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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The athmosphere in this story was palpable, but it didn’t quite grab me. Could’ve maybe benefited from being condenced? I got bored at many parts, which is really saying something because I’m all about ”no plot, just vibes” type of books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
challenging
dark
slow-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:
Complicated
Omg just shut up and do something already.
Couldn't get into the writing style, and I hated the characters.
Now if only I could decipher my own thoughts on this book for a coherent review.
Reading this book is like looking at the Chicxulub crater. I can see the impact and ripple effect it has had on everything surrounding it. It's astounding to see echoes of this book in so many recent horror novels and even some films, and yet no one has been able to recreate the same meteor strike this novel had. However, reading this behemoth felt like trying to push the remains of the meteor back out of the crater. I don't think it's ever taken my this long to read a book. I usually hit about 50 pages a day on average and this one had me cruising at a cool 5-8 pages every day. There is so much to unpack, so many emotions to understand, motivations, character changes, plot undercurrents, themes and symbolism etc etc. Every page has to be deciphered, every chapter has to be mulled through.
Hence why I have struggled for weeks in what to write in this review. Two opposing points of view slamming in to each other over and over. This was NOT a fun read. This was an INCREDIBLE book.
I'm faced with an almost ethical dilemma in my final rating. Do I rate the subjective experience of reading this book, or do I rate the objective quality of the book? Is skydiving fun when you're screaming all the way down?
In the end, after going through a few books I've read recently, even going back and watching some films or scenes from some recent horror movies I've enjoyed; I've decided that this books impact on horror is too massive to be ignored and have decided to rate it objectively. There is a 'vibe' of the type of story this is, which would be easy to miss since that vibe is in so much horror media today. This is one of the sources of that feeling.
Do not read this book if you are just getting into horror.
Do not read this book if you are looking for a good time with fun characters.
There is no adventure here.
There is a hole. It is deep, dark and unknowable. If you think you are ready to step into it, you aren't. When you're ready to not find fun in these pages, then you're ready for the Funhole.
Reading this book is like looking at the Chicxulub crater. I can see the impact and ripple effect it has had on everything surrounding it. It's astounding to see echoes of this book in so many recent horror novels and even some films, and yet no one has been able to recreate the same meteor strike this novel had. However, reading this behemoth felt like trying to push the remains of the meteor back out of the crater. I don't think it's ever taken my this long to read a book. I usually hit about 50 pages a day on average and this one had me cruising at a cool 5-8 pages every day. There is so much to unpack, so many emotions to understand, motivations, character changes, plot undercurrents, themes and symbolism etc etc. Every page has to be deciphered, every chapter has to be mulled through.
Hence why I have struggled for weeks in what to write in this review. Two opposing points of view slamming in to each other over and over. This was NOT a fun read. This was an INCREDIBLE book.
I'm faced with an almost ethical dilemma in my final rating. Do I rate the subjective experience of reading this book, or do I rate the objective quality of the book? Is skydiving fun when you're screaming all the way down?
In the end, after going through a few books I've read recently, even going back and watching some films or scenes from some recent horror movies I've enjoyed; I've decided that this books impact on horror is too massive to be ignored and have decided to rate it objectively. There is a 'vibe' of the type of story this is, which would be easy to miss since that vibe is in so much horror media today. This is one of the sources of that feeling.
Do not read this book if you are just getting into horror.
Do not read this book if you are looking for a good time with fun characters.
There is no adventure here.
There is a hole. It is deep, dark and unknowable. If you think you are ready to step into it, you aren't. When you're ready to not find fun in these pages, then you're ready for the Funhole.
More successful as a story about being in love with an absolute asshole than... whatever else it was supposed to be about. A little baffled by its reputation, to be honest. I mostly found it as repetitive, off-putting, and exhausting as its characters, with the occasional poetic flourish. Maybe the Funhole will reveal itself to me, should I choose to revisit, but it's not a world I plan on returning to anytime soon.
I couldn't read this book fast enough. I wanted all of it in my brain immediately and already want to read it again.
Told from Nicholas's POV, in a surreal, almost stream of consciousness, descent into madness. It feels like a proto-House of Leaves. The Funhole could represent any manner of addictions, failures, obsessions. I loved the gaggle of devotees drawn to Nicholas and painting him as some sort of guru, an unwilling leader and spokesperson for the Funhole.
Nakota, the razor-edged female companion, who represents the dark desires of the reader. She will do anything to get into that Funhole and I can't blame her. She's like Fairuza Balk in The Craft and I was there for it.
This book will gnaw at your subconscious and make you extremely uncomfortable. If you're like me, this is heavenly. Recommended for fans of House of Leaves, Barker's Books of Blood, 90s grunge and 80s post punk horror, and Khaw's Nothing but Blackened Teeth.
Told from Nicholas's POV, in a surreal, almost stream of consciousness, descent into madness. It feels like a proto-House of Leaves. The Funhole could represent any manner of addictions, failures, obsessions. I loved the gaggle of devotees drawn to Nicholas and painting him as some sort of guru, an unwilling leader and spokesperson for the Funhole.
Nakota, the razor-edged female companion, who represents the dark desires of the reader. She will do anything to get into that Funhole and I can't blame her. She's like Fairuza Balk in The Craft and I was there for it.
This book will gnaw at your subconscious and make you extremely uncomfortable. If you're like me, this is heavenly. Recommended for fans of House of Leaves, Barker's Books of Blood, 90s grunge and 80s post punk horror, and Khaw's Nothing but Blackened Teeth.
read bc it was a seth dickinson recommendation on his blog
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes