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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was painful to read. After about 50 pages, I admit to reading spoiler reviews to decide if I should finish it. The deciding factor was that the last ~20% of the book sounded like what I wanted 100% of the book to be, so I speed-read until it got better.
I chose this book because I like literary fiction, and I wanted to take a break from my scifi/fantasy pile. After browsing some recent releases and deciding to take a chance on a contemporary piece, I picked this one since it seemed kind of whimsical and abstract. (And it was $2 on Google Play Books.)
Pros:
- The last bit is so interesting. The narration mingles together reality and delusion. The plot happens, the emotions come out. The writing feels elevated, metaphors finally meaning anything impactful. If the last part existed on its own, I'd have given it four stars.
- The themes of denial and discontent are very relatable and very profound, especially in the pandemic setting and publishing context of the book. The disillusionment with exploitive systems is also very compelling. Thumbs up for meaningful topics.
Cons:
- The first 75% is a brutal slog. Way, way too many pages of self-absorbed routine. Miserable. Feels like an amateur, immature, pity-party journal rather than a novel.
- The main character (and the only POV) is ****I.N.S.U.F.F.E.R.A.B.L.E****. She has literally zero redeeming qualities. ZERO. And it's not JUST that I think she's a cruel, pathetic moron. She's also an excessively flat character. There's no growth. There's no arc. It's just "She's shitty, some shitty things happen, and wow big surprise: she's still shitty." Her whole unpleasant existence feels like a way to troll and rage-bait the reader.
- The branding of this book is very misleading. The literal description of the book includes words like "mythical, mesmerizing, and magical." Reviews somehow claim that it's "Brothers Grimm"-ish, "fairy-tale"-like, or "fantasy"-adjacent. Could not be further from the truth. It has a persistent metaphor, a delusional character, a formulaic setup, and a little dream-sequence imagery. That's not enough. Again, the whole thing feels like a way to troll/rage-bait readers.
- Very little screen time for the bear. :(
I guess I'm glad I finished it just to have gotten SOMEthing out of the time investment. But for now, my little foray into contemporary fiction was a mistake. Hopefully I'll choose more wisely in the future.
I chose this book because I like literary fiction, and I wanted to take a break from my scifi/fantasy pile. After browsing some recent releases and deciding to take a chance on a contemporary piece, I picked this one since it seemed kind of whimsical and abstract. (And it was $2 on Google Play Books.)
Pros:
- The last bit is so interesting. The narration mingles together reality and delusion. The plot happens, the emotions come out. The writing feels elevated, metaphors finally meaning anything impactful. If the last part existed on its own, I'd have given it four stars.
- The themes of denial and discontent are very relatable and very profound, especially in the pandemic setting and publishing context of the book. The disillusionment with exploitive systems is also very compelling. Thumbs up for meaningful topics.
Cons:
- The first 75% is a brutal slog. Way, way too many pages of self-absorbed routine. Miserable. Feels like an amateur, immature, pity-party journal rather than a novel.
- The main character (and the only POV) is ****I.N.S.U.F.F.E.R.A.B.L.E****. She has literally zero redeeming qualities. ZERO. And it's not JUST that I think she's a cruel, pathetic moron. She's also an excessively flat character. There's no growth. There's no arc. It's just "She's shitty, some shitty things happen, and wow big surprise: she's still shitty." Her whole unpleasant existence feels like a way to troll and rage-bait the reader.
- The branding of this book is very misleading. The literal description of the book includes words like "mythical, mesmerizing, and magical." Reviews somehow claim that it's "Brothers Grimm"-ish, "fairy-tale"-like, or "fantasy"-adjacent. Could not be further from the truth. It has a persistent metaphor, a delusional character, a formulaic setup, and a little dream-sequence imagery. That's not enough. Again, the whole thing feels like a way to troll/rage-bait readers.
- Very little screen time for the bear. :(
I guess I'm glad I finished it just to have gotten SOMEthing out of the time investment. But for now, my little foray into contemporary fiction was a mistake. Hopefully I'll choose more wisely in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death, Abortion
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The relationship between the sisters is fascinating. The main character assumes she knows everything about her sister and that they want the same things. There’s also an underlying mistrust of authority, and much to analyze about women feeling drawn to men (and bears) who may not be safe.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced