Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a fucking doozy. I think this is Chapman’s heaviest, and strongest, book yet. A ghost story, but also not a ghost story. A very real story about a very real kind of haunting wrapped up in ghost story packaging. I wouldn’t say this book scared me exactly, but it definitely made me feel lots of deep, dark feelings.
Imaginative. Dark. Frustrating at times but authentic. A captivating read. A twisty ride. Will be seeking out other works by this author.
I appreciated the haunting and ghost story mechanics of this story right away. I have a soft spot for southern Gothic tales, and it was easy to imagine how Richmond, Virginia's past played into the long, rich, and violent setting. I do wish for a bit more of an explanation on how the rest of the world was affected by the discovery of ghost eaters - it's alluded to, but we don't get many details.
Also... totally didn't see the "last of us" vibe coming my way
Also... totally didn't see the "last of us" vibe coming my way
I really liked most of this book, including the very ending; I particularly liked some of the gory and straight up horrifying imagery (the growing mold, the eyeballs, the desperate cannibalism, the basement mushrooms). It does however commit the fatal flaw of not trusting the reader to be smart enough and over explaining itself. You don’t need a thesis statement that ghosts are people’s addictions - we get it!! Could go without most of the epilogue tbh
I really enjoyed this one.
It’s dark and intense, touches on some heavy topics. I liked tagging along on Erin’s journey and seeing how deep she’d get pulled into the mess of things.
The ending was a bit meh, which is why I dropped it a star, but overall this was a good read.
It’s dark and intense, touches on some heavy topics. I liked tagging along on Erin’s journey and seeing how deep she’d get pulled into the mess of things.
The ending was a bit meh, which is why I dropped it a star, but overall this was a good read.
dark
emotional
medium-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
I was so hopeful for the premise but this one disappointed me. There were good ideas here - I love the idea of a city haunted by centuries of ghosts. I like the mechanics of Ghost. But while I don't mind unlikable characters, I don't buy this POV character skating into a coveted job or attending a swank catered party while sneering at everyone and not having one civil conversation. And the action was so disjointed and poorly established that couldn't even visualize what was happening at several crucial moments. As an aside, this is also pretty clearly written by a Gen X author who doesn't get that there aren't pay phones anymore, and 21st century lit students don't worship DeLillo and Pynchon. I kept leaving the story to shake my head. Oh well.
I love how many things this story is about. I love the one sided relationship and addiction threads. The dynamic between four college friends who are all very different but somehow meshed for their formative years, and what happens after.
I loved that, AND the grotesque, frightening, gritty, wild ride. I loved Erin's journey, learning about her upbringing and rebellion, exploring why she'd choose a guy like Silas, and the very believable progression of following a friend who has lost their path and drags you down with them, unwitting until it's far too late. There's *that* level, and then when it gets speculative and wild, the imagery just took my breath away.
I loved the twists, I loved how it felt like things got appropriately and progressively crazier every few steps The last few chapters are a TRIP. My favorite is probably the basement scene.
Not sure how to wrap this up other than read this!!
I loved that, AND the grotesque, frightening, gritty, wild ride. I loved Erin's journey, learning about her upbringing and rebellion, exploring why she'd choose a guy like Silas, and the very believable progression of following a friend who has lost their path and drags you down with them, unwitting until it's far too late. There's *that* level, and then when it gets speculative and wild, the imagery just took my breath away.
I loved the twists, I loved how it felt like things got appropriately and progressively crazier every few steps The last few chapters are a TRIP. My favorite is probably the basement scene.
Not sure how to wrap this up other than read this!!