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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I kept thinking there might be some twist or something. No plot, and all the characters had the same voice. Jessica's chapter added an additional star for originality. Her teenage dialogue was the only believable character. I think Goldberg would be better suited to YA. Actually, this whole book felt YA. Eh
This was okay? Solid, well written and not entirely what I was expecting, which is no bad thing. There’s no protagonist, although there is a victim (at least one) and it’s a story about intersecting stories, in which the murder of a woman is the pivot. Some characters are considerably more interesting than others, as humans are. While I’m left feeling a little dissatisfied, I do recommend this book.
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars. Devoured this in one sitting!! Great, pageturning pace and writing. While the constantly shifting narrator was a bit daunting at first, I overall really enjoyed that each chapter was a vignette of a different character's life and perspective.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
TW; murder, violence by a partner, mention of gore
Nothing can hurt you is a murder without the mystery - but in the best possible way. A novel told in fragments, it shines a spotlight on the stories of multiple individuals who are all linked in some way to Sara, a college student murdered by her boyfriend in New York in the late 1990s. We know where and how Sara died almost from the opening pages of the novel, which relieves us from playing the age old game of ‘whodunnit’, and instead this book focuses on masterfully weaving together an impressive number of narratives from people who are connected to, or impacted by Sara (in varying degrees). Through this we deepen our understanding of her life, as well as her boyfriend, Blake’s and the circumstances surrounding them; their relationship, and Sara’s death at his hands.
I think it’s important to note that I have included the trigger warnings for obvious reasons but this is not just another book about a dead girl - this is smart, structured and oh-so-readable. It is sinister but in a way that simmers, and oozes, doesn’t explode with violence. Each character’s chapter pulls you in and the voices are distinct enough that they don’t get boring or samey. There is also just the right amount of emotional charge to keep you invested and intrigued; almost always slightly uncomfortable but wanting more, without the plot becoming overly dramatic or sensationalist.
I was really impressed at how much was captured in this short book - I read it in a single day whilst on holiday and am very glad I did.
Nothing can hurt you is a murder without the mystery - but in the best possible way. A novel told in fragments, it shines a spotlight on the stories of multiple individuals who are all linked in some way to Sara, a college student murdered by her boyfriend in New York in the late 1990s. We know where and how Sara died almost from the opening pages of the novel, which relieves us from playing the age old game of ‘whodunnit’, and instead this book focuses on masterfully weaving together an impressive number of narratives from people who are connected to, or impacted by Sara (in varying degrees). Through this we deepen our understanding of her life, as well as her boyfriend, Blake’s and the circumstances surrounding them; their relationship, and Sara’s death at his hands.
I think it’s important to note that I have included the trigger warnings for obvious reasons but this is not just another book about a dead girl - this is smart, structured and oh-so-readable. It is sinister but in a way that simmers, and oozes, doesn’t explode with violence. Each character’s chapter pulls you in and the voices are distinct enough that they don’t get boring or samey. There is also just the right amount of emotional charge to keep you invested and intrigued; almost always slightly uncomfortable but wanting more, without the plot becoming overly dramatic or sensationalist.
I was really impressed at how much was captured in this short book - I read it in a single day whilst on holiday and am very glad I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Minor: Gore
TW; murder, violence by a partner, mention of gore
Nothing Can Hurt You is a murder without the mystery - but in the best possible way. A novel told in fragments, it shines a spotlight on the stories of multiple individuals who are all linked in some way to Sara, a college student murdered by her boyfriend in New York in the late 1990s. We know where and how Sara died almost from the opening pages of the novel, which relieves us from playing the age old game of ‘whodunnit’, and instead this book focuses on masterfully weaving together an impressive number of narratives from people who are connected to, or impacted by Sara (in varying degrees). Through this we deepen our understanding of her life, as well as her boyfriend, Blake’s and the circumstances surrounding them; their relationship, and Sara’s death at his hands.
I think it’s important to note that I have included the trigger warnings for obvious reasons but this is not just another book about a dead girl - this is smart, structured and oh-so-readable. It is sinister but in a way that simmers, and oozes, doesn’t explode with violence. Each character’s chapter pulls you in and the voices are distinct enough that they don’t get boring or samey. There is also just the right amount of emotional charge to keep you invested and intrigued; almost always slightly uncomfortable but wanting more, without the plot becoming overly dramatic or sensationalist.
I was really impressed at how much was captured in this short book - I read it in a single day whilst on holiday and am very glad I did.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book caught my interest as it is based on a true event but written as a work of fiction.
Sara is murdered by her boyfriend but due to insanity is not punished for his crime. This novel looks at how her murder has impacted on other people’s life in the community which is a unique perspective.
I really enjoyed reading this as I liked reading the story from other points of view rather than a family point of view.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy.
Sara is murdered by her boyfriend but due to insanity is not punished for his crime. This novel looks at how her murder has impacted on other people’s life in the community which is a unique perspective.
I really enjoyed reading this as I liked reading the story from other points of view rather than a family point of view.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy.
Nothing Can Hurt You starts where just about every thriller starts nowadays: a dead girl, brutally murdered, in the woods. Nicola Maye Goldberg sets out to do something different, though, a deliberate reinvention (some are saying subversion) of the “dead girl” trope. This is a thriller for the #MeToo era, one that examines how and why male killers become celebrities while female victims are forgotten.
My extended review is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My extended review is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.