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A review by mitskacir
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
3.0
Going to wait to rate/review this one until after book club!
Post-book club review:
I really enjoyed listening to this book - the narrator was great and I stayed hooked on what would happen next. I was very surprised by the plot twist, and felt like most of the red herrings were explained and addressed (with the main exception being what got me hooked into the book in the first place -). I didn't know there were pictures in the book, and looking at a friend's copy I would recommend getting your hands on one to enhance the reading experience, even if you listen to the audiobook.
It wasn't until after reading the book that I explored all the controversy in the Goodreads reviews. *Potential spoilers, but I'll try not to be spoiler-y* After discussing the elements of transphobia with my book club, I definitely see how this book can come across as transphobic and how some of the narrative could reinforce some misconceptions about trans people. It was hard to decipher what the author intended though from reading the book - the characters certainly have religious and political identities, but I'm not sure there is really an agenda in pushing a specific narrative (at least not an intentional one). There was a lot of explicit verbal acceptance of trans people despite some of the more questionable portrayal of some characters, their decisions, and their identities. I think I come down on the side of any transphobia being an unintentional (although I understand perhaps not less negative and impactful) side affect of a plot point rather than the author intentionally pushing conservative messaging. If it was trying to make a point one way or the other, some more editing and attention to detail would be necessary.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book for someone looking for a great mystery read - although fun and catchy, it wasn't good enough to justify it's controversial messaging.
Post-book club review:
I really enjoyed listening to this book - the narrator was great and I stayed hooked on what would happen next. I was very surprised by the plot twist, and felt like most of the red herrings were explained and addressed (with the main exception being what got me hooked into the book in the first place -
Spoiler
the "research study" that happens in the first chapter never came up substantially again!It wasn't until after reading the book that I explored all the controversy in the Goodreads reviews. *Potential spoilers, but I'll try not to be spoiler-y* After discussing the elements of transphobia with my book club, I definitely see how this book can come across as transphobic and how some of the narrative could reinforce some misconceptions about trans people. It was hard to decipher what the author intended though from reading the book - the characters certainly have religious and political identities, but I'm not sure there is really an agenda in pushing a specific narrative (at least not an intentional one). There was a lot of explicit verbal acceptance of trans people despite some of the more questionable portrayal of some characters, their decisions, and their identities. I think I come down on the side of any transphobia being an unintentional (although I understand perhaps not less negative and impactful) side affect of a plot point rather than the author intentionally pushing conservative messaging. If it was trying to make a point one way or the other, some more editing and attention to detail would be necessary.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book for someone looking for a great mystery read - although fun and catchy, it wasn't good enough to justify it's controversial messaging.