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corapiki 's review for:
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
by Stephen Graham Jones
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5/5
But not a pleasant read, nor should it be.
I don't think I liked this book, but I do think its a good book? Idk how to explain it.
- STYLE: 1st person, divided between 3 characters. Written as jourrnal entries (epistolary) and transcribed conversations/confessions.
- PACE: Slow. Each sentence is a story within a story. And Good Stab's parts don't handhold you regarding terms.
- TOPICS: lots of trigger warnings. Historical fiction, massacre, genocide, Blackfeet legends and folklore, Wild West Montana 1870-1920s, Vampire, Manifest Destiny, revenge
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If I could compare:
Logan was a fantastic movie. One of my top films in recent years. I also will never watch it again. This book left me feeling similar.
BHH was very difficult for me to finish. Its was intriguing, very interesting, I couldn't put it down. But it was dark, oppressive, graphic, very bloody, and inescapable. I had to take breaks to read other books, otherwise I felt it affected me. There were two chapters where I held back tears because of how the story unfolding made me feel. I almost DNF'd it several times.
The story is divided between 3 POV's:
Present day with an academic that starts us off. Then switches to the 1912 journal entries from a Lutheran priest followed back and forth with the transcribed "confessions" of the Blackfeet we first know as Good Stab.
The general story is based around an 1870 Massacre that happened to the Blackfeet. But the story dives into the extiction of all buffalo, all the f*cked up things that happened during "Manifest Destiny", folklore and respect of the land, and so much more.
Yes, there is a fantastical element in the form of vampires, but much of it feels like a metaphor for how good men lose their humanity, culture, and beliefs in a way that feels out of their control.
I'll say it again: This book is BLOODY. Graphic. Dark. It felt disgusting. But I wouldn't consider it horror in the sense that I felt scared. I felt hollowed out every few chapters tho.
I don't know if I would recommend this book. If you decide to read it, I'd suggest reading a few reviews first.
TWs:
Murder, death of humans and wild animals, rape, body horror, genocide, mutilation of the living and dead, desecration of religious objects and the dead.
Graphic descriptions of blood, guts, broken bones, being burned alive, etc
If you are superstitious of certain types of folklore, specifically around Native American entities, just be aware that the book includes these sorts of beliefs.
Alcoholism. To name a few.
But not a pleasant read, nor should it be.
I don't think I liked this book, but I do think its a good book? Idk how to explain it.
- STYLE: 1st person, divided between 3 characters. Written as jourrnal entries (epistolary) and transcribed conversations/confessions.
- PACE: Slow. Each sentence is a story within a story. And Good Stab's parts don't handhold you regarding terms.
- TOPICS: lots of trigger warnings. Historical fiction, massacre, genocide, Blackfeet legends and folklore, Wild West Montana 1870-1920s, Vampire, Manifest Destiny, revenge
------
If I could compare:
Logan was a fantastic movie. One of my top films in recent years. I also will never watch it again. This book left me feeling similar.
BHH was very difficult for me to finish. Its was intriguing, very interesting, I couldn't put it down. But it was dark, oppressive, graphic, very bloody, and inescapable. I had to take breaks to read other books, otherwise I felt it affected me. There were two chapters where I held back tears because of how the story unfolding made me feel. I almost DNF'd it several times.
The story is divided between 3 POV's:
Present day with an academic that starts us off. Then switches to the 1912 journal entries from a Lutheran priest followed back and forth with the transcribed "confessions" of the Blackfeet we first know as Good Stab.
The general story is based around an 1870 Massacre that happened to the Blackfeet. But the story dives into the extiction of all buffalo, all the f*cked up things that happened during "Manifest Destiny", folklore and respect of the land, and so much more.
Yes, there is a fantastical element in the form of vampires, but much of it feels like a metaphor for how good men lose their humanity, culture, and beliefs in a way that feels out of their control.
I'll say it again: This book is BLOODY. Graphic. Dark. It felt disgusting. But I wouldn't consider it horror in the sense that I felt scared. I felt hollowed out every few chapters tho.
I don't know if I would recommend this book. If you decide to read it, I'd suggest reading a few reviews first.
TWs:
Murder, death of humans and wild animals, rape, body horror, genocide, mutilation of the living and dead, desecration of religious objects and the dead.
Graphic descriptions of blood, guts, broken bones, being burned alive, etc
If you are superstitious of certain types of folklore, specifically around Native American entities, just be aware that the book includes these sorts of beliefs.
Alcoholism. To name a few.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail