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fairymodmother 's review for:
Shutter
by Ramona Emerson
An urban fantasy centered on the diné mythology, which, in this instance, makes the fantastical elements harder.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The lore. A really cool and approachable look at some of the mythologies and cultural touchpoints of Navajo or diné life.
-The love. There's a strong focus on the love of a grandparent towards a grandchild, as well as friendship, which I find beautiful.
-The centrality of art. This is a book about taking pictures, and the darkness you can see only from the remove of art.
Things I didn't quite love:
-Very grimdark. Everyone here is bad or totally fucked up by something.
-Some writing tics. It got to the point I was gritting my teeth when the narrator/MC said "it/they were X and Y, all at the same time."
-Startling incongruities. It was so gritty and real, and then it'd do something weird like a nurse giving the home address of a patient to a stranger.
-Barely ended. It comes to rest, but not in a way I found totally satisfying.
3.5 stars, rounded up because I would look for more by this author and I would recommend this for people who want a gory ghost story.
CONTENT WARNING:
Spoiler
discussion of abuses towards Navajo and Native Americans at large, discussion of rape, torture, excessive gore/body horror, harm to children, murder, drug use, loss of a parent, loss of a loved one, mental illness graphic depiction of a dead catThings to love:
-The lore. A really cool and approachable look at some of the mythologies and cultural touchpoints of Navajo or diné life.
-The love. There's a strong focus on the love of a grandparent towards a grandchild, as well as friendship, which I find beautiful.
-The centrality of art. This is a book about taking pictures, and the darkness you can see only from the remove of art.
Things I didn't quite love:
-Very grimdark. Everyone here is bad or totally fucked up by something.
-Some writing tics. It got to the point I was gritting my teeth when the narrator/MC said "it/they were X and Y, all at the same time."
-Startling incongruities. It was so gritty and real, and then it'd do something weird like a nurse giving the home address of a patient to a stranger.
-Barely ended. It comes to rest, but not in a way I found totally satisfying.
3.5 stars, rounded up because I would look for more by this author and I would recommend this for people who want a gory ghost story.