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expendablemudge's review
4.0
OCTOBER 2019 UPDATE Hulu made a film, WOUNDS, of this novella! (Free Hulu trial for non-subscribers at the link.) Plus the edition I reviewed is O.P. but Saga Press's edition offers an ebook for only $2.99!
Rating: 4* of five
My #review of THE VISIBLE FILTH [bc:The Visible Filth|24791985|The Visible Filth|Nathan Ballingrud|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1422818046l/24791985._SX50_.jpg|44426756] is live today at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud, better known as "my blog."
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Rating: 4* of five
My #review of THE VISIBLE FILTH [bc:The Visible Filth|24791985|The Visible Filth|Nathan Ballingrud|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1422818046l/24791985._SX50_.jpg|44426756] is live today at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud, better known as "my blog."
Keep the lights on.
weirdbookbookclub's review
3.0
As a work of horror, I'd give this 4 stars: vividly creepy prose, a dream-like descent into the big reveal that sticks with you precisely because the events leading up to it are so sparingly explained. Closest point of comparison I can think of is one of my favorite flicks of all time (scary or otherwise), Pulse.
However, as a character study of the protagonist and his small social circle, I was left a bit cold. Straight white male self-pity as a plot engine will never rouse my interest, particularly when its fuel is "the girl I shoulda had." Granted, the ending does foreground his fundamental emptiness as a character, but I can't help thinking that his ultimate... turn... would've been so much more compelling with a more vibrant inner life to stand in contrast.
Definitely glad I read this and I'm looking forward to diving into Ballingrud's back catalogue of short fiction.
However, as a character study of the protagonist and his small social circle, I was left a bit cold. Straight white male self-pity as a plot engine will never rouse my interest, particularly when its fuel is "the girl I shoulda had." Granted, the ending does foreground his fundamental emptiness as a character, but I can't help thinking that his ultimate... turn... would've been so much more compelling with a more vibrant inner life to stand in contrast.
Definitely glad I read this and I'm looking forward to diving into Ballingrud's back catalogue of short fiction.
victoria_loves_books's review
3.0
Short but spooky
The writing could be a little dragging at times but the use of imagery made up for it. A quick spooky read
The writing could be a little dragging at times but the use of imagery made up for it. A quick spooky read
alanbaxter's review
4.0
Dark, weird and utterly compelling. Ballingrud is a superb writer. His debut collection, North American Lake Monsters, was brilliant, one of the best collections I've read in years. This novella is his fiction writ larger and equally excellent. The ending is going to take me some time to mull over, but for harsh, unforgiving, realistic albeit supernatural horror, this is setting a high bar. Highly recommended.
eastofreaden's review
2.0
Definitely well written in the sense that some scenes really did creep me out and make me uneasy, but it felt like two separate stories. The ending was so rushed and so disjointed, I didn't know what I was supposed to be reading by the point. I have a feeling the adaptation is going to be better, because even the trailer is better.
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