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queenginger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a good time with this one.
I picked it up after seeing so many speak highly of the story and quality of the writing. Also, I found it intriguing that the main character was an elderly woman, seeing as older folks aren’t often the protagonists of many novels — but that’s a discussion for another day.
I thought the form elevated the plot, which makes sense. And as a result, the reader gets lost in the gaps on the page, as well as the presence of time and how it’s played with throughout.
There was still just enough creepy elements to hold this in the psychological horror for me, but it’s definitely lighter than anything else I’ve picked up recently. But I enjoyed that quite a bit.
I think the writing was stellar and pulls me into this author even more. I can’t wait to check out more of Reid’s work!
I picked it up after seeing so many speak highly of the story and quality of the writing. Also, I found it intriguing that the main character was an elderly woman, seeing as older folks aren’t often the protagonists of many novels — but that’s a discussion for another day.
I thought the form elevated the plot, which makes sense. And as a result, the reader gets lost in the gaps on the page, as well as the presence of time and how it’s played with throughout.
There was still just enough creepy elements to hold this in the psychological horror for me, but it’s definitely lighter than anything else I’ve picked up recently. But I enjoyed that quite a bit.
I think the writing was stellar and pulls me into this author even more. I can’t wait to check out more of Reid’s work!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Confinement
seagullsaga's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A book I found on accident, I very much enjoyed this book. I was drawn in by the non-traditional protagonist- you don’t usually see horror stories with an elderly woman as the protagonist. I wasn’t let down by the story itself: it is an empathetic, engrossing read that manages to avoid the pitfalls that other horror falls into when dealing with age. The horror of this book isn’t being old, instead it’s a dark story about loss of agency and isolation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Dementia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Terminal illness, Ableism, and Self harm
Minor: Animal death
veelaughtland's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Suicide
jessicabobessica's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a quick read for me, driven by desire to know the ending. The story was just abstract enough to keep me guessing, which I liked. When an author can keep me guessing, without alienating me with indecipherable metaphor it is a win.
The connection to nature was a pleasant surprise, and I found myself actually learning some fun stuff about trees and other plant species.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this one for folks who struggle with dementia or themes of depersonalization.
The connection to nature was a pleasant surprise, and I found myself actually learning some fun stuff about trees and other plant species.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this one for folks who struggle with dementia or themes of depersonalization.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Dementia, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
disguisedposer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Suicide, Confinement, Death, and Gaslighting
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Suicide, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Death
some_froggish_lad's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Fuck OH MY GOSH PLEASE i loved this so damn much i cannot explain it it made me feel alive and hopeless and giddy and free and greatful and it made my skin itch, made me question my sanity and reality and scared me. I absolutely loved Penny's opinions on art and creation. Jack and shelley are wonderfully creepy, and god i relate to the time changing qnd i love that the question of the realness of the creepy is unanswered.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Suicide
samarakroeger's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I hated this book. for such a short book (when you account for all the white space) it felt like I was slogging through it even when I actually read it fairly quickly. the whole book is double spaced, so it takes up ~3 times more pages than strictly necessary.
also, for something labeled as horror, this had literally no creepiness or intrigue or sense of tension or foreboding element to it. the plot was basically nonexistent and the characters were so deeply unrealistic (has Iain Reid ever talked to someone suffering from Alzheimer's before? and why did he decide to write a book about it???).
my main problems, other than simply being very bored, revolve around the writing, the clunky first person present tense perspective, and the incredibly flawed depiction of dementia. first of all, women in their 90s/people with dementia do NOT talk like pretentious teens written by John Green. simply inaccurate. and they certainly don't think in complete sentences and have a serviceable short-term working memory. does he understand that short-term working memory loss is basically the first sign of dementia????
I also really don't like how Reid decided that "the real horror is neurodegenerative disease" and like, yes, I agree, I am not a fan of neurodegeneration, but I think it is incredibly misguided to make it the "horror element" to your "horror" book. also, the ~quirky fungus element that isn't properly explored~ was just thrown in. it did not add any suspense or sense of mystery or any horror. I think Alzheimer's could potentially be used as an element in a well-done body horror book, but not from a first person perspective that had no character to it.
and the ending -- I fully disagree with the incredibly heavy-handed message that was shoved down the reader's throat.... I don't think a life without a clear end is meaningless and I don't think that not romanticizing death is a bad thing. death is just part of life. let's stop fretting about it so much. I actually laughed at the ending of this book because it was ridiculous.
also, for something labeled as horror, this had literally no creepiness or intrigue or sense of tension or foreboding element to it. the plot was basically nonexistent and the characters were so deeply unrealistic (has Iain Reid ever talked to someone suffering from Alzheimer's before? and why did he decide to write a book about it???).
my main problems, other than simply being very bored, revolve around the writing, the clunky first person present tense perspective, and the incredibly flawed depiction of dementia. first of all, women in their 90s/people with dementia do NOT talk like pretentious teens written by John Green. simply inaccurate. and they certainly don't think in complete sentences and have a serviceable short-term working memory. does he understand that short-term working memory loss is basically the first sign of dementia????
I also really don't like how Reid decided that "the real horror is neurodegenerative disease" and like, yes, I agree, I am not a fan of neurodegeneration, but I think it is incredibly misguided to make it the "horror element" to your "horror" book. also, the ~quirky fungus element that isn't properly explored~ was just thrown in. it did not add any suspense or sense of mystery or any horror. I think Alzheimer's could potentially be used as an element in a well-done body horror book, but not from a first person perspective that had no character to it.
and the ending -- I fully disagree with the incredibly heavy-handed message that was shoved down the reader's throat.... I don't think a life without a clear end is meaningless and I don't think that not romanticizing death is a bad thing. death is just part of life. let's stop fretting about it so much. I actually laughed at the ending of this book because it was ridiculous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Medical content, Mental illness, and Suicide
edgaranjapoe's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Confinement
Minor: Blood, Death, and Emotional abuse