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dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The tone and identity of the subjects of this book very much relish in the weird and shocking, taking on an unflinching daring with matters that are taboo, gross and for some even inappropriate at times, morbid, and hazy.
It kind of reminded me of a horror intellectual dark academia take on The Craft with ample inspirations from classic luring horror stories including everything from the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe to creepypastas.
Within these inspirations Jawbone focuses on dark psychology of flawed, even perverse, curious, and conflicted women, exploring lines between sexuality, femineity, and feeling alive through pain and pleasure- both physical and psychological. It won't work for most people especially with the mix of morbid sexuality and violence it plays with, but I largely was just rather fascinated with the complex psychology and exploratory ideas here. It's a book that shines in its incredibly unique identity, primal instincts, and intellectual questioning. The vibe and psychology here are enough of a wild ride, yet one utterly unrestricted that alone is enough to make it quite extraordinary and a worthwhile venture.
It's bigger flaw for me was not the extremism with the taboos it plays with (although even as someone who consumes some pretty bizarre fiction it did have me marveling in just how weird and morbid these girls were at times), but that for all its interesting psychology and rhetoric it doesn't quite settle on a true, focused story or ending sentiment for you to take away, becoming a bit muddled. I think a stronger focus or finish would have been the thing to push it above to a truly memorable and impactful story for me. Even so, I accept it's right to be more about the exploration than the end journey. In the end, it manages to honor its inspirations while bridging into something totally its own.
It kind of reminded me of a horror intellectual dark academia take on The Craft with ample inspirations from classic luring horror stories including everything from the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe to creepypastas.
Within these inspirations Jawbone focuses on dark psychology of flawed, even perverse, curious, and conflicted women, exploring lines between sexuality, femineity, and feeling alive through pain and pleasure- both physical and psychological. It won't work for most people especially with the mix of morbid sexuality and violence it plays with, but I largely was just rather fascinated with the complex psychology and exploratory ideas here. It's a book that shines in its incredibly unique identity, primal instincts, and intellectual questioning. The vibe and psychology here are enough of a wild ride, yet one utterly unrestricted that alone is enough to make it quite extraordinary and a worthwhile venture.
It's bigger flaw for me was not the extremism with the taboos it plays with (although even as someone who consumes some pretty bizarre fiction it did have me marveling in just how weird and morbid these girls were at times), but that for all its interesting psychology and rhetoric it doesn't quite settle on a true, focused story or ending sentiment for you to take away, becoming a bit muddled. I think a stronger focus or finish would have been the thing to push it above to a truly memorable and impactful story for me. Even so, I accept it's right to be more about the exploration than the end journey. In the end, it manages to honor its inspirations while bridging into something totally its own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"My therapist says when you talk out loud without stopping for a long time, and you really listen to yourself, the mysteries end up coming out of the tangle of your subconscious."
If Ojeda doesn’t become a big name in literary horror, alongside the likes of Jackson, Shelley and Poe, then no one should.
Given how literary this book is, it took me a while to get through it, but that doesn’t mean this book isn’t horrifyingly beautiful and macabre.
Each character read so differently from one another, I loved diving into each character’s subconscious, seeing where their biases came in.
I’ve always found tales about cosmic horror and the occult fascinating, especially when consumed together; the aspect of putting an ethereal being into our reality in a way that doesn’t feel forced can be so difficult to do, but in my opinion Odeja handles this perfectly!
Above all else, this tale is about friendship, puberty, motherhood, and the perception of an ideal self.
If you want a slower read that still leaves you a deep sense of horror, a feeling of seeing things in the light and hearing the fluttering of lashes in the dark, then you should put this to the top of your list!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of the most disturbing, beautifully written books I've ever read. The prose is profound and profane and evocative in all its weirdness, the characters are complex and deeply appalling (which makes them all the more likable), and the narrative mosaic of times and formats and styles creates a patchwork quilt that keeps the dread and tension simmering the whole way through. It's a brilliantly perverse meditation on change and adolescence and desire, and I Will be thinking about it for ages to come. Definitely read the content warnings on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Homophobia
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Me he quedado blanca
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mandíbula es un trabajo de ficción literaria latinoamericana completamente perturbador y atrapante.
El protagonismo está tomado por mujeres problemáticas pero sobre todo por los vínculos oscuros y pegajosos entre ellas. La adolescencia femenina se erige como algo espeso, turbio, que brilla entreteniendose con el peligro y la violencia. La agresión e incomprensión signan los roles de hijas y madres.
La trama juega inteligentemente con la construcción de la intriga y un horror blanco, coqueteando con todos los límites. Ojeda da una clase magistral -a veces pecando de cierta pretensión, es cierto- muy psicoanalista y extremadamente cinematográfica sobre esto, sobre la intersección entre el miedo, el deseo, la violencia y las mujeres.
El libro es oscuro, retorcido, pasan muchas cosas al mismo tiempo y, sin embargo, es díficil dejar de ver.
Recomiendo altamente para amantes del terror de la Enríquez, para personas dispuestas a entretenerse y pensar sobre lo problemáticamente endiosado, violento y asqueroso de la adolescencia femenina siempre y cuando no les intimiden ni aburran demasiado los excesos de incisos, subordinadas y referencias a madres lacanianas.
El protagonismo está tomado por mujeres problemáticas pero sobre todo por los vínculos oscuros y pegajosos entre ellas. La adolescencia femenina se erige como algo espeso, turbio, que brilla entreteniendose con el peligro y la violencia. La agresión e incomprensión signan los roles de hijas y madres.
La trama juega inteligentemente con la construcción de la intriga y un horror blanco, coqueteando con todos los límites. Ojeda da una clase magistral -a veces pecando de cierta pretensión, es cierto- muy psicoanalista y extremadamente cinematográfica sobre esto, sobre la intersección entre el miedo, el deseo, la violencia y las mujeres.
El libro es oscuro, retorcido, pasan muchas cosas al mismo tiempo y, sin embargo, es díficil dejar de ver.
Recomiendo altamente para amantes del terror de la Enríquez, para personas dispuestas a entretenerse y pensar sobre lo problemáticamente endiosado, violento y asqueroso de la adolescencia femenina siempre y cuando no les intimiden ni aburran demasiado los excesos de incisos, subordinadas y referencias a madres lacanianas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness
Minor: Religious bigotry
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship
Minor: Abortion
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What if you were a teenage girl, raised catholic and in private schools? What if you loved your best friend very much but didn't have the words to say it? What if instead of 'love' you used words like 'twin'? What if your best friend fashioned herself a prophetess for a God she built out of creepypastas and Lovecraftian horror? What if your teacher hated you and your kind and what if your best friend betrays you, somehow? What if the worst thing in the world is to be a mother? What if it is to be a daughter? To be a teacher is to be a mother is to be a daughter and to be all of these is to have jaws strong enough to cannibalize homes and mothers and daughters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder
challenging
dark
mysterious
Girl……it’s so confusing sometimes to be a girl
This book is interesting but definitely not for everyone. The style is quite challenging and makes for a slow read of a short book. I found myself zoning out during Clara’s chapters and wanting to get back to whatever freak shit Fernanda and Annelise were up to.
This book is interesting but definitely not for everyone. The style is quite challenging and makes for a slow read of a short book. I found myself zoning out during Clara’s chapters and wanting to get back to whatever freak shit Fernanda and Annelise were up to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is good for an in-depth character study on adolescence, but I felt like I just kept waiting for something to happen that never materialized.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Child death