Reviews

We Spread by Iain Reid

cpeters2384's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

Unique horror mystery told through the point of view of an older woman, would consider elderly, as she battles the changes in her body on set dementia vs maybe something sinister. We see her struggle as she adapts to living alone after losing her life partner. Slowly losing her independence, and perhaps her wits, she eventually finds herself in a group home where things are a bit bizarre. The others in the group act weirder over time and she begins to have momentary laps in time.

I enjoyed the different POV being an older person and the daily struggles most younger individuals take for granted. It was unfortunately too slow a pace for me to give it a higher rating. I typically go for more complex and dire reads and this was very cozy compared to my norm. Perfect for someone who wants a twist of lemon in their ice water.

 

oxvytocin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I was excited to read this book because older citizens have a soft spot in my heart and I would love to know what they were thinking - I used to work in multiple personal care homes. I could feel the loneliness of the character, I could feel how they are lucid but also lost at the same time. It was weird and surreal to read and think that they don't even feel old. It was a very fast read and I loved that, but my tiny brain could not comprehend the book as much as I would love to.

I wish I could understand why Penny was chose, or was chosen by her younger self to be there.

Anyways, I would definitely read a few more Ian Reid's to understand their writing better, maybe my rating will change then.

readingwmiles's review against another edition

4.0

3.5. i really enjoy Iain Reid's writing, but something just felt missing from this one. i did like the unique pov though.

fannysachet's review against another edition

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mgbarnes3's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

bgaura's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a tear jerker, man. What a beautiful book. This is why Iain is one of my all time favorites. It’s abstract and surreal yet, you can clearly understand what is happening. Dealing with the subject of the elderly and dying, something that we tend to ignore as a society. This book had a profound impact on my life and the way that I see death. I think I’ve given all three of his fiction 5 stars. Absolutely incredible. Trying not to cry but I will. 

thebellsjar's review against another edition

5.0

this book fucked me up a bit :(

I'm a doctor and I see a lot of elderly people in my practice. their appointments tend to be the longest because we chat quite a bit. they tell me about their families, stories about when they were younger and sometimes that's just it, they basically come just to have someone to talk to and to listen to them. some outright say the thing that bothers them the most isn't an ache or an illness, but loneliness.

(maybe a bit of a SPOILER now) being isolated and having no stimuli from interacting with other people have such detrimental effects in the memory and cognition, I could see it happening to penny and feel horrible for her. but the beauty of an unreliable narrator is also thinking maybe she wasn't spiraling that much and the people from that home were actually creepy af lol. either way, beautifully written.

dauntless's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

4.25

Ok I had no idea what this book was about going into it and I’m so glad of that. I was really invested the whole way through. It’s sad and dark and interesting. 

anna_c's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.5

ash_a's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

2.5