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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I liked the vibes of the nightmare, the nonsensical horror of a shifting, inescapable school and all it contains. Other than that, it didn't connect with me
Side note that I couldn't stop hearing the Jeffrey Vines in my head with how many times she repeated his name
Side note that I couldn't stop hearing the Jeffrey Vines in my head with how many times she repeated his name
whoa, that was intense and absolutely heartbreaking. I loved the visuals that the author gave us of the different students that were trapped within the school. How the school changed the rooms and hallway, like it was a moving, living, breathing thing, changing the rooms and hallway. I loved the way this was written where our MC is remembering things little by little but doesn't understand how they fit into the issues she is dealing with now until the end. But when you find out WHY the kids are all trapped in the school.. your heartbreaks. As I said this was an intense book, and I will defiantly be thinking about it later.
CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS
CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS
August 28
No longer a favorite because the more I thought about it, the more I disliked the book. It was only when I described this book to a friend that I realized how nihilistic and hopeless the tone was. The only meaning I got out of it is that bullying and violence are bad, which I did not have to read this to know. I feel like the author was just making money off a story about blood, gore, and a school shooting. For more hopeful horror story featuring teenagers facing off against mass violence, read [b:Clown in a Cornfield|49046268|Clown in a Cornfield (Clown in a Cornfield, #1)|Adam Cesare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575446739l/49046268._SY75_.jpg|71289195] by [a:Adam Cesare|5623119|Adam Cesare|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1349540416p2/5623119.jpg]. If you are still interested in reading this book, read my initial review for content warnings and an overview of what you are getting in to....
August 3
The first thing that draws you into this book is the cover, isn't it? A girl in a black body suit wearing a white cat mask, holding a red and gold flower that seems to glow and framed by smaller blue flowers. You're in for an eerie but beautiful horror story.
I would describe the tone of the book as eerie, but nothing about it was beautiful. The copyright page provides some content warnings: "School bullying and violence, mention of eating disorders, and scenes of gore, blood, and death." Please take these warning to heart, especially about the gore and blood, especially in the last 75 pages. But that's not all. There is homophobia, racism, cat calling, body horror, murder, dismemberment, and a school shooting. This book is not for everyone.
But this book was for me.
Katzenjammer is a story in two parts, told in alternating chapters. One part, told in the present, is Cat's search for a murderer and, hopefully, an escape from School. The second part, told in memories, are Cat's high school experiences with bullying and her best friend now boyfriend, Jeffery. The first part is eerie, just the right amount of scary and gory, and I was invested in Cat's and Jeffery's relationship and Cat's investigation. The second part really made me emphasize with Cat, and I was looking for clues or foreshadowing that would later lead to a solution.
Cat, her best friend Jeffery, and her classmates have been trapped in School for who knows how long. Every clock is different, the sky above the courtyard is always a bright white, and the doors and windows leading outside have disappeared. Hallways change position, and they change shape with School's breathing. They expand so wide that there is only darkness in front and behind, then constrict so tightly that the light is blinding as students crawl through, then expand again. Jake and his gang of followers have barricaded themselves inside the offices. They're hiding from Cat, Jeffery, and the rest that have started to Change. The Changed are fewer in number each day as some of them get lost in School's hallways and disappear, but when one of their own is murdered, Cat uses the clues around her to track down and kill the killer. At the same time, she searches her memories to remember how they all got there. If there's a way in, there's a way out right?
No longer a favorite because the more I thought about it, the more I disliked the book. It was only when I described this book to a friend that I realized how nihilistic and hopeless the tone was. The only meaning I got out of it is that bullying and violence are bad, which I did not have to read this to know. I feel like the author was just making money off a story about blood, gore, and a school shooting. For more hopeful horror story featuring teenagers facing off against mass violence, read [b:Clown in a Cornfield|49046268|Clown in a Cornfield (Clown in a Cornfield, #1)|Adam Cesare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575446739l/49046268._SY75_.jpg|71289195] by [a:Adam Cesare|5623119|Adam Cesare|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1349540416p2/5623119.jpg]. If you are still interested in reading this book, read my initial review for content warnings and an overview of what you are getting in to....
August 3
The first thing that draws you into this book is the cover, isn't it? A girl in a black body suit wearing a white cat mask, holding a red and gold flower that seems to glow and framed by smaller blue flowers. You're in for an eerie but beautiful horror story.
I would describe the tone of the book as eerie, but nothing about it was beautiful. The copyright page provides some content warnings: "School bullying and violence, mention of eating disorders, and scenes of gore, blood, and death." Please take these warning to heart, especially about the gore and blood, especially in the last 75 pages. But that's not all. There is homophobia, racism, cat calling, body horror, murder, dismemberment, and a school shooting. This book is not for everyone.
But this book was for me.
Katzenjammer is a story in two parts, told in alternating chapters. One part, told in the present, is Cat's search for a murderer and, hopefully, an escape from School. The second part, told in memories, are Cat's high school experiences with bullying and her best friend now boyfriend, Jeffery. The first part is eerie, just the right amount of scary and gory, and I was invested in Cat's and Jeffery's relationship and Cat's investigation. The second part really made me emphasize with Cat, and I was looking for clues or foreshadowing that would later lead to a solution.
