Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this but I'm still confused about so much about it lmao.
Going into this, knowing that it is at least partially about pica (and literally nothing else; I didn't even read the synopsis), I was expecting more discussion of mental health. Like, a clear "this is an illness and these are symptoms" because pica is something most people haven't heard of and it would be a great way to raise awareness. But the whole book left us with a weird "is she crazy? Is she haunted? Is this really happening?" And... [Spoilers redacted] The ending left me unsatisfied because I just kept waiting for the word pica and I never got it.
And I'm sure if I went and Googled pica, so much more of this story would make sense and there would be so much added depth - but how would a normal reader know to make that Google search? (Note: I read a hand-me-down ARC so maybe it's in the acknowledgements or a forward or something that isn't present in my copy)
I will say: I liked the parallels to Agatha Christie. I loved the descriptions of the house, its various rooms, the noises and what caused them. I found it a bit difficult to follow the timeline of the story, but I think that's maybe intentional. And I feel like the ending was very much unresolved. Like... Our last conversation with Ruth is "I'll tell you more in the morning" basically, and there's a lot of "we'll talk tomorrow" with several characters and it left me feeling unresolved. The ending itself was definitely interesting but I felt like there were a lot of threads left dangling.
And I'm sure if I went and Googled pica, so much more of this story would make sense and there would be so much added depth - but how would a normal reader know to make that Google search? (Note: I read a hand-me-down ARC so maybe it's in the acknowledgements or a forward or something that isn't present in my copy)
I will say: I liked the parallels to Agatha Christie. I loved the descriptions of the house, its various rooms, the noises and what caused them. I found it a bit difficult to follow the timeline of the story, but I think that's maybe intentional. And I feel like the ending was very much unresolved. Like... Our last conversation with Ruth is "I'll tell you more in the morning" basically, and there's a lot of "we'll talk tomorrow" with several characters and it left me feeling unresolved. The ending itself was definitely interesting but I felt like there were a lot of threads left dangling.
dark
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Huh.. that was a rather abrupt ending.
This was so eerie and I loved the atmosphere. The small town vibes were *Chefs Kiss*.
The characters were also really intriguing for me, they were not phenomenal or anything but were differentiable enough for me to appreciate each one and I also liked the mother and daughter relationship a lot.
That being said, just as everything started rolling and getting interesting it ended... what? I was just getting into it after the slowish start and then BAM over.
This was so eerie and I loved the atmosphere. The small town vibes were *Chefs Kiss*.
The characters were also really intriguing for me, they were not phenomenal or anything but were differentiable enough for me to appreciate each one and I also liked the mother and daughter relationship a lot.
That being said, just as everything started rolling and getting interesting it ended... what? I was just getting into it after the slowish start and then BAM over.
review du 23/08/2023
i really liked this book, the characters and the setting, and would probably have given it more stars if it had an ending
i really liked this book, the characters and the setting, and would probably have given it more stars if it had an ending
Rating: 4/5 star
This was a really interesting read, I loved how eerie and atmospheric it was. I found myself flying through this book, eagerly wondering where the story was going and desperate to find out what was going to happen next. Unfortunately, I really wish I didn't read the synopsis as so much of the mystery was spoiled.
This is one of those "weird" books that is going to be pretty polarizing, similarly to Wilder Girls by Rory Powers. I did enjoy how open-ended it was, though there is always a tiny part that wishes the remaining questions were answered. One thing I love about the horror genre is that the "is it real or supernatural" question is genuinely up for debate. This book had so many moments that allow the reader to question what is and isn't real.
Katrina Leno does such a fantastic job weaving mental health in her books, and this book addresses so many issues, mainly grief, death of a parent, and pica (the eating of non-food items). Pica is one of those disorders that I remember learning about in my classes, but I don't think I've seen it in any media (other than My Strange Addiction). I thought Leno did a really great job highlighting the complexity of the disorder and wove it into the overarching narrative.
I thought Leno did a fantastic job highlight the importance of generational mental health. So many disorders have some sort of hereditary component and this is one of the few pieces of media I've seen actively highlight it.
Final Thoughts
This was a super compelling, eerie, weird book that is a fantastic October read. I don't think this book is for everybody, but if you're a fan of the open-ended weird titles, then definitely pick this one up!
TW/CW: death of a parent, grief, pica (paper, flowers, hair), past history of abuse, brief mention of animal cruelty/death, murder, & suicide
This was a really interesting read, I loved how eerie and atmospheric it was. I found myself flying through this book, eagerly wondering where the story was going and desperate to find out what was going to happen next. Unfortunately, I really wish I didn't read the synopsis as so much of the mystery was spoiled.
“It isn't always easy. Returning to the past.”
This is one of those "weird" books that is going to be pretty polarizing, similarly to Wilder Girls by Rory Powers. I did enjoy how open-ended it was, though there is always a tiny part that wishes the remaining questions were answered. One thing I love about the horror genre is that the "is it real or supernatural" question is genuinely up for debate. This book had so many moments that allow the reader to question what is and isn't real.
Katrina Leno does such a fantastic job weaving mental health in her books, and this book addresses so many issues, mainly grief, death of a parent, and pica (the eating of non-food items). Pica is one of those disorders that I remember learning about in my classes, but I don't think I've seen it in any media (other than My Strange Addiction). I thought Leno did a really great job highlighting the complexity of the disorder and wove it into the overarching narrative.
I thought Leno did a fantastic job highlight the importance of generational mental health. So many disorders have some sort of hereditary component and this is one of the few pieces of media I've seen actively highlight it.
Final Thoughts
This was a super compelling, eerie, weird book that is a fantastic October read. I don't think this book is for everybody, but if you're a fan of the open-ended weird titles, then definitely pick this one up!
this was so creepy i think i just found my new favorite author
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No