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kimblefairy1989's review against another edition
1.0
I really disliked this novel for several reasons:
1) the blurb lulls you into thinking that we're going to read a story about a man hunting down wolves that have been stealing children from a remote Alaskan village. However, after the first 30 pages, this changed into a second rate crime novel.
2) there was literally no explanation either for the boys death or the random violence that ensued after his body had been found.
3) I didn't connect with any of the characters and the story just felt flat. Despite it being a short novel, it felt very long.
Overall, 1 very begrudging star from me.
1) the blurb lulls you into thinking that we're going to read a story about a man hunting down wolves that have been stealing children from a remote Alaskan village. However, after the first 30 pages, this changed into a second rate crime novel.
2) there was literally no explanation either for the boys death or the random violence that ensued after his body had been found.
3) I didn't connect with any of the characters and the story just felt flat. Despite it being a short novel, it felt very long.
Overall, 1 very begrudging star from me.
elijah_renz's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
if i knew it was a horror book, i probably wouldn’t have been weirded out. just bizarre. and although you can respect the author writing a crazy plot twist at the end, i was not a fan of the details of it.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
It has taken me a long time to decide what to make of this book. It is dark in tone and content. The setting is a small village in Alaska. A journalist, Russell Core, is asked by a woman, Medora Slone, to come to the village to determine what is happening with the children. Three kids, including Medora's son, have been taken by wolves. This is the impetus of the story: why are the wolves taking and eating these kids?
But, there is so much more going on here. Medora's husband is deployed and is unaware of what is going on. Until he is injured and then returns home. This is where things get pretty violent. There is a lot of bloodshed and much of it is not necessary. Or is it?
I can't decide if this is about a woman's loss, a husband's PTSD, or a man's awakening (Core).
The writing is taut and the characters flawed. But, for me, it works.
But, there is so much more going on here. Medora's husband is deployed and is unaware of what is going on. Until he is injured and then returns home. This is where things get pretty violent. There is a lot of bloodshed and much of it is not necessary. Or is it?
I can't decide if this is about a woman's loss, a husband's PTSD, or a man's awakening (Core).
The writing is taut and the characters flawed. But, for me, it works.
holly_117's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those books that's really hard to review. It's very well written and the plot is tightly woven, but the story seems incomplete. There's a clear arc to the story, but so much is never explained or discussed that the ending is unsatisfying. I'm not a person who has to have everything wrapped up in a neat little package at the end of a book, but this one just left too much unexplained for me to give it a really good review.
Spoiler
For example, you learn that Medora and Vernon Slone are twins, not just a married couple and that everyone in Keelut knows that. But you never learn Medora's reasons for killing their son, Bailey, or contacting Core, the wolf expert. You never learn why Vernon and Cheeon go on their killing spree once Vernon gets back from his deployment. You never learn why they let Core live - was it intentional or a mistake? Did wolves really kill the other two kids or was that Medora too? Or Bailey's work? Who knows?chrissyetc's review against another edition
3.0
I struggled with the style and tone of this book, but there is no denying that it's extremely atmospheric. I experienced a sort of shock when I put this oppressively dark, wintry book down and walked outside into 70-degree sunshine to grab lunch.
tasharobinson's review against another edition
4.0
Read this one because Jeremy Saulnier's film adaptation for Netflix got me curious about what he left out — there's one really major plot point not included in the film, and I was wondering if there were others. Sure enough, there's a final chapter to the story that hugely changes its tenor and focus. I found the film intense and beautiful, but kind of unfocused, because Russell is so clearly the main character, and yet he has nothing much to do in the story but witness it. The book is more balanced between perspectives, and clearer about the fact that he's there as a witness, not a star. Hard to do in a film, especially with a really famous actor in that role.
As a book, Hold the Dark is remarkably lean, economical, and driven. It's also tremendously convincing in portraying the haunted emptiness of this area of Alaska, and the oppressive beauty of the wilderness. It's a quick, spare read that's particularly good for the kind of snowy winter night where you really want to be under a couple of blankets, preferably with a fire going, but want to tease yourself about what it would be like to need to venture out into the outside world on a mission. The characters are very clearly drawn, but tersely.
