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kissophob1c's review against another edition
4.0
I finished this book in one sitting. The pacing, characters and simple language of the book remain consistent throughout so reading it at once feels like the only way it's meant to be read.
The setting (at a funeral home) is relatively unexplored in books (at least the ones I've read) and a few of the more forgettable details like that made the book so much more impactful.
The revelations did come as a shock while reading but it was written well enough not to seem like they had been pulled out of nowhere just to shake up the reader and break the flow.
The story and characters lend themselves to riveting observations sprinkled throughout.
Something I don't notice in other books I read--but did in this one, were the analogies and metaphors used in the language that kept its simplicity from turning monotonous.
The setting (at a funeral home) is relatively unexplored in books (at least the ones I've read) and a few of the more forgettable details like that made the book so much more impactful.
The revelations did come as a shock while reading but it was written well enough not to seem like they had been pulled out of nowhere just to shake up the reader and break the flow.
The story and characters lend themselves to riveting observations sprinkled throughout.
Something I don't notice in other books I read--but did in this one, were the analogies and metaphors used in the language that kept its simplicity from turning monotonous.
taraalami's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
yikesofikeso's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While the plot itself wasn’t always super engaging, I just love when a book can balance being dark and mysterious with genuine charm and hope. Every time something bad happens, there’s always someone there to help lend a hand or a kind word
morganjanedavis's review
3.0
3.5 Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It starts out slow and really picks up towards the middle. I assumed that this would be more of a supernatural story but, as it progressed it was evident that wasn't the case. The story really gets down to the meat of humanity and showcases this through real life events that are hard to cope with and work through in general, let alone by Aaron who is a young adult living in poverty, taking care of his declining Mam. The characters interactions are raw and authentic, making the story so much more believable and well thought out. While this is a short read, it definitely packs a punch and had such a feel-good ending for the main character to have endured so much throughout. My only issue is that there are some loose ends that didn't get tied up neatly and I'm not sure why. It sort of drives me crazy that they did not :-). If you want something short that reflects real life struggles, this is a good choice!
linuswickworth's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lozlox's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book! Take that 3 as a 3.5 if you will.
If asked to recall what I liked and what was memorable, I would praise the structure and the main character/narrator. Aaron was super believable: we know how he wants to be perceived, and we see him struggle to maintain that image of himself. Cool bloke, I liked him.
By 'structure' I'm referring to the cycle of Aaron's daily routine: waking up, work, going home. I learned what to expect, rarely breaking the routine, but I also learned to expect the cycle to get progressively worse. So for that, I'd say the tension builds nicely.
Other parts of this book underwhelmed me, unfortunately. I'm not rushing for a reread nor am I overly passionate but I do think about Aaron sometimes. He's not real, but I hope he's doing ok lol
If asked to recall what I liked and what was memorable, I would praise the structure and the main character/narrator. Aaron was super believable: we know how he wants to be perceived, and we see him struggle to maintain that image of himself. Cool bloke, I liked him.
By 'structure' I'm referring to the cycle of Aaron's daily routine: waking up, work, going home. I learned what to expect, rarely breaking the routine, but I also learned to expect the cycle to get progressively worse. So for that, I'd say the tension builds nicely.
Other parts of this book underwhelmed me, unfortunately. I'm not rushing for a reread nor am I overly passionate but I do think about Aaron sometimes. He's not real, but I hope he's doing ok lol
michellebuch's review
4.0
Great writing; backstory and protagonist's inner life not fully developed. Good dialogue.
bstaats's review
3.0
The Dead I Know is one of those books where it's nearly impossible to have an idea of what to expect without having read the book - it's mysterious, and not entirely clear where the story is going at first.
And while it isn't one that instantly made me fall in love, it did have its own charm that won me over in the end. A gritty yet hopeful story mixed with a fresh outlook on issues surrounding death make for a enjoyable read.
Reasons to Read:
1.A story with guts:
I loved that Scot Garnder wasn't afraid or hesitant to tackle some heavy issues with The Dead I Know. It took me a little while to really get into the flow of the story, but once I did I found myself questioning some of the same issues which Aaron struggled with regarding death and grief. These aren't easy issues to bring up, and I appreciated that they were handled carefully yet still remained poignant. I loved that this was a story with maturity, rather than just fluff.
2.A mystery that isn't overbearing:
I'm such a sucker for any sort of mystery plotline, but I liked that the one in The Dead I Know wasn't a typical whodunnit plot (although I enjoy those, too). In fact, it took me a little while to really figure out what the actual mystery was, and why it was so important to figure out what had happened.
3.But there's still something heartwarming:
But what I really loved about this story is that amidst all the ugliness, there's still optimism and hope. For every bad thing that happens, and every bad person, there's something (or someone) good to balance it out. I loved seeing all these kind and generous characters help out in their own little ways - it's something so reminiscent of real life, and it just made my heart glow to read about it.
That being said, I did feel a bit like the pacing was off for most of the story. It was a fairly slow book in terms of pace, and it isn't until the very end that things finally come together and you realize how important the build up was.
I also had a hard time relating to Aaron at times, because he felt so cold and distand and extremely mature for his age. It could be hard to pin down his character at times, but I think that was a crucial part of the story and of his development.
I do have to say though that I was so pleased with how unique this book felt; not entirely gritty, but a bit dark in its own way. Just enough to create its own bit of charm and stand on its own two feet as a fairly different type of YA book.
ARC received from Penguin Canada for blog tour; no other compensation was received.
And while it isn't one that instantly made me fall in love, it did have its own charm that won me over in the end. A gritty yet hopeful story mixed with a fresh outlook on issues surrounding death make for a enjoyable read.
Reasons to Read:
1.A story with guts:
I loved that Scot Garnder wasn't afraid or hesitant to tackle some heavy issues with The Dead I Know. It took me a little while to really get into the flow of the story, but once I did I found myself questioning some of the same issues which Aaron struggled with regarding death and grief. These aren't easy issues to bring up, and I appreciated that they were handled carefully yet still remained poignant. I loved that this was a story with maturity, rather than just fluff.
2.A mystery that isn't overbearing:
I'm such a sucker for any sort of mystery plotline, but I liked that the one in The Dead I Know wasn't a typical whodunnit plot (although I enjoy those, too). In fact, it took me a little while to really figure out what the actual mystery was, and why it was so important to figure out what had happened.
3.But there's still something heartwarming:
But what I really loved about this story is that amidst all the ugliness, there's still optimism and hope. For every bad thing that happens, and every bad person, there's something (or someone) good to balance it out. I loved seeing all these kind and generous characters help out in their own little ways - it's something so reminiscent of real life, and it just made my heart glow to read about it.
That being said, I did feel a bit like the pacing was off for most of the story. It was a fairly slow book in terms of pace, and it isn't until the very end that things finally come together and you realize how important the build up was.
I also had a hard time relating to Aaron at times, because he felt so cold and distand and extremely mature for his age. It could be hard to pin down his character at times, but I think that was a crucial part of the story and of his development.
I do have to say though that I was so pleased with how unique this book felt; not entirely gritty, but a bit dark in its own way. Just enough to create its own bit of charm and stand on its own two feet as a fairly different type of YA book.
ARC received from Penguin Canada for blog tour; no other compensation was received.