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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
"Why now?" Neil asked. "Why do you need this now? Why did you search me out?"
"I'm tired of it," I said. "I want to dream of something else for a change.
The need to dream of something new, after reckoning with the past is what this book leaves us with. Trauma will always be with us, but it doesn't have to consume us. We can move on, if we deal with the reality of it.
I think I just really love the ending of this novel, for reasons I can't really explain fully.
"I'm tired of it," I said. "I want to dream of something else for a change.
The need to dream of something new, after reckoning with the past is what this book leaves us with. Trauma will always be with us, but it doesn't have to consume us. We can move on, if we deal with the reality of it.
I think I just really love the ending of this novel, for reasons I can't really explain fully.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Blood, Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you watched the movie and had curiosity to read this book this is a fair warning that it is just as devastating. But maybe even more so because in the movie (which I haven't watched in a while so take this with a grain of salt) you see a lot of Neil McCormick's POV and all we really see is how aloof he is. He's nonchalant and does everything for his own pleasure. Outside of caring for his Mom and Wendy he's just kind of a jerky teenager. Until his big incident before he goes home for Christmas you don't see the depth of harm that his abuse really played on him. His tricking and the letter from Eric about Brian suddenly bring his memories and recollection of his abuse to a different light. It wasn't love it was him being taken advantage of.
I feel like in the book you see so much more of Brian Lackey's point of view. I would say his point of view is the most present. And you can feel his confusion, pain, annoyance, and ultimately want for clarity of what happened to him on that night where he found himself in the crawl space with a bloody nose. I just want to give Brian Lackey the biggest hug ever...
I really appreciated seeing such distinct differences in these two as well. And seeing the POV of some of the important people in their lives.
I feel like in the book you see so much more of Brian Lackey's point of view. I would say his point of view is the most present. And you can feel his confusion, pain, annoyance, and ultimately want for clarity of what happened to him on that night where he found himself in the crawl space with a bloody nose. I just want to give Brian Lackey the biggest hug ever...
I really appreciated seeing such distinct differences in these two as well. And seeing the POV of some of the important people in their lives.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"I’m thinking-my eyes are open and I’m not eight anymore, I’m not ten anymore, I’m nineteen, and now I know what’s happened to me, and I know they aren’t dreams. They’re memories."
i am fundamentally changed.
i have no words other than a string of curses and sobs, but then what kind of review would this be.
i watched the film when i was way too young. this, therefore, made me go through a blackout where i had some scenes resurfacing and i felt strange and uncomfortable. reading this book was like experiencing realisation about what that movie was about, and i was blown away every step of the way.
this book deals with memory and what happens when it's faulty and there is no one to corroborate on what you think is the truth. "memory is a monster".
i absolutely loved the way the characters were written. they were complex and despicable at times, but especially with the three boys- neil, brian and eric- i couldn't help but adore them. i found it so fascinating to read how they thought and experienced the world, how they saw each other and other people. everyone was written in such a compelling way, i couldn't help but empathise deeply with all the pov characters. and of course neil and brian's moms as well.
i truly hadn't cried this much while reading a book in a bit. and the closer it came to the end, it seemed like i was crying or at least tearing up on almost every page.
i truly hope this story and the fantastic prose stays with me for a long time, because this is one of those difficult to digest stories that are written in such a great and powerful way, it would be a disservice to the characters to forget it.
i am fundamentally changed.
i have no words other than a string of curses and sobs, but then what kind of review would this be.
i watched the film when i was way too young. this, therefore, made me go through a blackout where i had some scenes resurfacing and i felt strange and uncomfortable. reading this book was like experiencing realisation about what that movie was about, and i was blown away every step of the way.
this book deals with memory and what happens when it's faulty and there is no one to corroborate on what you think is the truth. "memory is a monster".
i absolutely loved the way the characters were written. they were complex and despicable at times, but especially with the three boys- neil, brian and eric- i couldn't help but adore them. i found it so fascinating to read how they thought and experienced the world, how they saw each other and other people. everyone was written in such a compelling way, i couldn't help but empathise deeply with all the pov characters. and of course neil and brian's moms as well.
i truly hadn't cried this much while reading a book in a bit. and the closer it came to the end, it seemed like i was crying or at least tearing up on almost every page.
i truly hope this story and the fantastic prose stays with me for a long time, because this is one of those difficult to digest stories that are written in such a great and powerful way, it would be a disservice to the characters to forget it.