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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This book was a rare jewel that I didn't even know I was looking for. It kept me guessing, dancing on the threshold of reality, and overall, I liked the character development (with one subplot exception). The interactive elements appealed to me since I'm an investigator- it felt like I was trying to solve the mystery right along with the main characters and hunt for clues. A fun read that gave me a lot to think about.
Night Film is the story of Ashley Cordova, daughter of a living legend (legendary not only for his extremely important horror films, but also for his reclusiveness), and the journalist obsessed with finding out whether her recent death was a suicide (as the police believe) or something much more sinister. As Scott, the journalist, attempts to unravel the mystery of Ashley's death, he picks up some new, tentative friendships, and finds that the Cordova family might have even more secrets than he ever imagined. Was witchcraft involved? Are Cordova's films something more than they seem? Was there something superhuman about Ashley? Scott wants to know. And he just can't seem to let it go, even as he falls deeper and deeper down the world's most terrifying rabbit hole.
I have really mixed feelings about this book. As far as mysteries go, it's pretty solid. The story that Pessl's come up with really puts its hooks in you and nothing you do will make it let go. The horror elements set just the right mood, so that at times, I wished I wasn't reading it at home alone. Pessl has a literary thing going here too--like I feel like if this was assigned in a college literature course you would find plenty of things to write your essay on. I also love the format. The novel incorporates other documents (in the fashion of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?), including police reports, websites, and typed interview notes. this adds a nice, investigative feel to the whole thing.
That being said, I had a lot of problems with this novel. First, the nature of the story leads you to question everything you are told. I don't want to say to much and reveal any spoilers, but suffice it to say that Pessl sets Ashley's father up as a character that can make all kinds of things happen. I kept questioning what was real, what was a smoke screen, and what was supposed to be taken at face value. This sounds like a compliment, and I think it kind is to her credit that she can do this. At the same time, after I had finished the book I realized that many of the times I felt this way were when clues and answers came out in Scott's interviews with witnesses came too easily. Everyone was so willing to just open themselves up and pour out the exact thing that Scott wanted to know. Was this intentional, to develop the mood I mentioned before? Or accidental? I honestly can't tell. And that is NOT a compliment.
Additionally, I kept questioning why one of the characters was involved in the plot at all. She appears to be a literary device, and little more. This bothers me.
And then there are the italics. They are used at least once in almost every paragraph, and that is NOT ok. I'm not sure why she uses them so much--maybe it's an attempt at something stylistic? Or just misuse of italics, plain and simple? Either way, it isn't working.
You may be wondering why I rated this book so high, when I have so many issues with it. Well, the truth is that despite the problems I had with it, I enjoyed reading it immensely. I couldn't stop. And though some elements aren't working, I can totally see that everything she did had a purpose (except those italics), and that kind of intentionality is so satisfying. You MIGHT like this book if you enjoy The Historian (Kostova)--but no guarantees, ok?
I have really mixed feelings about this book. As far as mysteries go, it's pretty solid. The story that Pessl's come up with really puts its hooks in you and nothing you do will make it let go. The horror elements set just the right mood, so that at times, I wished I wasn't reading it at home alone. Pessl has a literary thing going here too--like I feel like if this was assigned in a college literature course you would find plenty of things to write your essay on. I also love the format. The novel incorporates other documents (in the fashion of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?), including police reports, websites, and typed interview notes. this adds a nice, investigative feel to the whole thing.
That being said, I had a lot of problems with this novel. First, the nature of the story leads you to question everything you are told. I don't want to say to much and reveal any spoilers, but suffice it to say that Pessl sets Ashley's father up as a character that can make all kinds of things happen. I kept questioning what was real, what was a smoke screen, and what was supposed to be taken at face value. This sounds like a compliment, and I think it kind is to her credit that she can do this. At the same time, after I had finished the book I realized that many of the times I felt this way were when clues and answers came out in Scott's interviews with witnesses came too easily. Everyone was so willing to just open themselves up and pour out the exact thing that Scott wanted to know. Was this intentional, to develop the mood I mentioned before? Or accidental? I honestly can't tell. And that is NOT a compliment.
