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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I totally understand what this was conveying, and I appreciate that. I have issues with how this book tries to shock but in a way that’s over the top and almost just for the sake of being “edgy.” This book hits so many intense topics, and puts too much emphasis on r*p* to scare the reader. I would have loved for it to go more in depth with the house, as those were my favorite parts.
We live in a mess. Our house is on fire. This book makes some interesting points on that matter, and I did like how the trans experience looped into this story.
We live in a mess. Our house is on fire. This book makes some interesting points on that matter, and I did like how the trans experience looped into this story.
oh boy, i did not have fun reading this book. not to say it was bad! but i sure did not have fun!
there are parts that are a little on the nose, and parts i didn't get, and parts that weren't for me. but there's also a lot of what this book does that i deeply respect, and i knew from page 13 and the line "angles that hate you" that i'd be consuming it in less than a day. props for a weird, impressive book.
there are parts that are a little on the nose, and parts i didn't get, and parts that weren't for me. but there's also a lot of what this book does that i deeply respect, and i knew from page 13 and the line "angles that hate you" that i'd be consuming it in less than a day. props for a weird, impressive book.
*spoilers in this, so proceed with caution*
I’m giving this a 3 star review on here since that’s what I can give, but I think this was a 2.5-3 for me. There were things I loved and didn’t love about this book, so it landed somewhere in the middle of the road.
I think Alison Rumfitt had some great ideas, and for a debut novel, I’m generally impressed by her concept and the ways that she tried to experiment with her writing to bring it to life. The idea of using a haunted house / hauntings as a metaphor for fascism / white supremacy was so fascinating to me. I think this concept could have been pushed further though, and I had a bit of a hard time with it because of the fact that the author didn’t allow this to just be a metaphor. I felt like Rumfitt kept hitting the reader over the head with the fact that this book was all about fascism. I realize that she was probably doing this so there would be no ability for a reader to misinterpret her, but in doing so I don’t think she left any room for analysis or search for deeper meaning. At some points it even felt like this book was talking down to me - perhaps this work is just better suited for someone who is earlier on in their journey to unpacking white supremacy.
I do think some of the horror in this book was really disturbing and well written - the body horror scene with Hannah, the things she was saying when she was possessed by the house were deeply unnerving (and underlined by the voice acting of Nicky Endres who narrated the audio book, which I highly recommend - I don’t think these things would have been as powerful if I had just been reading them and not listening). I just wish some of it wasn’t so on the nose.
I do understand what Alison Rumfitt was trying to accomplish with this piece, and I think the end was absolutely devastating and really punctuated what she was trying to say about how this cycle of fascism can continue to repeat itself. I definitely cried at the end, but I can’t help but wonder how much more powerful it could’ve been if the end didn’t feel so rushed. I was super interested in the concept and the book right up until they end up back at the house together, and the “You” chapter - after that, I felt like it became a bit rushed. I think that the ending deserved more development.
All in all, not a bad book and not a complete miss from me. As a nonbinary person myself, I love books about queer people especially ones written by trans authors, but I think this one could’ve used some more workshopping to really get there.
I’m looking forward to reading some of her other works to see if any of those are more what I’m looking for!
I’m giving this a 3 star review on here since that’s what I can give, but I think this was a 2.5-3 for me. There were things I loved and didn’t love about this book, so it landed somewhere in the middle of the road.
I think Alison Rumfitt had some great ideas, and for a debut novel, I’m generally impressed by her concept and the ways that she tried to experiment with her writing to bring it to life. The idea of using a haunted house / hauntings as a metaphor for fascism / white supremacy was so fascinating to me. I think this concept could have been pushed further though, and I had a bit of a hard time with it because of the fact that the author didn’t allow this to just be a metaphor. I felt like Rumfitt kept hitting the reader over the head with the fact that this book was all about fascism. I realize that she was probably doing this so there would be no ability for a reader to misinterpret her, but in doing so I don’t think she left any room for analysis or search for deeper meaning. At some points it even felt like this book was talking down to me - perhaps this work is just better suited for someone who is earlier on in their journey to unpacking white supremacy.
