This is a really interesting novella that requires a lot from the Reader. We are presented with a dystopic world but given next to no information abouThis is a really interesting novella that requires a lot from the Reader. We are presented with a dystopic world but given next to no information about it. It is almost like a rough sketch in which we have to visualise and fill in details making assumptions about what we might already know about the classic elements of a dystopian novel. We wonder who They are and what Their motivations are (beyond the obvious: destroy art and artists, remove creativity and emotion and that old classic chestnut of demanding conformity). What happened to Them to make Them want this world? What is Their power structure? Why cruelty to animals? (yes there are some awful incidents in the novel). There is no big uprising. Instead we just see things from an unknown person (or persons) point of view. It feels like it is one character but on a second read I realised it is likely more than one character but with so many similarities to make it unclear and confusing. I suspect this was part of the author's intent. To have us confused and unsure and as the title says, uneasy. I don't know if I liked it but if the aim was to make me feel unsettled then job well done.
"I'd only made it this far because of dumb luck, because of my boobs."
An earthquake causes a zombie apocalypse and also opens Drivel! Absolute drivel!
"I'd only made it this far because of dumb luck, because of my boobs."
An earthquake causes a zombie apocalypse and also opens up an underground world filled with chisel chested, well-endowed grey men. One of these grey men saves our main character, learns English by listening to steamy audiobooks, and spends the entire book groping her as they make their way through a zombie infested land.
CW: (view spoiler)[Pica (Xylophagia), panic attacks, child neglect, self-harm mentioned, off page suicide attempt and off page actual suicide, dealingCW: (view spoiler)[Pica (Xylophagia), panic attacks, child neglect, self-harm mentioned, off page suicide attempt and off page actual suicide, dealing with grief, off page description of death of a father, description of death of loved one from being buried alive, bullying, murder & attempted murder, death of a pet mentioned (hide spoiler)]
Well that was a deeply unsettling novel.
I keep starting sentences and then deleting them.
It was a very atmospheric novel that crept into my bones and nudged my fear button nicely. I can't think of who I would recommend this book to because it is quite disturbing. That's all I've got sorry. Absolutely NZ upper high school only....more
I'm freaking out. Mind. Blown. Don't read any reviews about this until you have finished. It will have more impact.I'm freaking out. Mind. Blown. Don't read any reviews about this until you have finished. It will have more impact....more
CW: Sexual content, killing of animals, described taxidermy scenes
If you have any sensitivity to animal cruelty and aBook #4 in NZ Goodreads Readathon
CW: Sexual content, killing of animals, described taxidermy scenes
If you have any sensitivity to animal cruelty and animal death then I would give this book a wide berth. I struggled in some parts and thought I might have to dnf.
This was equal parts disturbing and dull. Weird combination right? One minute you are in the mind of a truly insane person and being drawn into their delusions and obsessions, the next minute you are yawning your way through a conversation between people about painting. It was quite jarring. To be fair, I couldn’t read an entire book from Silas’ perspective either as it was quite horrific. However, did the ‘down time’ have to be so boring? Perhaps it was because I found both Louis and Iris to be unlikeable. In my opinion it took too long to get to the point where you could feel the tension start to build. Albie was a brilliant character and it was through his investigations that the story started to move along at a better pace. The last quarter was really gripping as the horrific parts were set aside and the main plot of a Silas’ obsession with Iris came to a climax. The ending was a bit sudden but I enjoyed that you were left to understand how things turned out based on the review of a painting at the end of the novel. Stomach turning and dull parts aside, on the whole I did appreciate this book (I don't think you can enjoy it). It had a deliciously gothic horror vibe which was both exciting and unsettling....more
Well that was a lot like being in a theme park. First you arCW: (view spoiler)[Brutal torturing, described sex scene, self immolation. (hide spoiler)]
Well that was a lot like being in a theme park. First you are sitting peacefully on the boring log flume and then suddenly you are in the House of Horrors with a machete wielding Jason (or Doug) jumping out at you, then you arrive at the ridiculous House of Crazy Mirrors and don’t know what’s real or not, then you head home feeling a little nauseous after all the crap you have ingested over the course of the day.
Please do not read this book if you are at all upset by the idea of torturing helpless beings. It’s really awful stuff and I wasn’t sure if I could read on but I ended up pushing through. I know some people have said this is a book about dealing with grief and how that impacts your behaviour but I have to categorically say that I don’t believe anyone would take the actions of the two MCs unless they were also psychopaths. So yes, it is a book about psychopaths dealing with grief. As much as psychopaths can.
This is an incredibly ‘out there’ and bizarre book. After the story entered the House of Crazy Mirrors section I felt like it improved a bit. Improved? Well, I became a bit more intrigued anyway. I won’t be rushing out to recommend it to anyone but I neither would I discourage anyone from reading it. It's like one of those situations where something horrific is happening but you can't look away. Those people who have read it will know that there really isn’t much more you can say. Please read the content warnings before reading if you are sensitive to pain and torture scenes.
The 3 stars are because it is so crazy that I can't stop thinking about what was going through the writers head as he wrote it. Otherwise it would have been 2 Stars....more
**spoiler alert** CW:Guy kills himself to get access to alternate world...I think? So confusing
I don't know what I just read. Seriously. I have no ide**spoiler alert** CW:Guy kills himself to get access to alternate world...I think? So confusing
I don't know what I just read. Seriously. I have no idea. It was so boring, really weird and totally confusing. This book can take itself off to the alternate world so horribly described within it's own pages....more
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