Additionally, I kept questioning why one of the characters was involved in the plot at all. She appears to be a literary device, and little more. This bothers me.
And then there are the italics. They are used at least once in almost every paragraph, and that is NOT ok. I'm not sure why she uses them so much--maybe it's an attempt at something stylistic? Or just misuse of italics, plain and simple? Either way, it isn't working.
You may be wondering why I rated this book so high, when I have so many issues with it. Well, the truth is that despite the problems I had with it, I enjoyed reading it immensely. I couldn't stop. And though some elements aren't working, I can totally see that everything she did had a purpose (except those italics), and that kind of intentionality is so satisfying. You MIGHT like this book if you enjoy The Historian (Kostova)--but no guarantees, ok?
Ever finish a book and just know for a fact that you're going to be thinking about it for a long, long time? This is one of those. It's hard for me to even categorize it. It's a paranormal? thriller? mystery? all of those? none of them?? What happened????
The Good:
-The plot. Intricately weaved with stunning attention to detail. It's the kind of mystery I always crave where you can see once things unfold how they were led up to, but you never guess the actual twists. It also keeps you guessing as to whether or nothing something in this universe is possible or if our MC's going nuts. Layers and layers and layers. Delicious.~
-Couldn't out it down, even though it's 600 pages and I usually need a break with stuff that long, but I really wanted to know what the fuck was going on.
-Characters. I grew more attached to these guys then I do most mystery/thriller characters. Maybe it was just the sheer amount of time I got to know them due to massive page count, but I appreciated that I cared what happened to them in the more dangerous parts of the story.
-World building. The whole "reclusive horror director and his mysterious daughter's death" thing felt so fleshed out and all of the films gone into such detail about that I swear I could stream the suckers on the dark web if I looked hard enough.
-The ending!! AHHHHH!!
The Bad:
-There's a lot of good things to be said about the length of this book that I mentioned above, but right near the end, before those last 30 pages or so of final twist I was seriously wondering why the book was dragging its heels ending. Felt like when you have to pee really bad watching a 3+ hour long movie and it cuts to black and you're so relieved, but then another scene opens and you're flabbergasted at what else could possibly need to be said. Yeah, pre-twist ending wrap up segments dragged.
-The ending!! AHHHHH!! That's right, this is both good and bad. Mind fuck galore and left me wanting more.
The Ugly:
-The representation can be a little off putting. The times non-white characters are mentioned in the story (and it's set in NYC so there's a lot of non-white one off side characters naturally out and about) the description language and stereotypical behavior of the POC characters can be read as a bit racist. Not certain if that's an author thing or a narrating character thing, just be aware it does pop up from time to time and made me a bit uncomfortable. Seconded with a nightclub scene in which several girls are revealed to be probably Assigned Male At Birth (AMAB) and it's not disclosed whether these are transwomen or drag queens or what is really going on in the scene with their characters. The MC, once he notices, does refer to them by male pronouns in his mind half the time and that can be seen as transphobic, seeing as he doesn't know them or their situation. It's not a huge part of the plot, but if this is something that would make you uncomfortable, be advised that this scene does exist.
All in all, I really appreciated this book and what it accomplished as a mystery. It was everything I wanted it to be when I picked it up and more. Definitely check it out if you enjoyed extremely layered mysteries with tons of twists and turns, and open ended stories that leave you on the edge of your seat.
The Good:
-The plot. Intricately weaved with stunning attention to detail. It's the kind of mystery I always crave where you can see once things unfold how they were led up to, but you never guess the actual twists. It also keeps you guessing as to whether or nothing something in this universe is possible or if our MC's going nuts. Layers and layers and layers. Delicious.~
-Couldn't out it down, even though it's 600 pages and I usually need a break with stuff that long, but I really wanted to know what the fuck was going on.
-Characters. I grew more attached to these guys then I do most mystery/thriller characters. Maybe it was just the sheer amount of time I got to know them due to massive page count, but I appreciated that I cared what happened to them in the more dangerous parts of the story.
