William Morrow | June 2018 | 288 pgs
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
To begin with, I wasn't sure how I felt about this book. This is my second attempt in reading Paul Tremblay's book and I've to say I enjoyed his first book (A Head Full of Ghosts) a lot. This book has a combination of a home invasion horror and an apocalyptic feel yet I couldn't classified it as the latter as no such calamity actually happened (unless you're talking about the [delusional?] human minds and their actions).
To say anything more in details will spoil the story, but I've to mention this book has great characterisations. I loved the interactions between the father and daughter and their banters; to be exact seven-year-old Wen is Chinese and is adopted by a gay couple, Eric and Andrew. These three people are fleshed out characters and I came to care for them as the story progresses. There is something heartwarming reading about them and I could easily visualize them as real people than fictional.
Then the craziness sets in as four characters, each armed with menacing weapons, started invading into their once peaceful life. Leonard, Redmond, Adriane and Sabrina believe they have a mission in saving humankind and they need the family of three to help them to save the world. However it involves a sacrifice and this begins our story here.
Paranoia (or simply madness?) is one word that immediately comes to my mind after finishing the book and even after a day of gathering my thoughts my choice of word remains the same, for I've no other words to describe how I felt about this story. I think this would be a hit-or-miss to the readers due to the blurry theme (Horror? Apocalypse? Psychological thriller?) because nothing is clear cut and there are no answers. Despite these, this story was actually quite addictive as it'll arouse your curiosity and make you anxious to find out what happened to our three characters because as mentioned before, I became invested and came to care for them in spite of the batshit insanity surrounding the story (or is it those four characters? I don't know. This is probably the beauty of this story because it makes you wonder.) All in all, I can't say I liked it but I did enjoy the author's writing.
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He is quite the writer. He makes me think and I love that. I’ll have to try this one.
ReplyDeleteJenny - Yes, he is, isn't he? I'm curious what he'll be writing for his next book.
DeleteI'm sometimes confused about how I feel about a book when I finish. Something keeps the interest even when something else bothers or puzzles. At least you liked the writing and eventually became invested in the characters, and that is a positive for the author.
ReplyDeleteJenclair - Indeed, and I'm glad I read this book although I didn't really adore it. The author really know how to write great characterisations and I like that about his books.
DeleteThis sounds a bit like how I felt with his earlier Head Full of Ghosts book, though maybe a bit more extreme. In any case, I'll be checking this one out because 'crazy' is like catnip to me. LOL
ReplyDeleteKay - I enjoyed his first book; it has that creepy feel. I'll be curious of your thoughts on this book if you do read it. ;)
DeleteSounds like this book takes you on a crazy ride...but it's a ride I think I want to take. :)
ReplyDeleteLark - A crazy ride indeed! I'd love to know your take on this if you do read it, Lark.
DeleteI've been wanting to try something by this author but I think I'd prefer to start with A Head Full of Ghosts as that sounds like it's more straight-forward horror.
ReplyDeleteIliana - Yes, I think it's good to start with his first book. :)
DeleteI am definitely intrigued after reading your thoughts on it. I like it when a story has me guessing.
ReplyDeleteNaida - It was an odd book but touching at times. I'm curious where the author will take us in his next book.
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