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A review by robotswithpersonality
The Regional Office is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales
Bummer. Admittedly, I had a different idea of what this would be when I picked it up. But even having adjusted to the tone and focus, it just felt like too much and not enough at the same time. Kind of derivative of a number of things - not helped by the pop culture references in inner monologues - without really narrowing in on one of them enough to make for an engaging story.
Or maybe my lack of engagement has to do with the choppy structure, on a plot (multiple interrupted timelines/multiple POVs) and sentence level (the commas, the rephrased sentences, the backpedaled action plans).
It didn't help that the book made multiple references to what might be covered under regular operations of the regional office, which all sounded a lot more interesting than where the plot went.
I think Sarah and her arm was the most compelling component for me - but I didn't really need the mother backstory to find that interesting even if it did form the origin of her circumstances.
I'm really not sure what the point of Rose's narrative was aside from making me uncomfortable in myriad ways.
I'm not sold on the plausibility of the 'report' angle given where the story ended.
Similar to the vague references to more interesting fantastical elements, the book also suffered from going in depth on people whose ends the reader already knows. An argument can be made that it's about the how or the why when the who and what have already been revealed, but if the reader hasn't really been presented with enough reason to care about the who and the what, waiting around for the how and why fall flat.
Strong possibility I just wasn't the right audience, but I can't in good conscience recommend it either. 🤷🏼♂️
⚠️animal death, ableism, fatphobia, self harm, mental health concerns, suicide, body horror
Or maybe my lack of engagement has to do with the choppy structure, on a plot (multiple interrupted timelines/multiple POVs) and sentence level (the commas, the rephrased sentences, the backpedaled action plans).
It didn't help that the book made multiple references to what might be covered under regular operations of the regional office, which all sounded a lot more interesting than where the plot went.
I think Sarah and her arm was the most compelling component for me - but I didn't really need the mother backstory to find that interesting even if it did form the origin of her circumstances.
I'm really not sure what the point of Rose's narrative was aside from making me uncomfortable in myriad ways.
I'm not sold on the plausibility of the 'report' angle given where the story ended.
Similar to the vague references to more interesting fantastical elements, the book also suffered from going in depth on people whose ends the reader already knows. An argument can be made that it's about the how or the why when the who and what have already been revealed, but if the reader hasn't really been presented with enough reason to care about the who and the what, waiting around for the how and why fall flat.
Strong possibility I just wasn't the right audience, but I can't in good conscience recommend it either. 🤷🏼♂️
⚠️animal death, ableism, fatphobia, self harm, mental health concerns, suicide, body horror