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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This was interesting, but even after book club last night I'm still not sure how much I liked it. It's a very short novel, and it left me wanting more. The story is told in reverse, and culminates with the action that disfigures the main character's face. There were two story arcs that I wanted to see more of, and I think there was certainly room to flesh out one or two more characters. Ultimately an interesting read, and given the short length I think worth it even after such a middling review. :)
Man, what a beautiful book. It'll definitely take me some time to fully unpack and understand the full story and what it all means, but John Darnielle has always had a gift with language (as can be seen in The Mountain Goats) and this book is no exception. Nearly every sentence had something unique and strangely, sadly beautiful about it (and that's no exaggeration) and I really enjoyed how the story was told in an unchronological and surreal fashion while still remaining grounded and, in the end, logical. Definitely worth reading for the use of language alone, but the story holds up just as well.
This novel lives in the space between 3.5/4. I love the main concept of this story, and Darnielle did a great job at working backwards throughout the book. I did feel that some ideas/emotions were a bit underdeveloped, and could have used a bit more time to cultivate. I do wish that Lance/Carrie's story was a bit more fleshed out, and I would have liked more time spent with Trace Italian. That said, Sean is a good main character, and I liked his voice--for the most part.
it's very rare i enjoy a story that starts at the end and works it's way back. I'm not sure if i would have liked this more if it was told in chronological order though. i guess my biggest complaint is that the story feels unfinished.
I don’t really know what I was expecting from this book, it wasn’t this. It was a slow, introspective novel that takes a look at how depression shapes a person, both in youth and in adulthood.
I still have so many questions about the incident, but I think that's the point. The book addressed how Sean felt, isolated and like no one could truly understand that, and how he tried to escape that. But there's no real reason, no explanation for what happened, for what pushed his parents away, which is often the case for depression.
The book often feels so disconnected from time, and it reads very fluidly. It’s not a stream of consciousness, but almost there, and it really made this book difficult to read. I have no trouble reading disjointed narrative, but because the writing style itself wasn’t particularly fascinating, it made for a dull read. Sean himself came off as pretentious, so I didn't really like him. He felt undeveloped, like he had no motivation, no reason to exist at all, which is probably how depression feels for him after the incident. However, it just made it difficult to become emotionally invested in his story.
My Rating:2.5/5 Stars
It was good, and it was thought provoking, but it was so disjointed and the mystery was left without any real emotional resolution. It was good though, and I appreciated it for what it was. It addressed topics that need to be more openly discussed, and I think it did so in a way that allows readers to relate. I was just disappointed by the writing style and the lack of resolution.
I still have so many questions about the incident, but I think that's the point. The book addressed how Sean felt, isolated and like no one could truly understand that, and how he tried to escape that. But there's no real reason, no explanation for what happened, for what pushed his parents away, which is often the case for depression.
The book often feels so disconnected from time, and it reads very fluidly. It’s not a stream of consciousness, but almost there, and it really made this book difficult to read. I have no trouble reading disjointed narrative, but because the writing style itself wasn’t particularly fascinating, it made for a dull read. Sean himself came off as pretentious, so I didn't really like him. He felt undeveloped, like he had no motivation, no reason to exist at all, which is probably how depression feels for him after the incident. However, it just made it difficult to become emotionally invested in his story.
My Rating:2.5/5 Stars
It was good, and it was thought provoking, but it was so disjointed and the mystery was left without any real emotional resolution. It was good though, and I appreciated it for what it was. It addressed topics that need to be more openly discussed, and I think it did so in a way that allows readers to relate. I was just disappointed by the writing style and the lack of resolution.
Sean Phillips has lived an isolated life due to his disfigurement from a teenage injury. To make a living he runs a game through the mail. When his game has real life consequences Sean is called on to account for it, this leads him to a retrospective state where we go back through his life to the point of his injury.
I really didn't like this book. The injury felt like it was suppose to be this big reveal but I feel like Darnielle told us what happened a zillion times and didn't meaningfully dive into the why. Listening to this book kinda reminded me of listening to a hipster being really introspective at the end of his life. Is that too mean? I didn't hate the writing style I just had an issue with the lack of content in this book.
I really didn't like this book. The injury felt like it was suppose to be this big reveal but I feel like Darnielle told us what happened a zillion times and didn't meaningfully dive into the why. Listening to this book kinda reminded me of listening to a hipster being really introspective at the end of his life. Is that too mean? I didn't hate the writing style I just had an issue with the lack of content in this book.
I don't even have words. Just...wow. I would expect no less from my favorite song lyricist of all time. I can't wait to get my hands on more of his work.
Fantastic writing and game-building. I'm not sure about the plot....
Spoiler
So much of this is jumbled up with past-Sean and present-Sean that I'm not sure what exactly was up with the ending....this is a very in media res novel at times
Interesting, and I liked it more as I went on, but some of Darnielle's characterization seemed a little too forced, and the central traumas the book circles around are both too horrifying to be revealed in the way they are and somehow not horrifying enough. It works, but it didn't wow me.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt