Scan barcode
jager123's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Horrific triggering subject matter. Relentless. The constant blame of the victims was really hard to stomach
angelajuniper's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nina_reads_books's review
3.0
“What is the collective noun for a group of men like this - a terror, a calamity, a butchery? A butchery.”
The Furies is the debut novel of Mandy Beaumont. The story focuses on sixteen year old Cynthia who lives on her family’s isolated property and one day watches as her mother is taken away by police after an unthinkable act. Her father walks out three months later and never returns. A few years later an increasingly isolated Cynthia is working at the same abattoir as her father used to, looking for signs of her sister Mallory and being subjected to some pretty horrific experiences.
The writing is rich with the desperation of Cynthia. The stilted stop start way of expression gives life to Cynthia's thoughts. The author has given her a depressingly awful life, and yet the writing and descriptions are also sort of beautiful?
The book stunned me. The blurb kind of hints this is a thriller, but it's much more a literary piece that aims to highlight women and their traumatic experiences at the hands of men. The experience is unrelenting. A story of collective grieving. Brutal. Exhausting. So I have to flag some massive trigger warnings here – just about every one you can imagine.
Given what I have just said I’m not sure how I feel about this book overall. I did absolutely appreciate the writing. The author uses a technique throughout much of the book, ending a sentence with an “and” or “of” followed by a full stop instead of running on the sentence. This had an interesting effect on the flow, but I’m not sure I understood why it was used? In addition the brutality Cynthia experiences leaves you feeling without hope and I'm not sure the payoff was worth it.
Thanks so much to @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
The Furies is the debut novel of Mandy Beaumont. The story focuses on sixteen year old Cynthia who lives on her family’s isolated property and one day watches as her mother is taken away by police after an unthinkable act. Her father walks out three months later and never returns. A few years later an increasingly isolated Cynthia is working at the same abattoir as her father used to, looking for signs of her sister Mallory and being subjected to some pretty horrific experiences.
The writing is rich with the desperation of Cynthia. The stilted stop start way of expression gives life to Cynthia's thoughts. The author has given her a depressingly awful life, and yet the writing and descriptions are also sort of beautiful?
The book stunned me. The blurb kind of hints this is a thriller, but it's much more a literary piece that aims to highlight women and their traumatic experiences at the hands of men. The experience is unrelenting. A story of collective grieving. Brutal. Exhausting. So I have to flag some massive trigger warnings here – just about every one you can imagine.
Given what I have just said I’m not sure how I feel about this book overall. I did absolutely appreciate the writing. The author uses a technique throughout much of the book, ending a sentence with an “and” or “of” followed by a full stop instead of running on the sentence. This had an interesting effect on the flow, but I’m not sure I understood why it was used? In addition the brutality Cynthia experiences leaves you feeling without hope and I'm not sure the payoff was worth it.
Thanks so much to @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
amyburra29's review
3.0
Difficult but rewarding read. Consolidates the female journey and reminds us of the perpetual abuses, challenges, and strengths we inherit.
ninadb's review
Too bleak and miserable with an oppressive landscape. I have no appetite for books like these this year
curatoriallyyours's review
It had to go back to the library and it was rather bleak so I didn’t really want to pick it up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Misogyny, and Animal death
julziez's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Rape
Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, Death, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Animal death, Body shaming, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Vomit
lilly71490's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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