-World building. The whole "reclusive horror director and his mysterious daughter's death" thing felt so fleshed out and all of the films gone into such detail about that I swear I could stream the suckers on the dark web if I looked hard enough.
-The ending!! AHHHHH!!
The Bad:
-There's a lot of good things to be said about the length of this book that I mentioned above, but right near the end, before those last 30 pages or so of final twist I was seriously wondering why the book was dragging its heels ending. Felt like when you have to pee really bad watching a 3+ hour long movie and it cuts to black and you're so relieved, but then another scene opens and you're flabbergasted at what else could possibly need to be said. Yeah, pre-twist ending wrap up segments dragged.
-The ending!! AHHHHH!! That's right, this is both good and bad. Mind fuck galore and left me wanting more.
The Ugly:
-The representation can be a little off putting. The times non-white characters are mentioned in the story (and it's set in NYC so there's a lot of non-white one off side characters naturally out and about) the description language and stereotypical behavior of the POC characters can be read as a bit racist. Not certain if that's an author thing or a narrating character thing, just be aware it does pop up from time to time and made me a bit uncomfortable. Seconded with a nightclub scene in which several girls are revealed to be probably Assigned Male At Birth (AMAB) and it's not disclosed whether these are transwomen or drag queens or what is really going on in the scene with their characters. The MC, once he notices, does refer to them by male pronouns in his mind half the time and that can be seen as transphobic, seeing as he doesn't know them or their situation. It's not a huge part of the plot, but if this is something that would make you uncomfortable, be advised that this scene does exist.
All in all, I really appreciated this book and what it accomplished as a mystery. It was everything I wanted it to be when I picked it up and more. Definitely check it out if you enjoyed extremely layered mysteries with tons of twists and turns, and open ended stories that leave you on the edge of your seat.
I cannot at all remember how this came to be on my radar and why I decided I needed to put a hold on it immediately at the library (especially now that I look and see it was published in 2014). Regardless, I am so glad I checked this one out. This one is so different and so creepy and just so not what I was expecting. I loved the blend of formats to tell the story (this book must be read in print). I loved the mystery and the suspense and how this one kept me guessing the entire time. Do I wish this book were shorter.....yes. But......this one is definitely worth the time it took to get through. I will truly remember so many of the details of this one for a long time to come.
this book should’ve been so good. and was good. i’m listening and for the last hour of the book, i’ve thought at the end of every chapter - this could end now and it would be good. but it’s still going and now i’m irritated.
if you want to read, please do! and enjoy! but stop near chapter 100 and never look back. ❤️
i love black magic. i love occultism. i love the idea of gritty dark movies.
i do not like… chilè.
if you want to read, please do! and enjoy! but stop near chapter 100 and never look back. ❤️
i love black magic. i love occultism. i love the idea of gritty dark movies.
i do not like… chilè.
I was originally really interested in this book because I love novels with mixed media, and this was fairly highly rated at its peak.
I went back and forth from the physical book to the audiobook, just because I kept struggling to get through it. I didn’t find that I cared about the characters of the mystery, and it just kept dragging out until it hit the climax near the end.
Maybe I completely missed the boat on this one, but I didn’t find it thrilling, I didn’t find the characters likable, and I was more excited to finish it than to learn what had happened.
I went back and forth from the physical book to the audiobook, just because I kept struggling to get through it. I didn’t find that I cared about the characters of the mystery, and it just kept dragging out until it hit the climax near the end.
Maybe I completely missed the boat on this one, but I didn’t find it thrilling, I didn’t find the characters likable, and I was more excited to finish it than to learn what had happened.
This was such a mixed bag for me. I started listening to it via audiobook, which despite the HORRIBLE narrator was a great way to spend 6+ miles of walking time per day -- but was taking FOREVER so eventually I caved and read the second half of the book in one sitting. Other reviewers have addressed all my concerns (the pointless, Scooby Doo quality of the secondary characters! The endless freaking italics! The inability of Pessl to leave things be!) and say this was entertaining, but that's about it.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Very enjoyable.
Loved it! I couldn't put this book down and when I was forced to I couldn't wait to read it more.