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A review by abbie_
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!
I'm a fan of Broder's work, and Death Valley is another surreal offering to her repertoire. This one draws a *lot* from Broder's own experience. The main character is an author who is a long-term caregiver for her husband, whose father has just suffered a terrible car accident and is in ICU. All of these things are true for Broder as well, and it's clear from the book that writing this was an incredibly cathartic experience for her.
However, I did see another reviewer (I'm sorry, I forget who!!) point out that this whole book is the MC/author grappling with how *they* feel about their caregiver roles, which sort of makes the people she's caring for seem like a burden. I have no experience being a caregiver but I'm 100% sure it is difficult, but something about this just kept niggling at me the whole way through. Like on the one hand she is entitled to her thoughts and her mental health is valid, but also it came off a touch... selfish?
That being said, it's a compulsive and unique read for sure. Long story short - woman checks into a Best Western for a mental health break, ends up climbing inside a cactus and getting lost in the desert. Lots of reflections and epiphanies along the way, with a nice little dose of humour.
Overall, I would recommend it if you like your storytelling a little surreal and a lot meta!
I'm a fan of Broder's work, and Death Valley is another surreal offering to her repertoire. This one draws a *lot* from Broder's own experience. The main character is an author who is a long-term caregiver for her husband, whose father has just suffered a terrible car accident and is in ICU. All of these things are true for Broder as well, and it's clear from the book that writing this was an incredibly cathartic experience for her.
However, I did see another reviewer (I'm sorry, I forget who!!) point out that this whole book is the MC/author grappling with how *they* feel about their caregiver roles, which sort of makes the people she's caring for seem like a burden. I have no experience being a caregiver but I'm 100% sure it is difficult, but something about this just kept niggling at me the whole way through. Like on the one hand she is entitled to her thoughts and her mental health is valid, but also it came off a touch... selfish?
That being said, it's a compulsive and unique read for sure. Long story short - woman checks into a Best Western for a mental health break, ends up climbing inside a cactus and getting lost in the desert. Lots of reflections and epiphanies along the way, with a nice little dose of humour.
Overall, I would recommend it if you like your storytelling a little surreal and a lot meta!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Medical content