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literatureleaf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Difficulty level: 2.5/5
Rating: 3/5
Nathan, a devoted father and workworn city cop, Maddie, a passionate artist and doting mother, and Oliver, their big-hearted, if somewhat unusual, teenage son appear to be a normal, loving family. Yet, underneath this picturesque exterior, secrets lurk. Nathan is holding back the abuse he experienced at the hands of his father, Maddie is desperately seeking answers for the gaps in her childhood memories, and Oliver may just be a little more different than his parents bargained for.
When Nathan’s father dies and leaves his childhood house to him in the will, he moves his family to his hometown. As they settle in, Nathan sees things that aren’t there, Maddie loses chunks of time, and Oliver finds an unlikely friend in a neighborhood boy who appears to have secrets of his own. As the strange occurrences pile up, Nathan and Maddie realize that sinister forces are working against their family, and the key to stopping it may just lie in the truths that they’ve spent their lives running from.
Like a Russian nesting doll, The Book of Accidents unveils the grander horror through interconnected bits and pieces that slowly come together to form the bigger picture. Invoking intense dread and unease in the reader as the sense that something is very wrong becomes clearer, you will be screaming at the characters, hoping against all hope to warn them that something bad is coming.
A tour-de-force in in the utilization of horror as a vehicle for exploring grief, generational trauma, and interfamilial relationships, The Book of Accidents doesn’t hold back from examining the gritty, uncomfortable details surrounding the seedy underbelly of domestic life that humanity shies away from. Shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of love, empathy, and family, Wendig excels at reminding the reader that the world is far from a peaceful place, even in your own backyard.
Despite the emotional magnitude that lingers amongst the pages, the character depth that is needed for a book of this caliber to feel complete is missing. The cast feels too similar to one another in all the ways that matter, and the everyday family dynamics are stilted and unnatural, lending to the feeling of never quite being able to forget that you’re reading a story about fictional people and are not actively enmeshed in the horrors that they’re going through.
Wendig’s talent shines through in his plot and pacing, but he suffers from a lack of direction. At times he zeroes in on vivid imagery, beautiful scenery, and the intensity of the emotions his characters are experiencing, which paints an intricate, palpable picture. However, there are other instances where he attempts to use humor or pop culture references as comic relief, which falls flat, creating the impression that he is undercutting his own writing and cheapening the story.
An intense probe into how our childhoods impact who we grow into, and how that affects our own children, and then their children later down the line, The Book of Accidents serves as a stark reminder that we are not what happened to us, but rather who we choose to become. Lingering long after the final page is closed, this book shows us that, through empathy, healing, and love, we have the power to overcome our trauma and be better than those who came before us
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Cursing
Minor: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
aparker89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Stalking, Addiction, Body horror, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mlashley's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual violence and Pedophilia
kbio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident, Mass/school shootings, and Cancer
hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Homophobia, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Drug use
The minor warnings are ones that are mentioned in passing. I want to say there was an f slur thrown around a couple of times but I can’t fully remember.kaywhiteley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Bullying, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Animal death, and Body horror
Minor: Car accident, Vomit, and Sexual assault
iamastraythought's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I was afraid of this book going in to it, I hadn't read anything this daunting in a long time, closest I got was Hell Bent, and just the sheer size of it had me wary.
I'm glad I pushed through that fear. This book was spectacular. It reminded me a bit of the show Dark, a bit of Interstellar, and a tiny bit of It. I usually don't go for tales of apocalypse, but this was different, was unique in a way that kept me on my toes. I almost saw what was coming, but couldn't quite guess, and that, too, kept me intrigued.
Graphic: Cursing, Murder, Death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Child death, Gaslighting, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Gore, Torture, Cancer, Gun violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Excrement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, Child death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
maryellen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Bullying, Murder, Confinement, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
charlottesreadingweb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Addiction, and Adult/minor relationship
jaedia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Still, there were some great moments and Chuck is definitely a great writer. If you go into this one, just drop any expectations you have.
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Child death, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Torture, and Drug use