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A review by luck13rabbit
Downpour by Christopher Hawkins
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
There was this interview I listened to with Tom Petty where the interviewer asked him about the meaning of one of his songs. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it amounted to something like, "It's about what I said it was about in the song. If I could have said it differently, I would have." Maybe it was Tom Waits? Some Tom. I digress.
The point is, I've been sitting on this review for a bit because I love this book. I don't know what I can say about it that could convey anything useful because it's all already there.
Scott lives in his old, crumbling childhood home with his family. He and his wife are...strained. It's hot. And they don't have enough money. And then the rain comes. It is not the cleansing, watering rain the failing farm needs. It's something else. Something that will change absolutely everything it touches.
I've seen comparisons to The Mist, and I can see it, but I think Pet Sematary or literally any Paul Tremblay book is better. There is a dread that seeps in and grows. Even as eldritch madness takes hold, the decisions the characters makes seem realistic and reasonable--to them, at least. As the #reader, I can see their options falling away. I'm watching as their ability to make good choices diminishes. It's like watching a flood. Or looking at an old photograph and knowing what happened after the shutter clicked was bad.
Horror with heart is my favorite thing and this one has a lot. Broken, yes, but so much. Huge thanks to @netgalley for the eARC. The book will release on October 3rd, 2023.
⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️
5/5 strange little storm clouds
The point is, I've been sitting on this review for a bit because I love this book. I don't know what I can say about it that could convey anything useful because it's all already there.
Scott lives in his old, crumbling childhood home with his family. He and his wife are...strained. It's hot. And they don't have enough money. And then the rain comes. It is not the cleansing, watering rain the failing farm needs. It's something else. Something that will change absolutely everything it touches.
I've seen comparisons to The Mist, and I can see it, but I think Pet Sematary or literally any Paul Tremblay book is better. There is a dread that seeps in and grows. Even as eldritch madness takes hold, the decisions the characters makes seem realistic and reasonable--to them, at least. As the #reader, I can see their options falling away. I'm watching as their ability to make good choices diminishes. It's like watching a flood. Or looking at an old photograph and knowing what happened after the shutter clicked was bad.
Horror with heart is my favorite thing and this one has a lot. Broken, yes, but so much. Huge thanks to @netgalley for the eARC. The book will release on October 3rd, 2023.
⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️
5/5 strange little storm clouds