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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
‘Godshot’ is a book that is hard to categorize. Despite the subject matter being completely awful, it was captivating. It’s very gritty and parts of it had me cringing. Though, I haven’t read their work, the style/dark subject matter is probably akin to JT LeRoy in its stark representation of the darkest parts of society. The narrator is Lacey May, a 14 year old girl, who lives in a desolate rural area outside of Fresno, California. She has a troubled, ever-changing family life, with no adults that truly care for or appreciate her. The small, insulated population is all part of Pastor Vern’s flock. It starts out a little slow, but I’m glad I stuck with it. After about a third of the book, the plot really started picking up steam and captured my full interest. I wanted to shake the adults in the town for subjecting their children to abject neglect while blindly following an enigmatic, but seriously warped self-proclaimed disciple of God, Pastor Vern. Lacey May starts to see those around her more clearly and come into her own and develops positive relationships with women outside of her immediate family. I really enjoyed her journey and how she finds her way in such troubled circumstances.
Thank you NetGalley and Catapult for providing this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Catapult for providing this ARC.
“Was I a chosen girl, or was I just a girl? It was of no merit to be just a girl.”
I love Lacey May. I fucking love teenage girls. I love stories about resilient teenage girls and this gave me exactly that. Beautiful story about coming-of-age and rising against those that oppress you. Great!
I love Lacey May. I fucking love teenage girls. I love stories about resilient teenage girls and this gave me exactly that. Beautiful story about coming-of-age and rising against those that oppress you. Great!
I could not get into this one, it just wasn't for me. It felt disjointed at times. The characters felt very surface level, but it wasn't so bad that I wanted to stop. I'm on the search for a good novel about cults, this unfortunately wasn't it.
I’ve started many a book review this way, but I really mean this: This book is not for everyone. However, it was really for me and it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. Bieker manages to sit on that razor’s edge between reality and satire and it made the entire experience of reading GODSHOT so unique. Even the title and cover buy into the misleading and mental gymnastics— I went into this book knowing nothing except that the title and cover indicated a good time ahead. And friends, it is not a good time inside this book.
What ties this book together and makes it so worth the read, despite the heaviness of so much of the content, is the main character.
FULL REVIEW HERE: https://meganprokott.com/2021-books//godshot-chelsea-bieker
What ties this book together and makes it so worth the read, despite the heaviness of so much of the content, is the main character.
FULL REVIEW HERE: https://meganprokott.com/2021-books//godshot-chelsea-bieker
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first 40% of this book was ok.
Then at 60% the book got good.
And then at 80% I was crying and feeling a rainbow of emotions.
A slow burn but it is worth it.
Then at 60% the book got good.
And then at 80% I was crying and feeling a rainbow of emotions.
A slow burn but it is worth it.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I enjoyed the story immensely even though it was very messed up. It think it would be a trigger for folks who have experienced trauma in their lives. The characters are very well-developed, and despite the horrifying and very sad situation of the heroine Lacey May, it has laugh out loud humor sprinkled in- like glitter
I’m in awe. What a stunning, beautifully written, engrossing story about the bond between a mother and daughter. Lacey May is 14 and lives with her alcoholic mother in a drought-starved small town in California. Her mother and grandmother - and Lacy by default - are wrapped up in a cult where Vern promises to bring the rain again, if only they all follow his every word. When Lacy’s mother abandons her, Lacy is forced to live with her grandmother Cherry, and begins to realize how deeply affected she has become by Vern and how little she cares about anyone besides herself and her taxidermy animals. Lacy is alone and without hope. What follows is a remarkable story of strength and resilience. Of growing up and beginning to understand who you are and what you were made for. I loved this book.