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lauraborkpower's review
3.0
We chose this book for our October "creepy" book-club read, and it was a perfect choice. It's not a horror book, but it's just awful -- in a good, "ooh, I hate this, but I can't stop reading" way.
Koch's first person narration sets us up to sympathize with Paul: he adores his wife and would much rather be spending a quiet night hanging out with just her; his brother is a pretentious and self-absorbed politician who makes everything, including a simple dinner reservation, about him. Of course we're on Team Paul.
But then the onion starts to peel and we realize that Paul's not a terrifically reliable narrator, and there's a lot more going on here than it first seemed. With each detail and anecdote, I became more and more uncomfortable, and I loved it. These characters are all playing a game, and it's really only Serge -- our unlikable brother -- who is straightforward. Sort of.
I could have done without the biological sub-plot: Paul's illness and the subsequent curiosity about whether or not Claire got an amniocentesis. It didn't matter to me, and it's a lot more interesting to simply draw a straight line between Paul's and Michel's behavior.
But overall, it's icky, uncomfortable, and enjoyable.
Koch's first person narration sets us up to sympathize with Paul: he adores his wife and would much rather be spending a quiet night hanging out with just her; his brother is a pretentious and self-absorbed politician who makes everything, including a simple dinner reservation, about him. Of course we're on Team Paul.
But then the onion starts to peel and we realize that Paul's not a terrifically reliable narrator, and there's a lot more going on here than it first seemed. With each detail and anecdote, I became more and more uncomfortable, and I loved it. These characters are all playing a game, and it's really only Serge -- our unlikable brother -- who is straightforward. Sort of.
I could have done without the biological sub-plot: Paul's illness and the subsequent curiosity about whether or not Claire got an amniocentesis. It didn't matter to me, and it's a lot more interesting to simply draw a straight line between Paul's and Michel's behavior.
But overall, it's icky, uncomfortable, and enjoyable.
ellemc86's review
1.0
Hated this book. I knew from the beginning that I would not like it but I cannot not finish a book. The narration was ridiculous -"I'm not going to say what was wrong with Claire, not here", "so without going into detail about Claire's illness...", it took entirely too long to get to the plot, and the long drawn out descriptions of mundane things like men peeing in the bathroom and descriptions of their food, and the constant mention of the restaurant's manager's pinky all got on my nerves. Really, I cannot understand how this became a movie. Just an awful awful story!
edit: reading reviews now and seeing lots of comparisons to Gone Girl, now THAT book I could not finish so it's no wonder I didn't like this book as well yet I finished it :/
edit: reading reviews now and seeing lots of comparisons to Gone Girl, now THAT book I could not finish so it's no wonder I didn't like this book as well yet I finished it :/
sryoung's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
akgrayyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
kristinhzta90's review
4.0
Wow. I'm not sure what to think. My mind is reeling with these horrible people and the lengths that they went to.
While Paul & Claire seemed to have a happy marriage, the secrets they kept from one another and the ones Claire kept blew my mind. If she knew that her unborn child had some kind of genetic issue, then she also knew her husband had it too years before he was diagnosed. That seems like a huge burden to keep a secret like that within a marriage.
I hated Serge but also wound up feeling sorry for him. I have a lot of unresolved thoughts about this story. But overall, it was well structured and quite different than anything I read previously.
While Paul & Claire seemed to have a happy marriage, the secrets they kept from one another and the ones Claire kept blew my mind. If she knew that her unborn child had some kind of genetic issue, then she also knew her husband had it too years before he was diagnosed. That seems like a huge burden to keep a secret like that within a marriage.
I hated Serge but also wound up feeling sorry for him. I have a lot of unresolved thoughts about this story. But overall, it was well structured and quite different than anything I read previously.
diandian's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
joshreadz's review
4.0
This is a fun, super fast read that will keep you interested. The writing is straight-forward. Where this book shines is in its development of complex relationships between characters. I gave it four stars because, for all the built tension, there wasn't enough of a twist or other form of cathartic relief. Still would highly recommend to those looking for a psychological thriller.
cheese_bun's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75