As a book, Hold the Dark is remarkably lean, economical, and driven. It's also tremendously convincing in portraying the haunted emptiness of this area of Alaska, and the oppressive beauty of the wilderness. It's a quick, spare read that's particularly good for the kind of snowy winter night where you really want to be under a couple of blankets, preferably with a fire going, but want to tease yourself about what it would be like to need to venture out into the outside world on a mission. The characters are very clearly drawn, but tersely.
mnboyer's review against another edition
1.0
PopSugar 2018 reading challenge #1
Full disclosure: I watched the film adaptation of this novel before I read the novel. I normally attempt to do this the other way around, as the book is genuinely the 'first' and usually 'better' rendition of an adaptation. I am not sure if this fact altered my rating of the novel... but perhaps it did a bit.
Where do I begin with how much I disliked this novel? I think I should start with the blurb that drew me in: children are being eaten by wolves in an isolated Alaskan village and a wolf behavior expert is asked to come and determine (1) if this is true and then (2) if it is true, hunt the wolf/wolves responsible. But, the blurb also notes that there is going to be a deeper mystery that is going to complicate what would otherwise be an interesting concept on its own. No, I do not want to see wolves get killed for eating children (whoopsies happen in the wilderness) but I do want to read a book about a man uncovering this mystery, tracking wolves, etc.
What I did not want to read is the absolute shit show that follows that initial opening. We find out almost immediately that our wolf expert (Russell Core) is not interested in hunting wolves. Actually, I'm fine with this (again, I don't actually want the wolves to be killed). It would still be interesting to let him "sleuth" this way through this town and the wilderness as he tries to figure out what the wolves are doing. Sure, they're starving so their motivations are pretty simple, but I'd still like to see Core sort through this. Track some wolves. You know, what I was promised when I read the blurb (whether it be the blurb on the book or the Netflix film, as it were).
Instead of focusing on this, we end up getting sucked into a tale about a mother (Medora) who has killed her child and her husband (Vernon) who has returned from the Iraq war (although we get a lot of details about what he was doing in Iraq before coming home). Throw in some indigenous pepperings of "tales" and "stories" and a "darkness" (sigh, they could have done this part so much better and should have done this part so much better -- please do not use indigenous communities as a plot/narrative device while also showing that culture no respect at the same time). Throw in some weird mask that is never fully explained (sigh, again, we're pulling from indigenous but also crapping all over it at the same time).
If you think that the "twist" of why Medora killer her child is going to be interesting, require deep investigation, etc., -- disappointed. The author delivers the 'why' rather plainly. And then you're left wondering: uh, okay, but you waited 7 years to kill the kid? Why, why, why -- no true answers. Just an answer that is supposed to make you think "wow, that's super interesting" although it never is. Also, why call someone in to find the kid's body (whether wolves or you killed the kid, could have just shushed and been fine). Was this a cry for help? If it was, the ending is... even worse.
If you think that there is going to be a deep discussion about PTSD, the effects of war on people, Vernon's general mental state as he goes across Alaska murdering people... again, you may be disappointed.
What you are going to get is a VERY easy to see coming from 100 miles in a snowstorm "wow" moment when it is revealed that Vernon and Medora are, indeed, husband and wife... but there's a deeper darker connection here. Shocking. Except, not really, because I saw it coming and you likely will too. And what was the point of this big revelation, this big shock, this big secret... did it make the story any better? No. No not at all. In fact it just makes you scratch your head more and say "why?" over and over again as you scream into a pillow.
Now, adaptation spoilers. General spoilers. Whatever. At the end Vernon does not kill Medora (as we all thought he may because, after all, she has killed their kid and he seems upset by this initially only to, idk, forget to be upset). Instead, the two shack back up (full on sex in front of Cole, who Vernon has attempted to murder) and wander off into the snow together with the body of their kid... what the bleep did I just read? And... why? Knowing that I did not enjoy the film much, why did I then decide to pick up this novel??? Oh yeah, because I thought it might be better and I wanted to give it a go -- regret, mistake, sorrow, disappointment flood me now.
Full disclosure: I watched the film adaptation of this novel before I read the novel. I normally attempt to do this the other way around, as the book is genuinely the 'first' and usually 'better' rendition of an adaptation. I am not sure if this fact altered my rating of the novel... but perhaps it did a bit.
