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A review by vanmeers
Coup de grâce by Sofia Ajram
5.0
This book FUCKS! With a capital F.
The description for this being "a mindbending and visceral experimental horror" is absolutely accurate, on so many levels, and it's one of those stories that will beg to be read again and again. There's so many layers to this, that I can hardly think clearly even after having sat with my emotions after having read this weeks ago?
It's a heavy story on depression, the pain of living and the surreal nightmare of living under capitalism. The subway station feels like existential dread personified mixed with all my childhood nightmares of walking through neverending neighbourhoods with no one around – just me and my silly little fears. It's so uncomfortable and visceral, and just in your face, and it's made even better with having you decide Vicken's fate.
The fact that we get to just decide Vicken's fate in a choose your own nightmarish adventure is a CHOICE and I'm all here for it. It feels so intentional within the context of capitalism: how we're all part of the machine, never really in charge of our own choices and the future they bring, and how ultimately we're moved by other people's choices — whether Vicken gets a happy ending or not, it all depends on the whims of the reader.
Which also means it's a story that you can and should reread and then question your own actions? Are you making Vicken suffer or do you want the best for him, and why? It's honestly a great way to see how the choices we make, that affects others, are maybe also just affected by everything else around us? Like, maybe I'm reading too much into it but that's the beauty of stories. They take on their own lives and this one is a story that begs to live on in the minds of readers in my opinion!
Anyway, TL;DR this is a messed up little book with a lot to say and it will make you FEEL things. It also gives off serious "when you're depressed but you grew up on Homestuck" vibes AND it mentions John Dies at the End. So if you're anything like me, consuming media that relates to other media, you should pick this up — also it's GAY and almost a tragicomedy so it's perfect.
/// ARC courtesy of Titan Books and Edelweiss.
The description for this being "a mindbending and visceral experimental horror" is absolutely accurate, on so many levels, and it's one of those stories that will beg to be read again and again. There's so many layers to this, that I can hardly think clearly even after having sat with my emotions after having read this weeks ago?
It's a heavy story on depression, the pain of living and the surreal nightmare of living under capitalism. The subway station feels like existential dread personified mixed with all my childhood nightmares of walking through neverending neighbourhoods with no one around – just me and my silly little fears. It's so uncomfortable and visceral, and just in your face, and it's made even better with having you decide Vicken's fate.
The fact that we get to just decide Vicken's fate in a choose your own nightmarish adventure is a CHOICE and I'm all here for it. It feels so intentional within the context of capitalism: how we're all part of the machine, never really in charge of our own choices and the future they bring, and how ultimately we're moved by other people's choices — whether Vicken gets a happy ending or not, it all depends on the whims of the reader.
Which also means it's a story that you can and should reread and then question your own actions? Are you making Vicken suffer or do you want the best for him, and why? It's honestly a great way to see how the choices we make, that affects others, are maybe also just affected by everything else around us? Like, maybe I'm reading too much into it but that's the beauty of stories. They take on their own lives and this one is a story that begs to live on in the minds of readers in my opinion!
Anyway, TL;DR this is a messed up little book with a lot to say and it will make you FEEL things. It also gives off serious "when you're depressed but you grew up on Homestuck" vibes AND it mentions John Dies at the End. So if you're anything like me, consuming media that relates to other media, you should pick this up — also it's GAY and almost a tragicomedy so it's perfect.
/// ARC courtesy of Titan Books and Edelweiss.