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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
DNF at 70%….i wanted to badly to enjoy it but it was so slow
4.5 Stars
Wow, this was a rollercoaster I had no idea I paid to ride on. Mentally I'm exhausted, emotionally I'm drained. This book may be one of those books that you experience and think about well after. I was completely enchanted by the cult horror film aspect of this story and of course the mystery behind the man behind the camera. There were parts that seemed to drag on a bit and parts where it was becoming hard to keep track of all the information and characters being given to us as readers (as to why it is only 4.5 starts), but I thoroughly enjoyed the twist and turns we experienced alongside Scott McGrath. I feel Marisha writing of each moment and emotion Scott felt reflect fantastically to how I as a reader felt alongside him. Super happy I finally came around to reading Night Film and I can definitely see this book, or just elements of this book, playing well on screen.
Wow, this was a rollercoaster I had no idea I paid to ride on. Mentally I'm exhausted, emotionally I'm drained. This book may be one of those books that you experience and think about well after. I was completely enchanted by the cult horror film aspect of this story and of course the mystery behind the man behind the camera. There were parts that seemed to drag on a bit and parts where it was becoming hard to keep track of all the information and characters being given to us as readers (as to why it is only 4.5 starts), but I thoroughly enjoyed the twist and turns we experienced alongside Scott McGrath. I feel Marisha writing of each moment and emotion Scott felt reflect fantastically to how I as a reader felt alongside him. Super happy I finally came around to reading Night Film and I can definitely see this book, or just elements of this book, playing well on screen.
Definitely one of the best books I have read this year. I don't usually read mystery novels but I knew I had to read this one. Author, Marisha Pessl is a talented writer. The novel keeps the reader on its toes, which I think is what a good mystery should do. It should keep the reader wanting more, asking questions, and find out answers. However, this book may have more questions than answers at the end. Still, it delivers. The best part of the book was the photographs. They allowed the reader to see what the protagonists were reading online, text messages, emails, etc. I felt like I was part of Scott Mcgrath's team of finding out the mystery of Ashley Cordova's death. The character of Ashley was very well developed and so intriguing. Stanislas Cordova is also a great character. In my head, I had to imagine him as David Lynch if he went too far. Connecting him as an avant garde artist with Lynch, allowed me to really get into his character. In the end, I saw him as an eccentric artist who deeply cared for his daughter and did all he could to help her.
This book was so different from anything I've read. The interactive portion helps with that and I would like to see more books like this. Pessl is truly a gifted writer and I hope to read more of her work.
This book was so different from anything I've read. The interactive portion helps with that and I would like to see more books like this. Pessl is truly a gifted writer and I hope to read more of her work.
dark
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading (and loving!) Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Silver Nitrate, I came across this novel when searching for more horror novels about films. An epistolary novel where the narration is framed through news clippings, forum posts, tabloid coverage, and more, this is a deeply strange tale with layers upon layers of (un)truth.
The story starts off as a simple thriller: the daughter of enigmatic filmmaker Stan Cordova is found dead, an apparent suicide. Disgraced journalist Scott McGrath, who became persona non grata when he accused Cordova of being a child predator, cannot help but get sucked into the story all over again. However, what will he risk in the process? Beyond its paranormal thriller setup, this is fundamentally a tale about obsession and blind faith. Scott may not believe in the supernatural, yet is so deeply convinced of his own beliefs even when the evidence is scant.
I've seen this novel described as Lynchian, and I can only agree. There are so many layers, each not necessarily providing more explanation or enlightenment than the other. The lines between fact and fiction blur for our protagonists, unable to trust what they're seeing or experiencing. In line with the nebulous nature of the plot, the ending is ambiguous and open to reader interpretation.
That being said, this is a hefty novel, coming in at nearly 1,000 pages on my e-reader. There are parts of the novel which could have been more concise, though I can understand the meandering, floundering chaos as a reflection of Scott's own obsessive, frenzied mind. While I had this initially pegged as a three-star read, the fact that I can't get it out of my mind means that it solidly deserves another star. Definitely one to reflect upon further.
The story starts off as a simple thriller: the daughter of enigmatic filmmaker Stan Cordova is found dead, an apparent suicide. Disgraced journalist Scott McGrath, who became persona non grata when he accused Cordova of being a child predator, cannot help but get sucked into the story all over again. However, what will he risk in the process? Beyond its paranormal thriller setup, this is fundamentally a tale about obsession and blind faith. Scott may not believe in the supernatural, yet is so deeply convinced of his own beliefs even when the evidence is scant.
I've seen this novel described as Lynchian, and I can only agree. There are so many layers, each not necessarily providing more explanation or enlightenment than the other. The lines between fact and fiction blur for our protagonists, unable to trust what they're seeing or experiencing. In line with the nebulous nature of the plot, the ending is ambiguous and open to reader interpretation.
That being said, this is a hefty novel, coming in at nearly 1,000 pages on my e-reader. There are parts of the novel which could have been more concise, though I can understand the meandering, floundering chaos as a reflection of Scott's own obsessive, frenzied mind. While I had this initially pegged as a three-star read, the fact that I can't get it out of my mind means that it solidly deserves another star. Definitely one to reflect upon further.
This book could have ended on any one of the last few chapters and it would have been satisfying. Instead it continued and I don't know how I feel about that.
This was a really fascinating book - interwoven with images and articles - but towards the middle end it started to drag. All of it was interesting and involved but the 'big' moment in the story drags on an don to the point of almost boredom. In any case, it comes back strong but then seems to refuse to end. Am I satisfied with it's conclusion? I don't know. It seemed forced and a way to hold out with mystery rather than close cleanly.
This was a really fascinating book - interwoven with images and articles - but towards the middle end it started to drag. All of it was interesting and involved but the 'big' moment in the story drags on an don to the point of almost boredom. In any case, it comes back strong but then seems to refuse to end. Am I satisfied with it's conclusion? I don't know. It seemed forced and a way to hold out with mystery rather than close cleanly.
Suspenseful, strange page-turner. I really enjoyed being in this unusual world for a couple of weeks.
a few too many characters and plot lines to keep track of
4.5 ⭐️
really enjoyed this one. of the thrillers/mysteries i’ve read, this is definitely one of the more unique stories. i do wish it ended before the Chile section but that might just be me wishing for a neatly tied up story—i don’t think it ruined the book by any means. i also wish the author didn’t write Scott as an ignorant Gen X/Boomer man who spews casual racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. it was never anything too egregious in my opinion—just tasteless and unnecessary comments here and there. he really felt like your one uncle who never knows when to shut the hell up. maybe that was the point (because he is an overall unlikeable character, so maybe the author thought it added to his yuckiness) but it did make me feel icky at points about an otherwise brilliant book. besides that, i do recommend this one! you will just have to overlook Scott’s, erm, ignorance.
really enjoyed this one. of the thrillers/mysteries i’ve read, this is definitely one of the more unique stories. i do wish it ended before the Chile section but that might just be me wishing for a neatly tied up story—i don’t think it ruined the book by any means. i also wish the author didn’t write Scott as an ignorant Gen X/Boomer man who spews casual racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. it was never anything too egregious in my opinion—just tasteless and unnecessary comments here and there. he really felt like your one uncle who never knows when to shut the hell up. maybe that was the point (because he is an overall unlikeable character, so maybe the author thought it added to his yuckiness) but it did make me feel icky at points about an otherwise brilliant book. besides that, i do recommend this one! you will just have to overlook Scott’s, erm, ignorance.
Loved the first half, not so with the second...disappointing