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kindaspooky_reads's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
2.0
This little 110 page transgressive novella was bizarre, and kinda bleak.
I found this a little boring… a little sad… a little gorey- but nonetheless, just another read to tick off the list.
I found myself getting distracted by the story, that was in this story…
K, byyyee.
grimscribe114's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
smeejdeej's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up at Powell's Books in Portland specifically because of the cover and the formatting of the text within. I'm a proponent of weird formatting and transgressive literature both in content and presentation, and this fits the bill for both. What started out as an intriguing read devolved into something pretty uneventful as it lumbered on. The point of view main character is a typical disgusting loser and isn't all that interesting. I wish this had more to say, but at least it was short.
marcushawke's review
2.0
Clearly the author was going for something dark and twisted here, but far too frequently overdoes it; and I don’t even mean with the subject matter which involves everything from self-immolation to bukkake paper mache.
No, in the sense that the author, herself a first-person omniscient character in the story, indulges in elements meant to be seen as inventive but just come off as clumsy, like naming a chapter with a one-sentence summary of what happens in that chapter. Or by making a point of straying off on a tangent, pausing, breaking the fourth wall – not as the main character mind you, as herself – and practically shaking the reader when something happens as if to say “Hey, you’re supposed to find this disturbing and see me as a horrible person for putting the character through this” which isn’t far off from actual written text in the book. Well, it’s disturbing alright but not in the way intended since all it does is shake the reader out of the story time and again. Too bad, because had it been used with some measure of moderation, it may have allowed the reader to invest fully in the story of a tragic, dysfunctional, unreliable narrator being told between each nudge of the elbow from his unreliable author.
No, in the sense that the author, herself a first-person omniscient character in the story, indulges in elements meant to be seen as inventive but just come off as clumsy, like naming a chapter with a one-sentence summary of what happens in that chapter. Or by making a point of straying off on a tangent, pausing, breaking the fourth wall – not as the main character mind you, as herself – and practically shaking the reader when something happens as if to say “Hey, you’re supposed to find this disturbing and see me as a horrible person for putting the character through this” which isn’t far off from actual written text in the book. Well, it’s disturbing alright but not in the way intended since all it does is shake the reader out of the story time and again. Too bad, because had it been used with some measure of moderation, it may have allowed the reader to invest fully in the story of a tragic, dysfunctional, unreliable narrator being told between each nudge of the elbow from his unreliable author.
pacardullo's review
4.0
Another great bit of weird fiction from Nicole Cushing. Metafictional, creepy, funny, and disturbing - it is well worth a read.
marcushawke's review against another edition
2.0
Clearly the author was going for something dark and twisted here, but far too frequently overdoes it; and I don’t even mean with the subject matter which involves everything from self-immolation to bukkake paper mache.
No, in the sense that the author, herself a first-person omniscient character in the story, indulges in elements meant to be seen as inventive but just come off as clumsy, like naming a chapter with a one-sentence summary of what happens in that chapter. Or by making a point of straying off on a tangent, pausing, breaking the fourth wall – not as the main character mind you, as herself – and practically shaking the reader when something happens as if to say “Hey, you’re supposed to find this disturbing and see me as a horrible person for putting the character through this” which isn’t far off from actual written text in the book. Well, it’s disturbing alright but not in the way intended since all it does is shake the reader out of the story time and again. Too bad, because had it been used with some measure of moderation, it may have allowed the reader to invest fully in the story of a tragic, dysfunctional, unreliable narrator being told between each nudge of the elbow from his unreliable author.
No, in the sense that the author, herself a first-person omniscient character in the story, indulges in elements meant to be seen as inventive but just come off as clumsy, like naming a chapter with a one-sentence summary of what happens in that chapter. Or by making a point of straying off on a tangent, pausing, breaking the fourth wall – not as the main character mind you, as herself – and practically shaking the reader when something happens as if to say “Hey, you’re supposed to find this disturbing and see me as a horrible person for putting the character through this” which isn’t far off from actual written text in the book. Well, it’s disturbing alright but not in the way intended since all it does is shake the reader out of the story time and again. Too bad, because had it been used with some measure of moderation, it may have allowed the reader to invest fully in the story of a tragic, dysfunctional, unreliable narrator being told between each nudge of the elbow from his unreliable author.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Harry keeps coming to visit Nicole so often, she had to write a book about him, and here it is. A twisted tale like NO other!
THE HALF-FREAKS defies neat genre labels; part character study, part weird tale, part awkwardly funny, it's hard to describe. Despite Harry vehemently stating often that he's no psycho like Norman Bates, (Nah! Nah!) he is still living with his mother, but he isn't a murderer. Or is he?
When his mother dies, Harry is forced to take part in the world, dealing with the hospital morgue and a less than savory funeral director. It's all way over his head..but not far enough so that he's going to let himself be ripped off.
Despite many disgusting traits, (this book delves deeply into them), there was something about Harry I found compelling. Even during his most repulsive actions, my eyes were glued to the page to see how it would all end up. I've been a fan of Nicole's work for a while now, and if this was any other author, I might have put this book down during an especially revolting moment Harry was having...with himself. But I trusted the author to bring it all home, which she did, just not in the way I expected.
Overall, THE HALF-FREAKS is guaranteed to be like nothing you've ever read before. Take that as a dare, if you will. I did!
Highly recommended!
Find out more and pre-order a copy, here: https://vastarien-journal.com/the-half-freaks/
*Thanks to Grimscribe Press for the paperback ARC of this novella in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
THE HALF-FREAKS defies neat genre labels; part character study, part weird tale, part awkwardly funny, it's hard to describe. Despite Harry vehemently stating often that he's no psycho like Norman Bates, (Nah! Nah!) he is still living with his mother, but he isn't a murderer. Or is he?
When his mother dies, Harry is forced to take part in the world, dealing with the hospital morgue and a less than savory funeral director. It's all way over his head..but not far enough so that he's going to let himself be ripped off.
Despite many disgusting traits, (this book delves deeply into them), there was something about Harry I found compelling. Even during his most repulsive actions, my eyes were glued to the page to see how it would all end up. I've been a fan of Nicole's work for a while now, and if this was any other author, I might have put this book down during an especially revolting moment Harry was having...with himself. But I trusted the author to bring it all home, which she did, just not in the way I expected.
Overall, THE HALF-FREAKS is guaranteed to be like nothing you've ever read before. Take that as a dare, if you will. I did!
Highly recommended!
Find out more and pre-order a copy, here: https://vastarien-journal.com/the-half-freaks/
*Thanks to Grimscribe Press for the paperback ARC of this novella in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
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