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backupandround's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
3.0
I did not hate this book. I'm not sure what it was that kept me reading, but I'm not in the habit of finishing books I'm not enjoying. So i enjoyed it to a degree, at least.
But it was also very frustrating. Many things seemed contrived, especially the "twist" which is made so much of at the beginning of the book. Subplots and strands of the story aren't really brought to a close at all. There's a lot of focus on class throughout one subplot, but that ultimately seems to be for nothing.
I also greatly dislike the narratorial voice. It's very distracting and pulls you out of story.
In the end, this is a book that has something about it that made me keep reading, but I couldn't say I precisely enjoyed it. I would not reread or likely read anything by this author again.
But it was also very frustrating. Many things seemed contrived, especially the "twist" which is made so much of at the beginning of the book. Subplots and strands of the story aren't really brought to a close at all. There's a lot of focus on class throughout one subplot, but that ultimately seems to be for nothing.
I also greatly dislike the narratorial voice. It's very distracting and pulls you out of story.
In the end, this is a book that has something about it that made me keep reading, but I couldn't say I precisely enjoyed it. I would not reread or likely read anything by this author again.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Gore, Death, and Cannibalism
Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Vomit
There is one description of rape of a child by a Catholic priest. It is not very explicit, but does describe the whole act in an unflinching sort of way. There are descriptions of violence and desecration of corpses that, again, are not very explicit, but do not shy away from details either. I am sensitive to excessive gore and was able to read them without discomfort, but use your own discretion.
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