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leeann20's review against another edition
2.0
I really was not a fan. I listened to the audio book and the reader was so good that I gave it 2 stars, otherwise I would have scored it zero. I wouldn't have finished it if not for hub challenge
kynderdrew's review against another edition
3.0
Whoever shelved this as YA must have tripped on the way to the Adult section and sustained a serious enough injury that they couldn't move their legs anymore, so they just left it where it fell. Because there is NO WAY this is YA.
Ok. So. Now that we've acknowledged the elephant in the room, the book: I actually liked it. Enjoyed it? No. It wasn't very enjoyable to get through, because some pretty gnarly stuff happened with not a lot of pay-out. But if you are looking for horror, then, no worries, you will be HORRIFIED. I definitely went into this thinking it was some sort of sci-fi thing (I think the whole meteor thing was what led me to believe that), so do not make the same mistake I did. This is not sci-fi. This is not YA. This is the-worst-of-humanity horror.
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was fantastic. I might not have gotten through it if I had read it, but the narrator brought a humanity to all the voices that really sold it. There is a part near the end where he does a whole monologue for Scowler and- I mean- it gave me shivers.
Ok. So. Now that we've acknowledged the elephant in the room, the book: I actually liked it. Enjoyed it? No. It wasn't very enjoyable to get through, because some pretty gnarly stuff happened with not a lot of pay-out. But if you are looking for horror, then, no worries, you will be HORRIFIED. I definitely went into this thinking it was some sort of sci-fi thing (I think the whole meteor thing was what led me to believe that), so do not make the same mistake I did. This is not sci-fi. This is not YA. This is the-worst-of-humanity horror.
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was fantastic. I might not have gotten through it if I had read it, but the narrator brought a humanity to all the voices that really sold it. There is a part near the end where he does a whole monologue for Scowler and- I mean- it gave me shivers.
tuna_fish's review against another edition
5.0
That was one messed up book. Like I kept on the thinking, the author isn't going to go there, is he? And then he does! And then I can't eat the rest of my macaroni because I've lost all my appetite for pasta because of one specific metaphor towards the end of the book that will haunt my nightmares!
papersquared's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
You know that commercial during the Super Bowl about the farmers that everyone loved? I didn't. In fact, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I had to walk away but I kept thinking about it, despite my efforts to stop.
It reminded me of this book. This book, set on a rundown farm in middle of nowhere Iowa. This book, turning my stomach with some of the descriptions of absolute mutilation. This book, which takes the childhood dependency on make-believe friends and turns it into something so comforting and so disturbing at the same time. This book, scaring the bejesus out of me and yet not letting me put it down. This book, making me so upset at the end that I swore at the author.
I still can't watch that commercial. And I don't think I'll be signing up for any farm trips any time soon. But I'll gobble up whatever Daniel Kraus wants to write.
You know that commercial during the Super Bowl about the farmers that everyone loved? I didn't. In fact, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I had to walk away but I kept thinking about it, despite my efforts to stop.
It reminded me of this book. This book, set on a rundown farm in middle of nowhere Iowa. This book, turning my stomach with some of the descriptions of absolute mutilation. This book, which takes the childhood dependency on make-believe friends and turns it into something so comforting and so disturbing at the same time. This book, scaring the bejesus out of me and yet not letting me put it down. This book, making me so upset at the end that I swore at the author.
I still can't watch that commercial. And I don't think I'll be signing up for any farm trips any time soon. But I'll gobble up whatever Daniel Kraus wants to write.
literary_princess's review against another edition
3.0
Viscerally horrific. Wow, what writing. What narrating. Not a book for everyone, but completely believable.
