Reviews

Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

fragilelabyrinth's review against another edition

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slow-paced

1.5

I was incredibly disappointed with this. It was listed as horror on libby, so I think I had a different idea in my head of what to expect, but instead, I got a vague mystery with no payoff. I didn't care for any of the characters or the story that didn't really go anywhere. Also, the musical interludes featured in this audiobook were so out of place and didn't fit the tone of the story at all.

briefobservations's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

dialhforhgai's review against another edition

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5.0

You grow up and it gets harder to meet people, but there are shrinking places in the world where the people you meet growing up are the people you know later on. These places seem less nice when you feel trapped in them, but once you get free they seem sweet.

sagicarrius's review against another edition

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The premise sounded so strange and promising but by page 64 I just couldn’t wrap my brain around what was happening.

hvacha's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

tomrrandall's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

John Darnielle always seems to capture something about the Midwest that is so hard to describe. I didn’t understand the plot at all until the final pages but the vibe is so familiar. 

paige555's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5 this one really disappointed me :/ i thought the writing was great but i could not care less about the plot

occuprop's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Excellent example of Midwest Gothic.

slincoln26's review against another edition

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I may go back and finish this. It gave early 90s vibe, but it was hard to follow on audio

littlegreenfreak's review against another edition

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2.0

has some beautiful writing, some good stuff, was a fucking slog to get through. generally though a lot of nothing. i come away unsatisfied and just kinda let down. maybe this is book is like an album i won’t understand until i’m older. maybe it just isn’t that good.