Reviews

Very Cold People by Sarah Manguso

sam_bizar_wilcox's review

4.0

Manguso's prose reminds me of Shirley Jackson. There is a Gothic undercurrent in this novel as the book focuses on decay and austere violence. This novel, however, unlike Jackson's, trades symbolism for realism: the crushing truth of financial insecurity is more distressing than the phantoms that symbolize it. Yet, phantoms abound here, too; perhaps as mere projections or flights of fancy from our young protagonist, Ruthie, or perhaps these phantoms allude to this book's genre leanings. Other Northeastern Gothic-inflected works, such as the oeuvre of Edith Wharton, use snow, wintry landscapes, and stillness to a chilling, horrific effect (think Ethan Frome, a novella underloved because of its frequent appearance on mandatory school reading lists). Where I'm reminded of Shirley Jackson, however, is equally in the way Manguso inhabits a youthful consciousness, and develops the novel from that perspective. We Have Always Lived in the Castle and especially Hangsaman inhabit similar minds, with the latter also an exploration of identity that feels so inherent to the coming-of-age form (as is the case with Very Cold People). There's something to be said, too, about the lustrous grotesqueries that haunt Manguso's novel, from the old house that the family moves into in the latter half of the novel, to the eerie sexual and physical violence that sort of seeps into the novel's ending.

Very Cold People took me time to get into. But once the rhythm of the novel had been established, and once it became clear what sorts of genre tropes the novel aimed to perfect or to subtly infuse, I was taken aback. There's far more going on beneath the surface here than the book lets on.

gukguk's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lenamarjam's review

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

danieljbfox's review

dark emotional funny reflective

4.0

barbarazs's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

dawnb2403's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

debandleo's review

1.0

I still do not understand this book. A waste of my time.

rpatel13's review

4.0

*3.5

Interesting book about not only a dysfunctional and toxic family, but an entire society. From the first chapter the prose had me hooked - Manguso executed a writing style very different from most fiction and the way Ruth details her childhood is utterly heartbreaking. Though this book was difficult to read at times (due to themes of abuse and SA) overall I'd say it was worth the read due to its commentary on our communities.

whatrachelreads's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

missj's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0