Where do I begin with how much I disliked this novel? I think I should start with the blurb that drew me in: children are being eaten by wolves in an isolated Alaskan village and a wolf behavior expert is asked to come and determine (1) if this is true and then (2) if it is true, hunt the wolf/wolves responsible. But, the blurb also notes that there is going to be a deeper mystery that is going to complicate what would otherwise be an interesting concept on its own. No, I do not want to see wolves get killed for eating children (whoopsies happen in the wilderness) but I do want to read a book about a man uncovering this mystery, tracking wolves, etc.
What I did not want to read is the absolute shit show that follows that initial opening. We find out almost immediately that our wolf expert (Russell Core) is not interested in hunting wolves. Actually, I'm fine with this (again, I don't actually want the wolves to be killed). It would still be interesting to let him "sleuth" this way through this town and the wilderness as he tries to figure out what the wolves are doing. Sure, they're starving so their motivations are pretty simple, but I'd still like to see Core sort through this. Track some wolves. You know, what I was promised when I read the blurb (whether it be the blurb on the book or the Netflix film, as it were).
Instead of focusing on this, we end up getting sucked into a tale about a mother (Medora) who has killed her child and her husband (Vernon) who has returned from the Iraq war (although we get a lot of details about what he was doing in Iraq before coming home). Throw in some indigenous pepperings of "tales" and "stories" and a "darkness" (sigh, they could have done this part so much better and should have done this part so much better -- please do not use indigenous communities as a plot/narrative device while also showing that culture no respect at the same time). Throw in some weird mask that is never fully explained (sigh, again, we're pulling from indigenous but also crapping all over it at the same time).
If you think that the "twist" of why Medora killer her child is going to be interesting, require deep investigation, etc., -- disappointed. The author delivers the 'why' rather plainly. And then you're left wondering: uh, okay, but you waited 7 years to kill the kid? Why, why, why -- no true answers. Just an answer that is supposed to make you think "wow, that's super interesting" although it never is. Also, why call someone in to find the kid's body (whether wolves or you killed the kid, could have just shushed and been fine). Was this a cry for help? If it was, the ending is... even worse.
If you think that there is going to be a deep discussion about PTSD, the effects of war on people, Vernon's general mental state as he goes across Alaska murdering people... again, you may be disappointed.
What you are going to get is a VERY easy to see coming from 100 miles in a snowstorm "wow" moment when it is revealed that Vernon and Medora are, indeed, husband and wife... but there's a deeper darker connection here. Shocking. Except, not really, because I saw it coming and you likely will too. And what was the point of this big revelation, this big shock, this big secret... did it make the story any better? No. No not at all. In fact it just makes you scratch your head more and say "why?" over and over again as you scream into a pillow.
Now, adaptation spoilers. General spoilers. Whatever. At the end Vernon does not kill Medora (as we all thought he may because, after all, she has killed their kid and he seems upset by this initially only to, idk, forget to be upset). Instead, the two shack back up (full on sex in front of Cole, who Vernon has attempted to murder) and wander off into the snow together with the body of their kid... what the bleep did I just read? And... why? Knowing that I did not enjoy the film much, why did I then decide to pick up this novel??? Oh yeah, because I thought it might be better and I wanted to give it a go -- regret, mistake, sorrow, disappointment flood me now.
getlostmatilda's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars
I loved the Netflix movie 'Hold the Dark' but I was left with so many questions by the time the credits were rolling. I decided to pick up the book a few days ago and I'm so glad I did! The movie definitely does the book justice, but books are always going to be more detailed and explain things like motives and motifs a lot better.
Now that I'm finished, I'm going to try the movie again and pick up more things I missed before I had the backstory that the book contains.
I loved the Netflix movie 'Hold the Dark' but I was left with so many questions by the time the credits were rolling. I decided to pick up the book a few days ago and I'm so glad I did! The movie definitely does the book justice, but books are always going to be more detailed and explain things like motives and motifs a lot better.
Now that I'm finished, I'm going to try the movie again and pick up more things I missed before I had the backstory that the book contains.
rizzykaye's review against another edition
5.0
I checked this out because I wanted to watch the Netflix movie (which I will still do) but this was so dark and violent and weird. Not what I was expecting at all, but still better than I expected. I appreciated how the people of the story were described in wolffish ways, more so than the wolves themselves. Very savage and brutal. The language also felt cold and sharp like the physical setting. I listened to the audio version of this book and for once I think it enhanced the story. The voice for the reading was quite gruff and raspy.