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melonfizz's review
2.0
“ I’m thirsty, it’s warm. Deserts of dust. Jungles. Dandelions on the wall. I’ve never touched a firearm. “
how was this 128 pages?? it honestly felt like so much longer because the pacing was off and the characters felt like cardboard caricatures with no true motivations underlying their actions. i kept waiting for plot that never happened, and while there were some memorable lines, in my opinion the prose was definitely not enough to make up for the overused plot and overall lack of direction.
this book also reads like the author has never met a woman. the way everyone reacts after Marie is SAed feels very strange and dismissive, and not in a way that adds any meaning to the story. Simon’s r-pe scene also felt pretty unnecessary, and both assaults were essentially explained away by the perpetrator’s traumas and personal weaknesses rather than being treated as the actual violations that they were. Alice’s character also annoyed me a lot, like oooh the mysterious pale quiet girl who hangs out by lakes and has a dark secret that nobody in the town knows, oooooh… -_-
how was this 128 pages?? it honestly felt like so much longer because the pacing was off and the characters felt like cardboard caricatures with no true motivations underlying their actions. i kept waiting for plot that never happened, and while there were some memorable lines, in my opinion the prose was definitely not enough to make up for the overused plot and overall lack of direction.
this book also reads like the author has never met a woman. the way everyone reacts after Marie is SAed feels very strange and dismissive, and not in a way that adds any meaning to the story. Simon’s r-pe scene also felt pretty unnecessary, and both assaults were essentially explained away by the perpetrator’s traumas and personal weaknesses rather than being treated as the actual violations that they were. Alice’s character also annoyed me a lot, like oooh the mysterious pale quiet girl who hangs out by lakes and has a dark secret that nobody in the town knows, oooooh… -_-
michaelakatelyn's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
4.0
very uneasy and atmospheric.
i loved the writing it really enhanced the emotional impact and the story’s exploration of grief.
i loved the writing it really enhanced the emotional impact and the story’s exploration of grief.
bookber's review against another edition
4.0
An eery atmospheric horror novella that felt very vivid and real, and kept me engaged the whole time. I loved the way that this was written, especially on the topic of grief and what that can do to a relationship, and I adored the ending.
Something about this story felt so cozy and comforting, but also odd and empty and unsettling at the same time? The atmosphere in this book felt so unique and expertly crafted. I just wish it was a tiny bit creepier, or for the antenna to have freaked me out more than it did. Other than that, I really loved this story and would highly recommend it.
Something about this story felt so cozy and comforting, but also odd and empty and unsettling at the same time? The atmosphere in this book felt so unique and expertly crafted. I just wish it was a tiny bit creepier, or for the antenna to have freaked me out more than it did. Other than that, I really loved this story and would highly recommend it.
lucazani11's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful reflection on the stunning grief of losing a child, presenting an atemporality which is exacerbated by the poignant use of the future tense
sayyayzel's review against another edition
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? No
3.5
ofdogwood's review against another edition
5.0
five stars. maybe six.
utterly captivating. i read this in two sittings within seven hours during a day with both work and school. from the very beginning i was intrigued. an interesting exploration of a couples grief, curiosity, and selfishness. characters to love all around. you learn why they get no peace and why they need peace but still want to know more. in the 125 pages you do learn the “more” that you want. everything ties up perfectly, neat and beautiful.
utterly captivating. i read this in two sittings within seven hours during a day with both work and school. from the very beginning i was intrigued. an interesting exploration of a couples grief, curiosity, and selfishness. characters to love all around. you learn why they get no peace and why they need peace but still want to know more. in the 125 pages you do learn the “more” that you want. everything ties up perfectly, neat and beautiful.
cowboybree's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child death
liltakeawaygirl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Death, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Ableism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
rexinpieces's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
This is a novella about a couple who can't seem to have a baby. They moved to a small town to start anew. It is categorized as horror; I kinda see why, but it's more literary fiction than horror, to be honest. Blurb is also misleading because I thought this was going to be a horror mystery, but it's far from it.
What I love about it is its exploration of grief, especially collective grief. It's a recurring theme in the book and shows how it affects the main characters and even the people in the small town. I also like how it is told from both perspectives of the husband and wife, as we see each of their thoughts when we finally get into their backstory.
I would have loved to see more of the mystery about the antenna and the birds because it seemed like the more interesting parts of the book, but I didn't understand because its lacking for me. Still, this was a good read overall. I'd give it 4 stars, but I took half off because of that misleading blurb.