sapphirelain 's review for:

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle

3.75

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was a very different read for me. I think the idea of a text based Mail in game sounds so fun in the era where Mail is only bills. So I found myself there for that mostly.

Sean is such a contrasting character. I know that he almost died, and that his life was changed so much from it, but his change in character I think seems different than I would expect. I know some people find fault in him having seemingly zero reason for suicide, but I think it is obvious that he has something very very wrong. I think worse than what I actually expected? The inability to tell what reality is, the way he just does things compulsively to see the different paths. I think it actually mirrors perfectly with the idea of someone who could create a game like that. Also the parallels between him not knowing what is real, and the death later on from his game, and the players not knowing what was real was interesting.

I think that I can’t give this book a higher score just because even though I found it interesting. It was not an enjoyable read. Like some sad things can be a catharsis. But this did not have that either.