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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
This website is so dramatic.
I say this, admittedly, as a self-professed There's Someone Inside Your House defender (just the book, not that questionable movie adaptation). But there truly is some good to be unearthed in the pages of The Woods Are Always Watching. It has delightfully disgusting gore, forest-dwelling killers, and a trap hole. You can't go wrong with a trap hole! I think that this one has a relatively strong second half, Perkins' writing pulling us through to a satisfactory conclusion. Some seem to dislike the length or a perceived lack of motive for the brutality - I liked the shorter story, and the horror genre is so over-saturated with an obsessive need to explain the bad guys that this approach worked for me.
Now, let me be clear - it's a damn shame that the entire first half of this book just consists of two teenage girls arguing. It makes sense from a story standpoint that the background here is rooted in tension: best friends Josie and Neena are days away from starting college on opposite coasts, and this primal fear of loss is manifesting in all of their unspoken resentments being released during an amateur backpacking trip in the mountains. But Perkins is almost *too* good at writing teenagers, and the petty, childish arguments should not take up over 100 pages. It sets the stage for the rest of the book, but it made me want to tear my hair out. At one point, the girls have decided that their friendship is over so, naturally, the camping trip continues. HUH????
So here I am, once again, defending a Stephanie Perkins horror novel despite its weaknesses. I just don't believe that these books are nearly as bad as Goodreads would have you believe, the author being a competent writer who can build a story (which is more than I can say for some of the other books I read this year). Also, the TRAP HOLE! Come on!
I say this, admittedly, as a self-professed There's Someone Inside Your House defender (just the book, not that questionable movie adaptation). But there truly is some good to be unearthed in the pages of The Woods Are Always Watching. It has delightfully disgusting gore, forest-dwelling killers, and a trap hole. You can't go wrong with a trap hole! I think that this one has a relatively strong second half, Perkins' writing pulling us through to a satisfactory conclusion. Some seem to dislike the length or a perceived lack of motive for the brutality - I liked the shorter story, and the horror genre is so over-saturated with an obsessive need to explain the bad guys that this approach worked for me.
Now, let me be clear - it's a damn shame that the entire first half of this book just consists of two teenage girls arguing. It makes sense from a story standpoint that the background here is rooted in tension: best friends Josie and Neena are days away from starting college on opposite coasts, and this primal fear of loss is manifesting in all of their unspoken resentments being released during an amateur backpacking trip in the mountains. But Perkins is almost *too* good at writing teenagers, and the petty, childish arguments should not take up over 100 pages. It sets the stage for the rest of the book, but it made me want to tear my hair out. At one point, the girls have decided that their friendship is over so, naturally, the camping trip continues. HUH????
So here I am, once again, defending a Stephanie Perkins horror novel despite its weaknesses. I just don't believe that these books are nearly as bad as Goodreads would have you believe, the author being a competent writer who can build a story (which is more than I can say for some of the other books I read this year). Also, the TRAP HOLE! Come on!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
hmm I love wasting my time!!!!
first of all, how is this a companion to there's someone inside your house? if she wanted to use the same type of cover go ahead but there's no need to try to bind the two novels. second of all, I'm failing to understand how this book got published without a trigger warnings list, specially being a YA book???? This is so fucking irresponsible
Now speaking of the book, how come nothing happened for the first 45ish percent??
but hey on the bright side the author was a pioneer in the bear or man debate ngl
first of all, how is this a companion to there's someone inside your house? if she wanted to use the same type of cover go ahead but there's no need to try to bind the two novels. second of all, I'm failing to understand how this book got published without a trigger warnings list, specially being a YA book???? This is so fucking irresponsible
Now speaking of the book, how come nothing happened for the first 45ish percent??
but hey on the bright side the author was a pioneer in the bear or man debate ngl
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll start with the good. The storytelling, description and general building of vulnerability and well executed. The makings of a great psychological horror thriller are here but I did feel a tad let down by the end more in the sense of having read other books in the genre it was somewhat predictable.
I did enjoy the book though and it was a fun read. I am not sure if I would be quick to reread but it was good. I was delayed in my review with a family emergency but I did find I could easily remember the events and story so it did have that. I would be interested to read more by the author
I did enjoy the book though and it was a fun read. I am not sure if I would be quick to reread but it was good. I was delayed in my review with a family emergency but I did find I could easily remember the events and story so it did have that. I would be interested to read more by the author
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced