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A review by s_sheppard18
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As a queer person who was raised in conservative Christianity, and especially as a queer person who accidentally joined a conservative fundamentalist Christian cult at 18, Camp Damascus deeply resonated with me. From the description, I was expecting to relate to the main character, but I absolutely wasn't expecting to feel like I was reading a transcription of my own thoughts from that time in my life. For the entire first half of the novel, I was repeatedly struck by things the protagonist would say that felt like they were coming straight from the 18/19 year old version of myself.
I took off 1/2 a star because at times it felt like I was reading a YA novel because of how often things felt over-explained, the repeated use of "my friend" after dialogue started to drive me a little crazy, and I was confused by the narrator calling her parents by their first names or mom/dad interchangeably. All of that feels a bit nitpicky though, and absolutely does not take away from the fact that this novel hits me right where it hurts, in the best way.
I've seen some reviews mention that they think the protagonist'squick change from total devotion to utter disillusionment is unrealistic, but I can say as someone who has both exited a fundamentalist cult and deconstructed their faith, the way this falls together for Rose is entirely believable to me. Overall, Rose's journey is very real, aside from the supernatural horror of it all.
Some other notes: I loved the trio that forms in the second half and was delighted by the catharsis of the ending. The vibes I got at the beginning were very stepford-wives/unreality, and it was effectively unsettling. The second half felt like an action movie with horror thrown in, but it was a great ride. The little bits of humor throughout were a nice touch.
I took off 1/2 a star because at times it felt like I was reading a YA novel because of how often things felt over-explained, the repeated use of "my friend" after dialogue started to drive me a little crazy, and I was confused by the narrator calling her parents by their first names or mom/dad interchangeably. All of that feels a bit nitpicky though, and absolutely does not take away from the fact that this novel hits me right where it hurts, in the best way.
I've seen some reviews mention that they think the protagonist's
Some other notes: I loved the trio that forms in the second half and was delighted by the catharsis of the ending. The vibes I got at the beginning were very stepford-wives/unreality, and it was effectively unsettling. The second half felt like an action movie with horror thrown in, but it was a great ride. The little bits of humor throughout were a nice touch.