Cat, her best friend Jeffery, and her classmates have been trapped in School for who knows how long. Every clock is different, the sky above the courtyard is always a bright white, and the doors and windows leading outside have disappeared. Hallways change position, and they change shape with School's breathing. They expand so wide that there is only darkness in front and behind, then constrict so tightly that the light is blinding as students crawl through, then expand again. Jake and his gang of followers have barricaded themselves inside the offices. They're hiding from Cat, Jeffery, and the rest that have started to Change. The Changed are fewer in number each day as some of them get lost in School's hallways and disappear, but when one of their own is murdered, Cat uses the clues around her to track down and kill the killer. At the same time, she searches her memories to remember how they all got there. If there's a way in, there's a way out right?
Spoiler
There is no way out.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual harassment
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
The feeling of Mirrormask in a book. It's beautiful and tragic and I'm so glad it's out in the world.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[4.5 stars rounded up.]
This book wrecked me, which I kind of thought it would. It handles topics I'm pretty sensitive to, so going in, I thought I was prepared. I was still not as prepared as I may have wanted to be, so I would really recommend checking out content warnings for this book. These include: bullying, homophobia, and violence.
This is a heavy, sad book. It's experimental in the way that it portrays horror, as some students are changing in horrific ways. The main character's face is a cat mask and she has no eyes. One character has a cardboard head. Another, a tentacle. It's an interesting premise, especially coupled with the fact that they're locked in the school with a group of "unchanged" students who are terrified of changing themselves and willing to do whatever it takes to not have that happen. I love body horror, so this really worked for me, even though it was quite strange.
The story is divided between two timelines: the MC (Cat) in the school now, and past reflections on the main character's life from middle school to sophomore year––particularly following her relationship with her best friend, Jeffrey. This story was so successful for me because I cared about Cat so much. I found her to be relatable, and I just really wanted her to be okay. Flashing back and forth between these two timelines happens quickly, as the chapters are fairly short, which makes this a read you can probably finish in one or two sittings.
I do think one element of the story needed, perhaps, a bit more connection to the plot. Even though I knew it was coming, once it was revealed I was like....I knew you were coming and yet you still feel maybe a little bit out of place.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I hesitantly recommend it, again, because of the content. If it's not something that will trigger you, and you're into experimental, weird books that are also touching––I would recommend checking this out.
I have to talk about, here, a moment that really affected me. It gives away the end, so only read if you've read it, or if you don't care about spoilers.
This book wrecked me, which I kind of thought it would. It handles topics I'm pretty sensitive to, so going in, I thought I was prepared. I was still not as prepared as I may have wanted to be, so I would really recommend checking out content warnings for this book. These include: bullying, homophobia, and violence.
Spoiler
Big content warning, which is also a plot spoiler if you don't want to know but: school shootings.This is a heavy, sad book. It's experimental in the way that it portrays horror, as some students are changing in horrific ways. The main character's face is a cat mask and she has no eyes. One character has a cardboard head. Another, a tentacle. It's an interesting premise, especially coupled with the fact that they're locked in the school with a group of "unchanged" students who are terrified of changing themselves and willing to do whatever it takes to not have that happen. I love body horror, so this really worked for me, even though it was quite strange.
The story is divided between two timelines: the MC (Cat) in the school now, and past reflections on the main character's life from middle school to sophomore year––particularly following her relationship with her best friend, Jeffrey. This story was so successful for me because I cared about Cat so much. I found her to be relatable, and I just really wanted her to be okay. Flashing back and forth between these two timelines happens quickly, as the chapters are fairly short, which makes this a read you can probably finish in one or two sittings.
I do think one element of the story needed, perhaps, a bit more connection to the plot. Even though I knew it was coming, once it was revealed I was like....I knew you were coming and yet you still feel maybe a little bit out of place.
Spoiler
I'm talking, here, of the actually moment when we learn Cat died in a school shooting. It felt a bit disjointed from the main plot and where it was going, which makes sense, because that reflects real life. I just wonder if there could have been even more small easter eggs thrown in before, as there were with what the killer was wearing, comments people made, etc.Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I hesitantly recommend it, again, because of the content. If it's not something that will trigger you, and you're into experimental, weird books that are also touching––I would recommend checking this out.
I have to talk about, here, a moment that really affected me. It gives away the end, so only read if you've read it, or if you don't care about spoilers.
Spoiler
There's a moment at the end when Cat asks her past self if there's no second chance, no do-over, because we see that so often in media. And younger Cat has to sadly tell her no, there isn't. And Cat reflects on all the wasted potential of her life, and Jeffrey's, because of Ryan, and it's just so fucking sad. It was so well done and instantly made me reflect on the shootings we continue to have in America.
I loved Eliza and Her Monsters, and the first page of this book caught my eye, so I was disappointed when I didn't like this book. Maybe it's just Not My Thing; it's quirky and weird and bloody, which I like, but I feel like the surrealism wasn't handled well enough -- at least in writing -- that I just couldn't get into it. I didn't really find Cat an interesting or consistent character, nor did any of the others appeal to me. As literature, I just couldn't get into this book or the backstory behind the weirdness.
I will say that while I was reading this, I kept thinking it would make a great video game along the lines of a Cuphead/Resident Evil-esque merger.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I will say that while I was reading this, I kept thinking it would make a great video game along the lines of a Cuphead/Resident Evil-esque merger.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely not my favorite of Zappia’s books but I think I understand what she was trying to say with this one.
Definitely check out the trigger warnings if you are a sensitive reader. I wouldn’t let my kids read this until they are much older. It’s very violent.
Definitely check out the trigger warnings if you are a sensitive reader. I wouldn’t let my kids read this until they are much older. It’s very violent.
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No