I do think some of the horror in this book was really disturbing and well written - the body horror scene with Hannah, the things she was saying when she was possessed by the house were deeply unnerving (and underlined by the voice acting of Nicky Endres who narrated the audio book, which I highly recommend - I don’t think these things would have been as powerful if I had just been reading them and not listening). I just wish some of it wasn’t so on the nose.
I do understand what Alison Rumfitt was trying to accomplish with this piece, and I think the end was absolutely devastating and really punctuated what she was trying to say about how this cycle of fascism can continue to repeat itself. I definitely cried at the end, but I can’t help but wonder how much more powerful it could’ve been if the end didn’t feel so rushed. I was super interested in the concept and the book right up until they end up back at the house together, and the “You” chapter - after that, I felt like it became a bit rushed. I think that the ending deserved more development.
All in all, not a bad book and not a complete miss from me. As a nonbinary person myself, I love books about queer people especially ones written by trans authors, but I think this one could’ve used some more workshopping to really get there.
I’m looking forward to reading some of her other works to see if any of those are more what I’m looking for!
Tell Me I’m Worthless is an astonishingly confident, powerful, deeply dark horror novel about self-identity, trauma, and what feels like the inevitability of the world’s growing fascism.
On the surface, this is the story of three women who went into a haunted house, and the two women who came out. Alice is a transwoman who seems to hate herself, and Ila is a TERF who seems to hate the world. The House is deeply evil.
Reading Alison Rumfitt’s debut novel is an experience: it’s difficult, because it’s brimming with so much intelligence and compassion for its characters, while using slurs (and self-hatred) and violence (including sexual violence and self-harm) authentically to bludgeon, disgust, and break down the reader. The book is vicious, weird, experimental and constantly surprising.
At times I had to put it down and just breathe for a bit, but I also completely enjoyed reading it — just for the pleasure of how well Rumfitt could put me into another person’s head, and the way she used language.
Is it strange that I found this book also a bit hopeful? That’s something I haven’t seen in reviews, but for me it was there.
I recommend this for folks who love dark, literary social horror that plays with form and has something to say, and for horror readers who are interested in the trans experience. Please check out the content warnings on this book first: it’s a rough one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for my review copy of this book.
On the surface, this is the story of three women who went into a haunted house, and the two women who came out. Alice is a transwoman who seems to hate herself, and Ila is a TERF who seems to hate the world. The House is deeply evil.
Reading Alison Rumfitt’s debut novel is an experience: it’s difficult, because it’s brimming with so much intelligence and compassion for its characters, while using slurs (and self-hatred) and violence (including sexual violence and self-harm) authentically to bludgeon, disgust, and break down the reader. The book is vicious, weird, experimental and constantly surprising.
At times I had to put it down and just breathe for a bit, but I also completely enjoyed reading it — just for the pleasure of how well Rumfitt could put me into another person’s head, and the way she used language.
Is it strange that I found this book also a bit hopeful? That’s something I haven’t seen in reviews, but for me it was there.
I recommend this for folks who love dark, literary social horror that plays with form and has something to say, and for horror readers who are interested in the trans experience. Please check out the content warnings on this book first: it’s a rough one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for my review copy of this book.
okay first of all if you’re going to read this please check the content warnings. i’m serious.
i have conflicted feelings about this. it’s not a book to be enjoyed. it’s pretty much a book to feel uncomfortable about. it was horror. it did its job. i’m not sure i would recommend it, but it was executed well. some aspects of it overdone, but overall, i think, it did what it set out to do. sorry. what the actual fuck actually
i have conflicted feelings about this. it’s not a book to be enjoyed. it’s pretty much a book to feel uncomfortable about. it was horror. it did its job. i’m not sure i would recommend it, but it was executed well. some aspects of it overdone, but overall, i think, it did what it set out to do. sorry. what the actual fuck actually
Dark and disturbing but a gripping read. At one point I decided that I was going to pick a Stephen King book next for some light reading. Make sure you're in a positive headspace when you read this.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes