small__fry's reviews
27 reviews

dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Penance is a fantastic exploration of girlhood and the true crime industry. The world and it’s characters feel so authentic it reads like a non-fiction true crime tale (including the frame story of a journalist covering the lives of those impacted by the events). The town of Crow-on-Sea felt fleshed out and grounded in a way that made me frequently forget it was a fictitious setting.

The story follows each of the girls involved in perpetrating a murder. Some of their stories are more initially compelling than others but all weave a wonderful tapestry of how the lives of people in a small town intersect. Like Clarke’s debut novel Boy Parts, Penance is peppered with witty pop-culture references which drag you into the world rather than out of it. However the world of Crow-on-Sea has an added layer of the history and lore of the town. For a place that is meant to be boring, dull and clutching onto the past it was intriguing to explore.

Penance is also a feminist examination of the true crime industry. Sections of the book are peppered with podcast dude-bros objectifying the young women involved. Juxtaposed with a typical “women-who-love murder-cast”, who again objectify them only in a way that isn’t overtly sexual. Joni’s death is ultimately just another talking point and used for commercial gain. Dead white girls are profitable after all, especially if they are murdered by other white girls.

I found the start of the book a slow burn but my interest was piqued as friendships between the girls started to both unravel and blossom. If you were a kid who was suddenly and brutally ostracised by your peers for not having the right interests or wearing the right clothes at the age of 12, or any other arbitrary reason, this will probably feel like a bit of a gut-punch for your younger self. The way the social dynamics of the girls regularly shifts gears is masterfully captured, from wannabe mean-girl Angelica to internet-dwelling weirdo Violet.

Unlike a lot of other books that utilise the internet in a cringe-inducing way, Penance made the internet a fascinating core part of the narrative. As the anecdotes of characters creep into their teenage years, so does the increased presence of the internet. Clarke does a superb job of channelling the conversations and lingo of online spaces such as Tumblr, especially in the serial killer fangirl communities. Pet names, gatekeeping, keyboard mashing and shipping are all present. More about this in my spoiler section below, but overall the presence of internet culture in Penance is thoughtful and effective.

The twist of irony that the girls became objects of fandom themselves was a fantastic little touch. The real-time reactions from other serial-killer-in-flower-crowns Tumblristas was compelling. Penance definitely exceeded my expectations in this way; the internet was not just a device to justify why the girls committed a heinous act. For the girls in this story, much like in real life, is a place of social power, of subterfuge, of belonging and of gawking at the carnage in the lives of others. The way different characters interact with these communities and how it makes them feel authentic reads so true to fandom culture. This extends beyond our key characters and to their online communities.

While the story is framed around a crime, we deliberately don’t get much insight into our victim Joni’s character beyond her introduction, i.e her death. Her persona is shown in small fragments in story-telling, but only the details of her murder are vivid. Like the podcasters and internet-dwellers, the journalist Carelli who is researching accounts of Joni’s life is primarily interested in a good story, not a true one. He has turned to writing a “true” crime book for its likelihood for commercial success. Criticisms of his relaying of accounts at the end of the story call into question for the reader- how much of this was actually true at all?

Overall I thought Penance was a splendid read. The pacing may not be for everyone, but if you have an interest for true crime and a tolerance for a slower-paced read it comes highly recommended from me. I think it will hit harder for those who have directly experienced a specific era of girlhood and internet culture, however it is a brutal and authentic portrayal for those who did not.

Astral Season, Beastly Season by Tahi Saihate

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challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

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challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I love Murata’s writing so much. A dark and surreal tale that will stay with me a long time.

Caution: Contains Small Parts by Kij Johnson, Kirstyn McDermott

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Bunny by Mona Awad

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dark funny mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I though the first third or so of the book was great; loved the mystery, campy setup and witty writing. Very trippy book but ultimately didn’t live up to my expectations of a mean girls on campus schlocky read. Not as much of a gruesome/visceral horror as I hoped it was going to be going in (which might be a plus or a minus for some!).

Confessions by Kanae Minato

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dark tense fast-paced