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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I originally read this book two years ago, but upon finding the audio version on Libby, I had to dive back in again. For anyone who is a fan of Welcome to Night Vale the podcast, the audio book, narrated by Cecil Baldwin, is really just an extended version of Cecil’s nightly broadcast focusing on a mysterious man in a tan jacket plaguing both Jackie the perpetually 19yr old pawn shop clerk, and Diane Crayton mother and PTA treasurer, with several mini broadcasts speckled throughout. I can’t speak highly of this book, or the bizarre desert town of Night Vale enough. Please, just read this book, or better yet, listen to it; but do not, I repeat, DO NOT approach the dog park.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
The concept is cool but this book is ultimately too slow paced and character driven to meet my personal preferences. That being said, it's fantastic for what it is and I'd probably love it if I liked the style/genre more.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This books is well-written, funny and definitely a little out there but, it is so good!!
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Ten percent of the way into this book, and I'm ready to drop it. I'm already sick of all the vacillating. Everything is:
Imagine it's like this, but not like this.
"There's this house. It's not unlike many other houses. Imagine what a house looks like. It is also quite unlike many other houses... [I]t is exactly like all houses."
I imagine that it's supposed to be atmospheric. It's not. It's annoying. It's bad writing. It's bad editing. It requires no imagination.
Imagine it's like this, but not like this.
"There's this house. It's not unlike many other houses. Imagine what a house looks like. It is also quite unlike many other houses... [I]t is exactly like all houses."
I imagine that it's supposed to be atmospheric. It's not. It's annoying. It's bad writing. It's bad editing. It requires no imagination.
I was really unsure about this for a while (I was planning three stars, the execution and intelligence deserved three stars even while I was unsure about the plot, but the end earned that fourth star). The whole first half felt gimmicky. Even once I got into the rhythm of the writing style, the story and the commentary felt put on. The second half, loosely defined as when Jackie and Diane began truly working together (the entire library escapade was marvelous), picked up in pace and interest, and I adored the last bit when they are in King City. It finished on a wonderful high note of intention and philosophy and wonderful, unexpected plot. It ended well. I just really wish I hadn't had to slog through the first half. I think the same dread and the same effect could have come across with many less pages leading up to Diane and Jackie working together. But, had it been shorter I might have said the opposite, I might never have gotten into it. Time and memory are weird, after all.