Reviews with content warning for Car accident - Universal Harvester

all i can really say about this book is that it's definitely the kind of story you'd expect to see from the guy that wrote no children! i wasn't expecting it to be Like That going into it and i wasn't really prepared for all that but it's a great read if you want to feel sad and have a slight existential crisis 👍

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mikkitooloud's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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retswerb's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

If you’re looking for a horror book, Universal Harvester probably wont scratch that itch. It’s creepy, and there’s a bit of a mystery, but it’s really about people and a place and grief and relationships - observed by someone who loves that place and respects those people and their griefs and understands their relationships. Darnielle’s authorial voice is bound to be polarizing; I found it riveting. This one will stick with me for a bit.

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julianship's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

3.5 stars, but I would still recommend it for fans of found fiction or people who really loved reading creepypastas back in the day.

Anyone who's listened to a Mountain Goats song knows Darnielle is masterful at evoking an emotional landscape in very little room, and Universal Harvester doesn't disappoint on that front! It's full of quiet moments of character and deeply unsettling images. The whole book has an ache to it, and the relationship between Jeremy and his dad is particularly evocative.

That being said, the plot and structure don't deliver on the premise (mysteriously edited video tapes show up in the VHS rental store of a small town) and writing's initial promise, which is a shame. I don't mind a nontraditional narrative - in fact I often really love them! But parts of this feel rambling, and the switch to first person at the end doesn't pay off the way I really would like it to.

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mr_cain's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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carrionkid's review against another edition

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5.0

I'll admit, I picked this book up because I was familiar with Darnielle as a singer-songwriter, but it was WELL WORTH IT. A non-linear narrative is hard to pull off, but this one is crafted masterfully. The slow building dread is perfectly executed and the mystery surrounding the events happening in the small, sleepy towns of the Midwest is one created with great narrative care. Overall, a very stressful and cathartic book.

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witchycowboy's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

If you read this book there is two things to know.
1. This is not a horror story. I have no idea why it's even labled as such, but I think it's only because there is a mention of cults and creepy footage. But it still isn't enough that I would say this story is a horror, so if you go into think that. You will be let down.
2. This book is best as a audiobook. At least to me it was. Because this story is told in a way that if best spoke, rather than read. It just hits all the right beats, when someone is telling it to you.
With all that said, this is a good story. It's different and carries a tone that I enjoyed. It feels like when two friends sit down and one tells a big story.

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