Scan barcode
machuvicchu's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Holy shit. I'm definitely going to have to go back on this because I will likely have residual thoughts on this book 48 hours from now.
This book was loaded. Every second spent reading this book my hairs were standing straight up.
I liked the ambiguity. A lot of true crime narratives are very black and white. Killer - bad, cops - good. But there's two conflicting aspects of Libby Day. As a victim, she's been touted as this poor angel and she willingly capitalizes off of it with her bs book with a ghostwriter. So she's also idle and apathetic. She's disappointed that the money she made off of people's pity for her is drying out, and turns to true crime fanatics paying money for her to get the answers she never wanted to face. Even when I'm typing this out I feel like a piece of shit because duh, her whole family was murdered when she was 7, she's been through a lot. There's times where you're frustrated with Libby and then there's times where you're rooting for her.
I think Flynn did that with Ben as well. Through Ben's perspective on the day of the murder, we feel a lot of sympathy for him. We read Ben's 15-year-old perspective as he tries to make sense of the world between the poverty he and his family experiences and his insecurities and manhood. These scenes between his classmates, these people he's hanging out with, his girlfriend - you feel for him because he just wishes he had a normal life where he can fit in. But he has also done some gross, disgusting things that you can't just dismiss as teenager things, as well as his penchant for violence or "Annihilation".
Whether I actually liked the characters or not, I really felt how well-thought out they were. Having different narrators/perspectives can be difficult but I appreciate that Flynn gave all characters a very distinctive voice. The kind of tension and angst we get from present-day Libby, the immature and insecure voice of Ben, as well as the sheer despair from Patty (Oh, Patty. You really feel for her by the end. I know she's just a fictional character but I wish life was a little easier on her she's been through a lot).
I really liked the alternating perspectives between present day versus the day of the murder. They start kind of awkward but as you progress into the novel the more these alternating narrators makes sense and adds to the suspense.
I really appreciated the little Easter eggs that came in handy as you, the reader, are asking the same questions as Libby, the "whodunnit". Ben's notebook with the girls' names, Michelle was choked which was more personal than Patty and Debby's murders, Ben's -olly tattoo, etc. etc . I feel sinister for calling it "fun" but for the characters in present-day to mention these Easter eggs again in present day really had my mind reeling.
Overall, I really like how all these loose ends tied up really nicely. Is it realistic how easily all this fell into place (Libby visits Diondra and Crystal lets it slips and Libby actually doesn't die that day and Calvin Diehl confess around the same time) , probably not, but it's good enough for me to end on.
This book was loaded. Every second spent reading this book my hairs were standing straight up.
I liked the ambiguity. A lot of true crime narratives are very black and white. Killer - bad, cops - good. But there's two conflicting aspects of Libby Day. As a victim, she's been touted as this poor angel and she willingly capitalizes off of it with her bs book with a ghostwriter. So she's also idle and apathetic. She's disappointed that the money she made off of people's pity for her is drying out, and turns to true crime fanatics paying money for her to get the answers she never wanted to face. Even when I'm typing this out I feel like a piece of shit because duh, her whole family was murdered when she was 7, she's been through a lot. There's times where you're frustrated with Libby and then there's times where you're rooting for her.
I think Flynn did that with Ben as well. Through Ben's perspective on the day of the murder, we feel a lot of sympathy for him. We read Ben's 15-year-old perspective as he tries to make sense of the world between the poverty he and his family experiences and his insecurities and manhood. These scenes between his classmates, these people he's hanging out with, his girlfriend - you feel for him because he just wishes he had a normal life where he can fit in. But he has also done some gross, disgusting things that you can't just dismiss as teenager things, as well as his penchant for violence or "Annihilation".
Whether I actually liked the characters or not, I really felt how well-thought out they were. Having different narrators/perspectives can be difficult but I appreciate that Flynn gave all characters a very distinctive voice. The kind of tension and angst we get from present-day Libby, the immature and insecure voice of Ben, as well as the sheer despair from Patty (Oh, Patty. You really feel for her by the end. I know she's just a fictional character but I wish life was a little easier on her she's been through a lot).
I really liked the alternating perspectives between present day versus the day of the murder. They start kind of awkward but as you progress into the novel the more these alternating narrators makes sense and adds to the suspense.
I really appreciated the little Easter eggs that came in handy as you, the reader, are asking the same questions as Libby, the "whodunnit".
Overall, I really like how all these loose ends tied up really nicely. Is it realistic how easily all this fell into place
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Gun violence
lostinpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was such a different read from Gillian Flynn!! I've read all of her booke except for this one. The plot alone is very dark and throughout the book it's very gory. It was kind of more of a horror than a thriller. However I still enjoyed it so much. At moments it was hard to stomach and it was fcked up but it was so pleasing as all of Gillian's books are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Violence
bek_parsons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This keeps you guessing and slowly matching the puzzle pieces together - all of them are there, some you get and some you miss but they’re all as satisfying to watch clink into place. Keys into the satanic panic well as well as showing the pure horror of a mother on the brink of losing everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse
dsarbear's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
eitheror's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
There's a really gross loogie scene at one point in the book. I had to skip a paragraph. Great book otherwise thoiva08's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Worst of the three. I kind predicted the end quite early on, while not exact it was correct. Nonetheless it was enjoyable to watch the story unfold. Definitely didnt like all the Satanism in this, but it did build onto the book. I dont know why ben just sat there. Honestly very cruel. I did like it quite a bit tho. I just love gillian she is marvelous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, and Death of parent
kostas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
anb2300's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
abbeyhuffine94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
strawberrysheepie's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Was eager to read more of Flynn’s work after loving Sharp Objects, and this one really satisfied me. Very clever novel , just when I thought I knew where it was heading it kept surprising me. I love Flynn’s writing style and characters, though it did feel a bit familiar to Sharp Objects (troubled woman with past trauma meets unlikely man who helps solve things) but I didn’t mind this. Loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder