was actually a shining point. If you are seeking an emergency/apocalyptic/adventure then this is probably not for you. A disaster novel for modern times, is more about figuring out what is coming and how to react than actually experiencing it.
It plays into race and class when the middle class family is unexpectedly faced with the rich black homeowners unexpectedly crashing their vacation. How do we decide who to trust and who is part of our community and safety.
This style of writing knocked it down a little for me. It is overly descriptive in areas of little importance and then big issues seemed to be glossed over. It is written in a relatable way since our brains often work that way, but it can be off-putting just looking at some else's internal monologue for that long when there are other things to focus on.
One issue for a lot of people is the rather abrupt ending, but I think that was actually a shining point. If you are seeking an emergency/apocalyptic/adventure then this is probably not for you. A disaster novel for modern times, is more about figuring out what is coming and how to react than actually experiencing it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
booktothefuture's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
First of all, this isn't a thriller. Maybe it would've been a better experience if I had gone into it expecting more horror/apocalypse stuff? And the ending was super abrupt and didn't have any form of resolution. I'm annoyed that I finished the whole thing and still don't know what was actually happening that caused all the things the characters experienced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Vomit
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A thrilling and addictive story that doesn't really go anywhere.
It's written in a very specific way that I found myself having to adjust to but never really flowed with. Interesting take on the world ending, it's extremely vague about what's happening in the outside world and all the characters assumptions about what's happening adds more to the mystery.
It's one of those books that isn't necessarily a horror but it has that uneasy and unsettling sense of dread underneath every page. Mainly the book focuses on the tension and the clash of the two families living in the one house. Some parts of this book are extraordinary and really well written while other parts (like long lists of groceries) just felt flat and unnecessary. A great prose with incredible potential that just felt a little underwhelming for me sadly.
It's written in a very specific way that I found myself having to adjust to but never really flowed with. Interesting take on the world ending, it's extremely vague about what's happening in the outside world and all the characters assumptions about what's happening adds more to the mystery.
It's one of those books that isn't necessarily a horror but it has that uneasy and unsettling sense of dread underneath every page. Mainly the book focuses on the tension and the clash of the two families living in the one house. Some parts of this book are extraordinary and really well written while other parts (like long lists of groceries) just felt flat and unnecessary. A great prose with incredible potential that just felt a little underwhelming for me sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, and Vomit
jourdanicus's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Racism, Excrement, and Medical content