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grimoires's Reviews (75)
4.5
My first thought finishing this is: jeeeeeesus christ.
This book is visceral and disgusting. It captures the vulgarity of niche internet communities, the things they draw out of people with their relative anonymity quite well. There was no flinching away from anything even when I almost wished it would--but even at the most depraved moments, it grips you to continue on to try to answer the question: is this real, or not? Who's lying? Who's exaggerating? Who do you wish was lying, but isn't?
The ending, after all that fervor, is almost anticlimactic. However, I felt that to be kind of fitting. This story is about the building up of mythos, the kind of community fever and personal fantasies that build and morph and grow with each new voice added, divorced from the original context, not needing or in many cases even wanting the truth--because ultimately, will it live up to the idea? Will reality ever satisfy like a fantasy? The myth of Brian and Brad was the site's story, not their own. Getting a glimpse of what is, perhaps, the truth, leaves us feeling as hollow as I imagine the avid Brad Saga audience felt reading that last update.
My first thought finishing this is: jeeeeeesus christ.
This book is visceral and disgusting. It captures the vulgarity of niche internet communities, the things they draw out of people with their relative anonymity quite well. There was no flinching away from anything even when I almost wished it would--but even at the most depraved moments, it grips you to continue on to try to answer the question: is this real, or not? Who's lying? Who's exaggerating? Who do you wish was lying, but isn't?
The ending, after all that fervor, is almost anticlimactic. However, I felt that to be kind of fitting. This story is about the building up of mythos, the kind of community fever and personal fantasies that build and morph and grow with each new voice added, divorced from the original context, not needing or in many cases even wanting the truth--because ultimately, will it live up to the idea? Will reality ever satisfy like a fantasy? The myth of Brian and Brad was the site's story, not their own. Getting a glimpse of what is, perhaps, the truth, leaves us feeling as hollow as I imagine the avid Brad Saga audience felt reading that last update.
3.5, rounded up; loved the first story, not too enamored with the final one
3.5
Note with my rating that I am just--not a huge fan of YA these days. Too often it prioritizes telling over showing, and eliminating all chances of nuance in favor of boxing every little thing into a concrete category. This book was not an exception--the main character was so preoccupied with labels at inopportune times it kept throwing me off. Which, as an autistic character, I suppose can make sense--but it just read so clunkily. Like an info pamphlet on queer socialism, at times, instead of a compelling narrative.
There was a lot I liked about this book, though. The unflinching approach to violence. The dedication to the small town, family, and community. An understanding of the complex psychology that drives the world in these vicious cycles. Just needed a little more meat to it.
Note with my rating that I am just--not a huge fan of YA these days. Too often it prioritizes telling over showing, and eliminating all chances of nuance in favor of boxing every little thing into a concrete category. This book was not an exception--the main character was so preoccupied with labels at inopportune times it kept throwing me off. Which, as an autistic character, I suppose can make sense--but it just read so clunkily. Like an info pamphlet on queer socialism, at times, instead of a compelling narrative.
There was a lot I liked about this book, though. The unflinching approach to violence. The dedication to the small town, family, and community. An understanding of the complex psychology that drives the world in these vicious cycles. Just needed a little more meat to it.