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lacestow7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Lacy’s Tear Tier: 0/5
Trigger Warnings: child missing, death, religious trauma, mentions of abuse
This book was a long, slow read for me. I actually really enjoyed the beginning. The plot moved quickly, and there were some genuinely unsettling moments. But after Christopher comes back from the woods, things started to go off the rails and get a little confusing for me. There were multiple points of view and sometimes if was difficult to see how the stories intertwined, and to keep up with everyone's POV. The story was much more drawn out than I think it really needed to be. There was a lot of meat to this book, but I think it would have worked just fine, if it was a couple hundred of pages shorter. It did start coming around again at the end. Things started to happen, there was action, fear, and a fast pace to keep me interested.
The characters in this book show many different facets of human nature. We see people that seem cookie cutter, that do terrible things behind closed doors. We see people that seem like they'd be bitter and angry, but were actually really nice and helpful. Just remember that we never know what someone is going through, and not to judge a book by its cover.
People seem to have many different interpretations of this book. I interpreted it as an allegory of religion. There were many themes of good and evil, heaven and hell, especially toward the end of the novel.
Overall, this book was okay. There were parts I really enjoyed, but some that bored me to tears. If it's on your list, give it a try! You might love it!
Trigger Warnings: child missing, death, religious trauma, mentions of abuse
This book was a long, slow read for me. I actually really enjoyed the beginning. The plot moved quickly, and there were some genuinely unsettling moments. But after Christopher comes back from the woods, things started to go off the rails and get a little confusing for me. There were multiple points of view and sometimes if was difficult to see how the stories intertwined, and to keep up with everyone's POV. The story was much more drawn out than I think it really needed to be. There was a lot of meat to this book, but I think it would have worked just fine, if it was a couple hundred of pages shorter. It did start coming around again at the end. Things started to happen, there was action, fear, and a fast pace to keep me interested.
The characters in this book show many different facets of human nature. We see people that seem cookie cutter, that do terrible things behind closed doors. We see people that seem like they'd be bitter and angry, but were actually really nice and helpful. Just remember that we never know what someone is going through, and not to judge a book by its cover.
People seem to have many different interpretations of this book. I interpreted it as an allegory of religion. There were many themes of good and evil, heaven and hell, especially toward the end of the novel.
Overall, this book was okay. There were parts I really enjoyed, but some that bored me to tears. If it's on your list, give it a try! You might love it!
chelseatm's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a weird journey. It started with a misleading book sleeve summary which barely scratched the surface of this plot.
It was very Stephen King-esque and I really enjoyed the first three quarters. But then it took a turn. The plot became incredibly convuluted and confusing. There were some plot holes that were never explained and then it seemed like a hail Mary in the last sentence.
Overall, while I enjoyed some of it, I can't recommend it.
It was very Stephen King-esque and I really enjoyed the first three quarters. But then it took a turn. The plot became incredibly convuluted and confusing. There were some plot holes that were never explained and then it seemed like a hail Mary in the last sentence.
Overall, while I enjoyed some of it, I can't recommend it.
jordynjohnson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really, really enjoyed this book. The world was so immersive, dark and thought provoking and I found myself feeling so upset for Christopher and his mother. I was so shocked with the twist that the Nice Man was actually the bad guy and the Hissing Lady was the one trying to help everyone. The themes were really confronting but it was definitely a worthwhile read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job, her performance was really moving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Child death
vonderbash's review against another edition
5.0
It's like a combination of "The Stand" and "Stranger Things."
What a trip. It's long, but I was on edge the entire time.
What a trip. It's long, but I was on edge the entire time.
faithsmith122's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely took me a lot longer to get through than a book normally does but it was SO worth it. I originally bought this book a year and a half ago in passing just from seeing it was written by Stephen Chbosky since The Perks of Being a Wallflower is my favorite book of all time and NEEDED to read any other book written by him. I’m so happy I finally read it because somehow this book in a completely different genre made me feel so many similar feelings as tpobaw it was shocking. This definitely isn’t my favorite choice of genre but the style of writing was very captivating and the short chapters made it an easy read. There’s so many different POVs throughout the book that you really feel like you’re a part of the town and know the characters well.
darcey_kyle05's review against another edition
3.0
The writing, the vibe, the whole first half-ish of this book was so good… the writing continued to be pretty good. By the half way mark it kept seeming like it was coming to the climax and then It didn’t. Which is okay I was understanding of the need for these pieces later. I’m not a religious person so the last part of this book was just overkill for me. I wanted to love this. I wanted to love this SO MUCH. & the first 3/4 or more of the book, I did. But that ending section…. & it’s really not the religious aspect that brought this down from 5 star to MAYBE 3 stars. It’s the way it was done. Sloshing my way through the end, being beat with the “message” over and over. And then to be left with something of a cliffhanger (which I was expecting) and already had a theory about how that scenario ACTUALLY came to fruition.
And that’s all I can I say. Anything else would be spoilers for people who still want to read this.
And that’s all I can I say. Anything else would be spoilers for people who still want to read this.
christin3vans's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
3.0
I think this book did a lot of cool things, but it was just too long and I found myself getting a little bored at times.
goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
So take Stephen King, Coraline, The Shining, Stranger Things, Nightmare on Elm Street and the worst nightmare you’ve ever had and you might get a tiny idea of what you’re getting into with this book. Disturbing and super
unsettling.
unsettling.
stefarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0