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bex_knighthunterbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Torture
spooderman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Torture, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt and Death of parent
sorcha's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief
elwirax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"The grief tower is for those who refuse to deny. Love is unsocial, inadmissible, contagious.’ He grinned. ‘It admits communication. Grief for lost love is the worse offence, indictable. It suggests love has value, understanding, generosity, happiness."
"Destruction doesn’t count. One can always create again"
The driving force of this novella lies in its ambiguity and lack of explanations, leaving interpretation up to the reader. This isn't something I usually enjoy but it worked well in this story. The chapters were short and many ended abruptly perhaps highlighting 'their' ideology, one which ropes the reader in aswell as it stops them from getting overly invested in the lives of the characters which is frowned upon in this book. The fragmented writing in some of the vignettes does well to show strong emotions and the fears of the characters that run through the whole novella (perhaps in some of them they're too scared to properly articulate themselves). My favourites by far were The Visitants, Pocket of Quietude and The Fairing. I thought these were the strongest in terms of characterisation and suspense.
Though I appreciated the darker tone in this novella, the themes/ideas and the eeriness of being roped in, the inability to become invested in these characters really hindered by investment in the novella. The world-building also left much to be desired. Ultimately, I left with opinions no different than those I went in with; censorship is damaging. Although this novella didn't work for me as much as I'd hoped, it definitely piqued my interest in the author. After all, it's not every day I come across a "radical, queer author" of the 20th century. It might be one of those "it's not you, it's me" novellas or one which needs a re-read to fully appreciate. Either way, an interesting piece of writing.
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
janiswong's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Minor: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Murder, Blood, and Death
nstew16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As for the book itself, the writing style alone was amazing. If you love the ocean, art, and reading, this book explores the beauty and responsibilities of both so candidly. Stylistically it reminded me a lot of Kate Wilhelm's Abyss.
I was also reminded while reading of the many reasons why I don't actively seek out horror. The last time I read anything resembling horror was reading Roald Dahl's The Landlady. It does exactly what it should as a horror.
It ends as I expected it to, with no resolution but a hint of hope. I don't think a reader can possibly as for anything more from this short exploration into what it means when creativity is feared.
Other books that They reminded me of:
1. Abyss
2. The Landlady
3. The Circle/The Every
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Torture, and Violence