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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
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I read this book in THREE DAYS, as I was attempting to get it in before the premiere of its TV Series on Apple TV. Whelp, I did it. I'm happy to report it was easier than I believed. This book is short, but dense. The language used was succinct and purposeful. For a heavy leaning toward fairy tale, no words were superfluous. If this is Lavalle's natural writing style, I'm with it. Oh, yes, this is my first Lavalle book, but he'd been on a radar for some time. I was actually going to start with Lone Women, but...
This is a wonderful Adult Fairy Tale, there is horror, and an adventure, and more importantly, a message. Following the way of Aesop's Fable this tale left me, the reader, shaking my head saying, 'I will never...' and it also left me believing a bit more in the innate magic within. I'm also reminded
to be VERY careful for what you wish for.
I fell in love with our main character, Apollo (I cannot wait to see Lakeith S in this role. I'm already in love). Lavalle writes Apollo so richly. He is the definition of a 'good man', and his feelings oozed out of this book. Everything he felt, I felt. So many times I wanted to hug this man! OMG! I'm slightly miffed at Lavalle for putting this man through more than any good man should have to endure. But what kept me reading, even when pacing and location became a bit muddied, was I needed to ensure Apollo was ok, and if NOTHING else, HE needed to make it out alive.
The book is almost easily separated into three sections. The first third of the story, there's this impending doom and feeling of unease. Then around 1/3 of the way through, Lavalle takes you on his first rollercoaster. The chills and horror seemingly come out of nowhere. I love that I felt it coming, but when it arrived I was shooketh. Emily, Apollo's wife cuts an interesting character. I disliked her and absolutely didn't trust her. I love when an author sends me on a merry red herring. Almost every thought I had, initially, about our main characters were proven so wrong. And the truth was so much better than my assumptions.
My only flaw with this book, I lost track of time and space. Once the adventure begins, I could no longer tell where or when we were. Are we still in New York, some fantastical magical plane... not sure. The last third of this book dives heavily into fantasy, it's good fantasy, it's just muddied how we got there. Made me feel as if I missed some passage or piece of the puzzle. Ultimately I just went along with it, but I felt lost.
I'm excited to have experienced Lavalle's writing and I was honored to witness and engage in a panel discussion with him. To hear more of his incentives and theories filled in so many gaps I had from reading. I'm pretty positive that the show will fill in the rest.
I read this book in THREE DAYS, as I was attempting to get it in before the premiere of its TV Series on Apple TV. Whelp, I did it. I'm happy to report it was easier than I believed. This book is short, but dense. The language used was succinct and purposeful. For a heavy leaning toward fairy tale, no words were superfluous. If this is Lavalle's natural writing style, I'm with it. Oh, yes, this is my first Lavalle book, but he'd been on a radar for some time. I was actually going to start with Lone Women, but...
This is a wonderful Adult Fairy Tale, there is horror, and an adventure, and more importantly, a message. Following the way of Aesop's Fable this tale left me, the reader, shaking my head saying, 'I will never...' and it also left me believing a bit more in the innate magic within. I'm also reminded
to be VERY careful for what you wish for.
I fell in love with our main character, Apollo (I cannot wait to see Lakeith S in this role. I'm already in love). Lavalle writes Apollo so richly. He is the definition of a 'good man', and his feelings oozed out of this book. Everything he felt, I felt. So many times I wanted to hug this man! OMG! I'm slightly miffed at Lavalle for putting this man through more than any good man should have to endure. But what kept me reading, even when pacing and location became a bit muddied, was I needed to ensure Apollo was ok, and if NOTHING else, HE needed to make it out alive.
The book is almost easily separated into three sections. The first third of the story, there's this impending doom and feeling of unease. Then around 1/3 of the way through, Lavalle takes you on his first rollercoaster. The chills and horror seemingly come out of nowhere. I love that I felt it coming, but when it arrived I was shooketh. Emily, Apollo's wife cuts an interesting character. I disliked her and absolutely didn't trust her. I love when an author sends me on a merry red herring. Almost every thought I had, initially, about our main characters were proven so wrong. And the truth was so much better than my assumptions.
My only flaw with this book, I lost track of time and space. Once the adventure begins, I could no longer tell where or when we were. Are we still in New York, some fantastical magical plane... not sure. The last third of this book dives heavily into fantasy, it's good fantasy, it's just muddied how we got there. Made me feel as if I missed some passage or piece of the puzzle. Ultimately I just went along with it, but I felt lost.
I'm excited to have experienced Lavalle's writing and I was honored to witness and engage in a panel discussion with him. To hear more of his incentives and theories filled in so many gaps I had from reading. I'm pretty positive that the show will fill in the rest.
A modern-day fairytale set in New York. Dark. Imaginative. Themes revolve around parenthood, gender, social media. Motifs involve fairytales, basements, fire/water. Short chapters keep the story moving at a good pace. One chapter in particular literally had my upper lip twitching in shock.
The only reason I’m hesitant to give this 5 stars is because of Emma. Based on the final chapters, I don’t think the author fully understood or respected the powerful force of the character he created in Emma.
The only reason I’m hesitant to give this 5 stars is because of Emma. Based on the final chapters, I don’t think the author fully understood or respected the powerful force of the character he created in Emma.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
okay it was crazy and awesome and not to nitpick but i just wish certain events were fleshed out more. but shit was crazy
4.5. I’m going with the Goodreads 5, because there are some unjustified low ratings. I think some were put off by the shift in tone about 60% in. It’s kind of a brilliant ploy. We get well-attuned to Apollo’s inner dialogue, including all his insecurities about fatherhood and his desperation to be the parent his own dad wasn’t. It reads like straight literary fiction. Then abruptly we’re catapulted into a wickedly macabre fairy tale. It really worked for me. The sleepy first half feeds into the trauma of the second. That’s the best kind of horror to me. The kind that takes the time to lay its protagonists open so the reader connects with their shortcomings.
Some of the prose is awkward. It reminded me a little of Paul Tremblay, whose language reads as very self-aware. Both writers are such good storytellers that I can look past it. There are also a number of odd plot points that go unexplained, but I think that doesn’t hurt a story like this. I never had any idea where it was going. It kept me chomping at the bit all the way to the end. Such a fun read.
Some of the prose is awkward. It reminded me a little of Paul Tremblay, whose language reads as very self-aware. Both writers are such good storytellers that I can look past it. There are also a number of odd plot points that go unexplained, but I think that doesn’t hurt a story like this. I never had any idea where it was going. It kept me chomping at the bit all the way to the end. Such a fun read.
Fantastic, creepy (in a good way) and just generally awesome. Recommend for people who enjoy Neil Gaiman.
Wildly imaginative!
Lavalle’s brand of magical realism has a modern feel that fits in beautifully with his writing style.
I especially liked his metaphors about fatherhood and parenthood.
Also, I want to make Patrice’s crock pot chicken recipe!
Lavalle’s brand of magical realism has a modern feel that fits in beautifully with his writing style.
I especially liked his metaphors about fatherhood and parenthood.
Also, I want to make Patrice’s crock pot chicken recipe!
