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A review by christajls
Bedbugs: A Novel of Infestation by Ben H. Winters
4.0
This review originally posted at Christa's Hooked on Books
Susan and Alex have just moved into their dream home. Sure it has a few quirks, what place doesn't, but it's beautiful, has lots of space, and even an extra room for Susan to do her painting in. The landlady is a little eccentric but she seems dedicated to the place. What more could they reasonably ask for?
After a couple of days at the new place, however, Susan realizes it may have more problems then they expected. She is convinced that the place is infested with bedbugs. She sees them out of the corner of her eye, she wakes up in the morning with fresh bites. They must be there somewhere. Her situation becomes more and more desperate, however, when no one else can see the bugs and no one else is getting bitten. Unable to sleep, eat, paint or function at all like a normal person, Susan (and everyone around her) is convinced she is going mad. There is one thing she knows for certain – the bugs are there and they have her trapped in her own personal hell.
Considering that I just moved to a big city and that bedbugs are a growing problem all over at the moment, I don't think there could have been a more disturbing book for me to pick up and read before bed. I mean I expected it to be creepy – it is after all called Bedbugs. But I did not expect to be up half the night finishing it and then spend the second half of the night wide awake staring at the ceiling.
The pacing in this novel is perfect. Everything is unraveled slowly and methodically. It really gives you the feeling of dread that just grows and grows as the story continues. It really says something about the writing when a novel can keep the same level of dread/anxiety throughout the entire work. There was not a single point during this book that I got bored, or that my mind wandered or that I even thought about putting it down.
Ben H. Winters weaves together a plot that is full of twists and turns. It will have you biting your nails in suspense. Bedbugs is dark, creepy and it will keep you guessing. As freaked out as I was I really enjoyed reading this book. It's like watching a horror movie – it scares you but you keep coming back for more. I recommend this book to all who are looking for a good scare every once and awhile.
Susan and Alex have just moved into their dream home. Sure it has a few quirks, what place doesn't, but it's beautiful, has lots of space, and even an extra room for Susan to do her painting in. The landlady is a little eccentric but she seems dedicated to the place. What more could they reasonably ask for?
After a couple of days at the new place, however, Susan realizes it may have more problems then they expected. She is convinced that the place is infested with bedbugs. She sees them out of the corner of her eye, she wakes up in the morning with fresh bites. They must be there somewhere. Her situation becomes more and more desperate, however, when no one else can see the bugs and no one else is getting bitten. Unable to sleep, eat, paint or function at all like a normal person, Susan (and everyone around her) is convinced she is going mad. There is one thing she knows for certain – the bugs are there and they have her trapped in her own personal hell.
Considering that I just moved to a big city and that bedbugs are a growing problem all over at the moment, I don't think there could have been a more disturbing book for me to pick up and read before bed. I mean I expected it to be creepy – it is after all called Bedbugs. But I did not expect to be up half the night finishing it and then spend the second half of the night wide awake staring at the ceiling.
The pacing in this novel is perfect. Everything is unraveled slowly and methodically. It really gives you the feeling of dread that just grows and grows as the story continues. It really says something about the writing when a novel can keep the same level of dread/anxiety throughout the entire work. There was not a single point during this book that I got bored, or that my mind wandered or that I even thought about putting it down.
Ben H. Winters weaves together a plot that is full of twists and turns. It will have you biting your nails in suspense. Bedbugs is dark, creepy and it will keep you guessing. As freaked out as I was I really enjoyed reading this book. It's like watching a horror movie – it scares you but you keep coming back for more. I recommend this book to all who are looking for a good scare every once and awhile.