Scan barcode
A review by apalershadeofwhite
How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This novel had such a strong start! The prologue was really gripping and the narrator was immediately such an interesting characters because she was so nonchalant while talking about her crimes. It made you want to get into her head and read more about her from the get go. The direct address helped with this as it made the writing less formal and connected the reader to her. She was hilariously funny and a really relatable protagonist, which is something that is definitely helpful when writing in first-person. Unfortunately, though, the ending really affected my thoughts and review of the narrative. Harry's chapters really surprised me and I wasn't convinced they were necessary. We were given this simultaneously complex yet simple female protagonist whose end goal is just so easily taken by a man we had no clue existed for 85% of the book! What was the point?
With the jumping back-and-forth timeline that alternated each chapter (someone I am too dumb to get from the get-go), the pace was very consistent. I appreciate consistent pacing. Something I loved about the protagonist was that she was an extremely observant individual and would frequently given assumptions of people. Her assumptions were interesting and very specific, and combined with the fact that we as the reader wouldn't be able to know if they were true, made them more believable. For example, she mentions her lawyer wearing beautifully tailored suits but then offsets it his "garish loafer". She say that he is using them to make it seem like he has style when in fact it tells her that he had none. She also assumes that a second younger wife bought the loafers for him in order to make him seem a little bit younger, then follows that up with "I wish she hadn't" - which is not only hilarious, but saying that they aren't working for their intended purpose.
With the jumping back-and-forth timeline that alternated each chapter (someone I am too dumb to get from the get-go), the pace was very consistent. I appreciate consistent pacing. Something I loved about the protagonist was that she was an extremely observant individual and would frequently given assumptions of people. Her assumptions were interesting and very specific, and combined with the fact that we as the reader wouldn't be able to know if they were true, made them more believable. For example, she mentions her lawyer wearing beautifully tailored suits but then offsets it his "garish loafer". She say that he is using them to make it seem like he has style when in fact it tells her that he had none. She also assumes that a second younger wife bought the loafers for him in order to make him seem a little bit younger, then follows that up with "I wish she hadn't" - which is not only hilarious, but saying that they aren't working for their intended purpose.