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A review by eemilycolleen
Devil House by John Darnielle
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ohhhhhh JD, you massive motherfucker, you've done it again my boy. it's about what we owe each other when there's nothing left but the owing; it's about how much things matter when you are a teenager and how they keep mattering long long after; it's about the absolute suffering and tragedy of friendship; it's about what we remember, and what we forget. also it's about castle doctrine.
ALSO just! the playfulness and sophistication of the form, UGH, that's john for ya. the symmetrical structure! the middle section! the final section! i am smirking and also my wee heart hurts. loved LOVED this.
- I know, that's how it is with everybody, the idea that people might need to be protected from the facts of a case, it runs counter to what we're taught, you know, but I had Jana Perez's letter right there in front of me, like an air raid siren sounding the alarm, it matters which story you tell, it matters whose story you tell, it matters what people think even if it doesn't matter to the people who needed it before the disaster hit. That's the thing, those of us on this side of the disaster, we get so dazzled by the fireworks, by the conflagration I want to say, that we don't see the gigantic expanse over there on the other side of the flames, but, you know. People have to live there.
ALSO just! the playfulness and sophistication of the form, UGH, that's john for ya. the symmetrical structure! the middle section! the final section! i am smirking and also my wee heart hurts. loved LOVED this.
- I know, that's how it is with everybody, the idea that people might need to be protected from the facts of a case, it runs counter to what we're taught, you know, but I had Jana Perez's letter right there in front of me, like an air raid siren sounding the alarm, it matters which story you tell, it matters whose story you tell, it matters what people think even if it doesn't matter to the people who needed it before the disaster hit. That's the thing, those of us on this side of the disaster, we get so dazzled by the fireworks, by the conflagration I want to say, that we don't see the gigantic expanse over there on the other side of the flames, but, you know. People have to live there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse