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t_mcconnell's review against another edition
2.0
The book follows three related stories involving a hallucinogenic plant: a taxidermist finds a woman living in his closet, an old lady starts a hunting group and a nine year old tries to figure out why her mom ran away. I didn't care for any of the characters. I didn't really understand any of their motivations, and they seemed very unrealistic and un-relatable. I didn't really care about any of the storylines, and spent most of the book wondering when it would end. Additionally, the book is supposed to take place in somewhere in the midwest, but it didn't really feel like America to me, and it definitely didn't feel like the Midwest. Instead, it reminded me of some South American works that I've read, and I imagined the town to be in South America or Central America. Understandable given that the author is from Argentina, but definitely didn't get those midwestern vibes. Overall, I felt like the book was trying to say something about society, but it never really got there, and the novel just never seemed to get to the point.
yrsbrn's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
knod78's review against another edition
2.0
24 hours later and I'm still trying to figure out what I just read. I think the Sandman character, Delirium was the muse for this book whispering, "ooohhhh write this and this. And don't forget this....oh add something about morphine. Very good. Very good."
This book had the potential to be really great. It was interesting and I kept reading it. There are three main characters with different stories dealing with deers taking over and hurting people and people chunking their lives and children to live in the woods. The characters intersect at the end and things start to maybe make some sense, but it's literally the last couple of pages. My problem with this book is that with 208 pages with all these crazy plotlines (and I emphasize crazy), it's just not big enough and the details are missing. I didn't really understand the "Drop-outs" and their mission, including the origins 60s commune church thing, whatever that was. For instance, a character was referred to as Smithfield for three chapters and by multiple characters. Then, one of the characters randomly switched from Smithfield to Frank and it took a few more pages before it was revealed that Frank is Smithfield. The other bigger problem besides the lack of details is that the author added tangents, SO MANY TANGENTS. And there are no transitions. It's just someone talking or thinking and then bam, we are in the past or the present or maybe a dream.
I don't think I can recommend this book, but I do recognize that it has a good plot and could be so much more. Although, what Midwest allowed a deer population to get too large is beyond me since they are hunters. Oh and I have to point out that Southerners don't go around bludgeoning to death does. We have the strictest laws when it comes to deer hunting. So, whatever.
This book had the potential to be really great. It was interesting and I kept reading it. There are three main characters with different stories dealing with deers taking over and hurting people and people chunking their lives and children to live in the woods. The characters intersect at the end and things start to maybe make some sense, but it's literally the last couple of pages. My problem with this book is that with 208 pages with all these crazy plotlines (and I emphasize crazy), it's just not big enough and the details are missing. I didn't really understand the "Drop-outs" and their mission, including the origins 60s commune church thing, whatever that was. For instance, a character was referred to as Smithfield for three chapters and by multiple characters. Then, one of the characters randomly switched from Smithfield to Frank and it took a few more pages before it was revealed that Frank is Smithfield. The other bigger problem besides the lack of details is that the author added tangents, SO MANY TANGENTS. And there are no transitions. It's just someone talking or thinking and then bam, we are in the past or the present or maybe a dream.
I don't think I can recommend this book, but I do recognize that it has a good plot and could be so much more. Although, what Midwest allowed a deer population to get too large is beyond me since they are hunters. Oh and I have to point out that Southerners don't go around bludgeoning to death does. We have the strictest laws when it comes to deer hunting. So, whatever.
jacksontibet's review against another edition
2.0
An attempt at magical realism or light surrealism that really falls flat. None of the three characters are interesting and, like so much of media these days, they are intertwined in a way that feels listless instead of clever or creative.
lizmart88's review against another edition
I really wanted to like this book! I had trouble with the three points of view per each chapter; it was very hard to follow and get to know the characters. I think it was an interesting idea.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
It sounded like a winner, a group of senior people decides to take action in their own hands when the deer population in their smal Town starts attacking people. It was an okay book to listen to but not much more then that. Don't have any strong emotions for this book neither positive or negative.
superlegitjoy's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know. I never super got into this book or loved it, but I liked it enough and it was well written. It’s not a type of story that I love. But I don’t see big flaws in it. I wish the pieces came together easier, but the work of it was fine.
zellm's review against another edition
1.0
The synopsis made this sound interesting but it wasn't at all as described. So boring and no narrative differences between the man, woman, and child characters.
katreviewof's review against another edition
3.0
this book had me really engaged and I felt like all the build up and story building led to nothing. liked the writing a lot, felt it could have had a more satisfying wrap up :/