A review by woolerys
Open Throat by Henry Hoke

dark funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Writing - 5/5
Plot - 3/5
Characters -  4/5
Setting -  5/5
TOTAL:  4.25

The strength of this book is the poetry. I am kind of biased against stories told in free verse after reading too many in a row as an adolescent, so the fact that I liked that aspect of it is noteworthy. Here’s a tiny excerpt that made me laugh, as an example:

where there are therapists running around
everywhere like deer and I can just find one and
catch it and pin it down

store it somewhere safe and visit it once a week

I thought the first half or so was strongest, and felt less compelled by the subplot with "little Slaughter," but to each their own. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings