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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Lifeblood escapes all the time, minor haemorrhages, a little a day. Maybe that is how we age. Maybe that is how we die.
I'm glad I went into this one completely blind. I just read the blurb, and while I don't think it gives too much away, it was really creepy and fun having no idea what was happening in the beginning of this weird little novella. The writing is searing and sharp, just as descriptive as it needs to be and not a jot more, but still lovely. Thompson has created an extremely memorable protagonist in Molly; brilliant, dry, efficient, a survivor. I kinda wish this book had zigged instead of zagged, and I was waiting for it to get weird in a completely different way. Also, this is totally a me thing, but when we finally got some answers, they happened to tie into themes that I, personally, am always incredibly bored by.
Still. Really terrific. My first by this author; definitely not my last.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
lots of murders, blood, gore, dismemberments, grossness, self harmMerged review:
Lifeblood escapes all the time, minor haemorrhages, a little a day. Maybe that is how we age. Maybe that is how we die.
I'm glad I went into this one completely blind. I just read the blurb, and while I don't think it gives too much away, it was really creepy and fun having no idea what was happening in the beginning of this weird little novella. The writing is searing and sharp, just as descriptive as it needs to be and not a jot more, but still lovely. Thompson has created an extremely memorable protagonist in Molly; brilliant, dry, efficient, a survivor. I kinda wish this book had zigged instead of zagged, and I was waiting for it to get weird in a completely different way. Also, this is totally a me thing, but when we finally got some answers, they happened to tie into themes that I, personally, am always incredibly bored by.
Still. Really terrific. My first by this author; definitely not my last.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
lots of murders, blood, gore, dismemberments, grossness, self harm
If you see a girl who looks like you, run and fight. Don’t bleed. If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach. If you find a hole, find your parents.
Imagine that, as you read this, you get a nosebleed. How do you feel?
Probably a bit annoyed, right? Maybe coupled with a little latent embarrassment from those times you got one at school. No doubt there's a little acorn of anxiety deep down about it (what if it's a harbinger of something worse?) especially if you're not used to getting them anymore.
Now imagine that, as a result of this nosebleed, a murderous doppelgänger has just been birthed and it's on its way to kill you.
How do you feel now?! Terrified? Baffled? Terribaffled?!
Well, for Molly Southbourne, this is her daily reality- that a drop of her blood spawns a vicious duplicate of her- and in this taut and unputdownable horror novella, you will feel all of that dread and confusion and then some. Thompson's slim read is an immensely creepy affair, one that speaks to an unnamable body horror about our own identities and self-perceived uniqueness. There are allegories about parenthood, adolescence, simulacra and the multitudinous self. Beyond any literary analysis though, this is just a malevolently gruesome and unsettling story. The multiple scenes where Molly wakes up to see a molly staring at her from across her bedroom are some of the most effective horror I've read in years and I read the whole thing in just two brief sittings.
Thompson's prose is blunt and forceful, full of ambiguous spaces where reader's thoughts and interpretations can echo. It is a bizarre, brutal but brilliantly compelling short read.
Just hope you don't get a nosebleed after reading it....
Imagine that, as you read this, you get a nosebleed. How do you feel?
Probably a bit annoyed, right? Maybe coupled with a little latent embarrassment from those times you got one at school. No doubt there's a little acorn of anxiety deep down about it (what if it's a harbinger of something worse?) especially if you're not used to getting them anymore.
Now imagine that, as a result of this nosebleed, a murderous doppelgänger has just been birthed and it's on its way to kill you.
How do you feel now?! Terrified? Baffled? Terribaffled?!
Well, for Molly Southbourne, this is her daily reality- that a drop of her blood spawns a vicious duplicate of her- and in this taut and unputdownable horror novella, you will feel all of that dread and confusion and then some. Thompson's slim read is an immensely creepy affair, one that speaks to an unnamable body horror about our own identities and self-perceived uniqueness. There are allegories about parenthood, adolescence, simulacra and the multitudinous self. Beyond any literary analysis though, this is just a malevolently gruesome and unsettling story. The multiple scenes where Molly wakes up to see a molly staring at her from across her bedroom are some of the most effective horror I've read in years and I read the whole thing in just two brief sittings.
Thompson's prose is blunt and forceful, full of ambiguous spaces where reader's thoughts and interpretations can echo. It is a bizarre, brutal but brilliantly compelling short read.
Just hope you don't get a nosebleed after reading it....
Very unique plot and interesting execution. I thought Molly was a fascinating character and I loved her relationship with her parents.
This is amazing.
The character study of Molly is incredible, while having such an enveloping plot. I loved the family dynamic and it reminded me a little of Sue Rainsford’s FOLLOW ME TO GROUND. The writing was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to read the sequel.
The character study of Molly is incredible, while having such an enveloping plot. I loved the family dynamic and it reminded me a little of Sue Rainsford’s FOLLOW ME TO GROUND. The writing was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to read the sequel.
This was a really addicting, creepy read. I loved the premise and the way it was told, but the way it all comes together didn’t feel cohesive enough to be satisfying.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cool idea but I think the execution was a bit lackluster and the pacing odd.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Read this book thanks to Tor.com eBook Club (thanks!)
The Murders of Molly Southborne is a good read for a single sitting, a short story with an engaging narrative. As other readers pointed, the blurb seems a bit farfetched and silly, but the idea really pans out to an interesting story, as long as you keep a minimum suspension of disbelief - as in "don't discuss the science behind it", which honestly can be a rule by itself for the whole horror genre.
The concept and the main character feel different and strange and, while I had an easier time understanding and relating to young-Molly as opposed to the robotic and unfeeling adult-Molly, I guess years of carnage can do that to a person.
I have to say I do not enjoy gore at all and tend to avoid it like the plague, but while the book does feature dismemberment and plenty of human body disposal / dissection, it's not a focus of the story and it's not described in great detail, so I didn't mind.
I would have loved a bit more depth on Mom's story or the world wide fertility problems, but overall I really liked this book.
The Murders of Molly Southborne is a good read for a single sitting, a short story with an engaging narrative. As other readers pointed, the blurb seems a bit farfetched and silly, but the idea really pans out to an interesting story, as long as you keep a minimum suspension of disbelief - as in "don't discuss the science behind it", which honestly can be a rule by itself for the whole horror genre.
The concept and the main character feel different and strange and, while I had an easier time understanding and relating to young-Molly as opposed to the robotic and unfeeling adult-Molly, I guess years of carnage can do that to a person.
I have to say I do not enjoy gore at all and tend to avoid it like the plague, but while the book does feature dismemberment and plenty of human body disposal / dissection, it's not a focus of the story and it's not described in great detail, so I didn't mind.
I would have loved a bit more depth on Mom's story or the world wide fertility problems, but overall I really liked this book.