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flowersofstfrancis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
lunababybat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is by far one of the most disturbing fiction books I've ever read. Even though I don't believe it's classified as extreme horror or splatterpunk, it should be. But I understand why it maybe doesn't have those labels; because this story is based on real events, events even worse than what happened to Meg in this novel. The real case is the longterm torture and eventual murder of Sylvia Likens. What the real girl, Sylvia, experienced pales in comparison to even what Meg endured. And there was no David for Slyvia. No one had a change of heart or tried to help her in the end, aside from Slyvia's disabled sister.
I think Jack did a good job of trying to understand what would lead relatively normal people to participate in this type of extreme behavior against another human being. The slow dehumanization of someone led by an authority figure, how someone can become a proverbial punchingbag that's a stand in for all of life's failures. It also delves into how misogyny helps in this dehumanizing, letting Meg be seen as a "whore" and nothing but a piece of meat, even though the real issues is everyone else's inappropriate feelings towards her. Ruth is the ultimate villian and honestly got off too easy in the end. She hated herself and sought to find someone to project that hate onto, so she didn't have to face what a true monster she really was inside.
There are some issues with the writing, and some of the language is definitely outdated, even for a book written in the 80s and set in the 50s. Overall, this is a chance for readers interested in true crime to dip their toes in the water before taking the plunge into the real cases. Because, at least in this instance, there is at least one person who does feel bad about what they did.
I think Jack did a good job of trying to understand what would lead relatively normal people to participate in this type of extreme behavior against another human being. The slow dehumanization of someone led by an authority figure, how someone can become a proverbial punchingbag that's a stand in for all of life's failures. It also delves into how misogyny helps in this dehumanizing, letting Meg be seen as a "whore" and nothing but a piece of meat, even though the real issues is everyone else's inappropriate feelings towards her. Ruth is the ultimate villian and honestly got off too easy in the end. She hated herself and sought to find someone to project that hate onto, so she didn't have to face what a true monster she really was inside.
There are some issues with the writing, and some of the language is definitely outdated, even for a book written in the 80s and set in the 50s. Overall, this is a chance for readers interested in true crime to dip their toes in the water before taking the plunge into the real cases. Because, at least in this instance, there is at least one person who does feel bad about what they did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Death, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Excrement, Murder, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Cursing, Ableism, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
vaudevillianveteran's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kaitmetheny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
vacant_stare's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made my blood boil as much as this one. Based on the horrible true story of Sylvia Likens, who was placed in the care of a truly sadistic woman alongside her sister, The Girl Next Door takes a look at what this crime might have been like through the eyes of a neighborhood boy, Davy.
As the cruelties escalated, I felt myself getting more and more frustrated, wanting someone (anyone!) to help this girl despite knowing that nobody would. Meg would get no help, because no one saved Sylvia.
The dichotomy between Davy wanting to participate in Meg’s torture and viewing her as an outlet for everyone’s sickest fantasies and then suddenly being ashamed and wanting to help Meg once she spoke and basically “became a person again” in Davy’s eyes made me so angry that I had to put the book down. I caught myself thinking that people couldn’t possibly be cruel enough to do the kinds of things that Ketchum was describing, but then I remembered. People can and are cruel enough to participate in every one of those despicable acts. It was done to Sylvia Likens by those who were supposed to protect her.
Ketchum does a great job of portraying just how quickly things can escalate from snide remarks to unimaginable abuse all while people who call themselves friends of the abused watch and then begin to participate in said abuse. He shows just how cruel even children can be, when spurred on by their peers and the “cool” parent. I definitely left this story with a bad taste in my mouth and a decidedly reduced faith in humanity.
As the cruelties escalated, I felt myself getting more and more frustrated, wanting someone (anyone!) to help this girl despite knowing that nobody would. Meg would get no help, because no one saved Sylvia.
The dichotomy between Davy wanting to participate in Meg’s torture and viewing her as an outlet for everyone’s sickest fantasies and then suddenly being ashamed and wanting to help Meg once she spoke and basically “became a person again” in Davy’s eyes made me so angry that I had to put the book down. I caught myself thinking that people couldn’t possibly be cruel enough to do the kinds of things that Ketchum was describing, but then I remembered. People can and are cruel enough to participate in every one of those despicable acts. It was done to Sylvia Likens by those who were supposed to protect her.
Ketchum does a great job of portraying just how quickly things can escalate from snide remarks to unimaginable abuse all while people who call themselves friends of the abused watch and then begin to participate in said abuse. He shows just how cruel even children can be, when spurred on by their peers and the “cool” parent. I definitely left this story with a bad taste in my mouth and a decidedly reduced faith in humanity.
247halloween's review against another edition
dark
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Torture, Drug use, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
niknewx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
shortchik99's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-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
3.75
c_marie_writes's review against another edition
4.0
DISTURBING. Very much so. Based on a true story, from what I understand, so if you cannot handle child torture/abuse/kidnap scenarios, do not even attempt to read this one.
The fact that this is based on a true story is the most disturbing part of all on this. I will say, I can usually handle most anything in a book with no problems, (EXCEPT ANIMAL CRUELTY), so I did know that about this going in. That being said, I think the writing was spot on, character development was alright, for the most part. I think finding out a bit more about Ruth's background would have been interesting, as well as Meg's, but other than that, I will say it was a good read.
I listened to the Audible version, and I don't usually like books narrated by their authors, however this one was not bad at all. He narrated wonderfully.
The fact that this is based on a true story is the most disturbing part of all on this. I will say, I can usually handle most anything in a book with no problems, (EXCEPT ANIMAL CRUELTY), so I did know that about this going in. That being said, I think the writing was spot on, character development was alright, for the most part. I think finding out a bit more about Ruth's background would have been interesting, as well as Meg's, but other than that, I will say it was a good read.
I listened to the Audible version, and I don't usually like books narrated by their authors, however this one was not bad at all. He narrated wonderfully.