RA notes: language, seriously graphic abuse and murder, talk about sex but no actual sex, insanity
RA notes: language, seriously graphic abuse and murder, talk about sex but no actual sex, insanity
libraryanned's review against another edition
3.0
The audio book was really well done. That said, I had a hard time listening to it without feeling completely nauseous or completely grossed out by all of the overly descriptive, truly horrific scenes. I have never listened to anything quite so repulsive, and while it made sense in the context of the awful story, it still seemed gratuitous. As someone who watches horror movies without really flinching, that is saying something. I can't say I enjoyed it, which is why I rated it lowish, but I will say that it was impressive as I have rarely reacted to a book in that way.
amalieturner's review against another edition
2.0
This book is truly terrifying. I read it because after I bought it to put in my library (I'm a high school librarian) I read several reviews saying that it might not be suitable for all readers. Well, after reading it, I agree. There were parts of this novel that were so gruesome I had to put the book down just to settle my stomach before I could read on. I can definitely see how this could be disturbing to the wrong reader. As I was reading it was as if Scowler was getting into my own mind and not just Ry's. It makes me nervous to think this could be read by young, impressionable readers. I thought the book was okay. It's different from what I typically read but really I didn't enjoy it because it made me feel very uncomfortable a lot of the time. I love when a book can make you feel things while reading it but this particular book made me want to put it down I was so uncomfortable and it wasn't just gruesome images, it was the feeling that a sinister creature was crawling into your mind and whispering into your ear all the evil things it wants you to do. It was an interesting and very different kind of read and one that I will remember for a while but this book is one that really makes me cautious about who I will suggest it to in the future.
library_brandy's review
5.0
Loved loved loved this. Minor spoilers ahead.
When Ry was 10, he found his mother sewn to the mattress. After freeing her, he eluded his father for more than 16 hours, running through the dark, cold woods, guided and cajoled along by three toys he'd happened to have in his pockets: Mr. Furrington, Jesus Christ, and Scowler. When the ordeal was over and Marvin Burke in jail for what he'd done to his wife and son, those three stayed behind and continued to coach Ry.
With time and therapy, Ry was finally able to separate himself from the toys, to stop hearing their voices.
And then, all at once, there's the prison break. And the meteorite. And the return of the Unnamed Three. All at once, Ry Burke is pulled by the will and whims of several voices, not all of whom want the best for him.
Creepy and scary and depraved, in exactly the right proportions. I can make a case for it being kind of The Shining-esque (isolated setting, growing insanity) but there's so much more to it than that. Definitely upper high school (did I mention the depravity?) to adult, but fans of horror will not be disappointed.
When Ry was 10, he found his mother sewn to the mattress. After freeing her, he eluded his father for more than 16 hours, running through the dark, cold woods, guided and cajoled along by three toys he'd happened to have in his pockets: Mr. Furrington, Jesus Christ, and Scowler. When the ordeal was over and Marvin Burke in jail for what he'd done to his wife and son, those three stayed behind and continued to coach Ry.
With time and therapy, Ry was finally able to separate himself from the toys, to stop hearing their voices.
And then, all at once, there's the prison break. And the meteorite. And the return of the Unnamed Three. All at once, Ry Burke is pulled by the will and whims of several voices, not all of whom want the best for him.
Creepy and scary and depraved, in exactly the right proportions. I can make a case for it being kind of The Shining-esque (isolated setting, growing insanity) but there's so much more to it than that. Definitely upper high school (did I mention the depravity?) to adult, but fans of horror will not be disappointed.
iamastraythought's review against another edition
3.0
I think I skimmed most of it. I can say for sure that I hate when authors don't use English in their books. Or any real language in it. The way his dad would just start humming threw me off, and then Scowler came in and it got so much worse. It was a good book but I don't think I would read it again.
anteus7's review against another edition
2.0
Not for me. I only finished it because I was listening to it. I guess I'm more squeamish than I thought, if a YA novel can turn me off with its gore. I really don't see how this is a YA book, in any case. The second star is because the writing was mostly alright, and the beginning of the book intrigued me--good characters, good setting.
Still. Not for me. Way.
Still. Not for me. Way.