Litsy

so-so

Well, I read Devil House, didn't love it and still decide to pick up another John Darnielle, so this one's on me.
From what I remember of Devil House, this book basically has the same issue, the premise, the synopsis, the cover hint at something darker and more intriguing, the book is mostly just sad.1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? And in this case, even that feels a bit of an overstatement. There's something about the strong, yet understated thread of American mid-west pragmatism woven into this story and all its characters such that melancholic feels too dramatic a word.
I'm frustrated primarily because I love where this author's stories start, 1d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? and I'm truly impressed with his subtle conveyance of deep emotional ties, and detailed but not flowery establishment of a sense of place. There's so much here that recommends his writing, yet it never really pays off. I think part of the issue is that he's being advertised or trying to write in the wrong genre. It's a story of family much more than it is a mystery. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? Yes, there's a religious cult, yes, a woman disappeared, or rather, clearly abandoned her family to join a fringe religious group, but it definitely doesn't feel like the big moment when it occurs, when the characters find out, when the reader finds out, it feels like the book is focused on not letting any one moment be too big, too loud. 1d

See All 7 Comments

Robotswithpersonality 5/? I could see readers getting frustrated that the storytelling keeps hinting at things and then changing POV, introducing a different character, perhaps in a bid to increase intrigue, but it veers off for lengths of time that don't fit the mystery genre. And it doesn't feel very satisfying or enlightening in the end, for what there is in terms of a reveal, versus what, in theme with the actual story being told, the reader never gets to see or 1d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? know.
I was in the mood to enjoy the explorations of mother and child, wife and husband relationships, before grief and loss, the father and child relationships after, and how people react differently, how debilitating loss can be and how many not-therapist-recommended ways of managing that loss there are - some considered more acceptable than others 1d

Robotswithpersonality 7/? the difference between knowing the final, too-soon, fate of a loved one and never knowing. But I can't say if I'd known what this was at the start that I'd have picked it up. 1d

Robotswithpersonality 8/8 From the description, I can't help but wonder if Wolf in White Van, Darnielle's first novel, actually described as contemporary, might answer my questions about receiving his writing differently if I didn't go in with misled expectations, but I think it'll be another couple years before I give him the chance for a third strike. 💁🏼‍♂️ 1d

9 likes7 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Universal Harvester | John Darnielle

Darnielle, you sneaky bastard, who's telling this story?! 🤔🤨

willaful I've run into that before! I generally figure an editor asked for a tense change and something got missed. 2d

Robotswithpersonality @willaful Subsequent passages suggest it was on purpose...sadly not as intriguing as one would hope. 1d

13 likes2 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Universal Harvester | John Darnielle

Darnielle: consistently getting me in the feels.

10 likes1 stack add

ShananigansReads

Summerlong: A Novel | Dean Bakopoulos

I did have success on one #14Books14Weeks boards. #LibraryEdition for the win! And on the bright said my list of library holds is down 14 books. It‘s still 40+ so we are still struggling.

Thank you @Liz_M for hosting this challenge I needed it.

Liz_M Your multiple boards were inspiring! I'm happy to see that you had some success. 2w

12 likes1 comment

ShananigansReads

Summerlong: A Novel | Dean Bakopoulos

Unfortunately, my #OwnedEdition of #14Books14Weeks did not see completion either. But I tried and did get a few books (5/14) off my TBR so still a win, right?

@Liz_M

Liz_M You get to fill the empty spaces created, right? 😉 2w

ShananigansReads @Liz_M absolutely 😉 2w

17 likes2 comments

ShananigansReads

Summerlong: A Novel | Dean Bakopoulos

With one week left I can accept I‘m not going to read the 11 outstanding books in my #ARCEdition of #14Books14Weeks I did enjoy this challenge and I thank @Liz_M for hosting.

19 likes

rebcamuse

Gilead | Marilynne Robinson

pick

Read this one back in 2006 but figured I‘d share some faves here. This is a book to be read slowly, a little at a time. Every anecdote and vignette is a life lesson in miniature, but the book never resorts to pontification or blithe nostalgia. It unites believers and non-believers, old and young, men and women in an exquisite tapestry of the human condition. #Pulitzer

8 likes1 stack add

amandabrady

Storm Lake: Change, Resilience, and Hope on the Horizon in America's Heartland | Art Cullen

pick

This first part of this book jumps around a lot, but if you skip to chapter 10 there is some great writing on the issues facing rural ag communities, including: population loss, worldwide immigration, corporate farming practices, pollution and the urgent need for more sustainable solutions. If you want to better understand food, US politics, and climate; read this book.

ShananigansReads

Summerlong: A Novel | Dean Bakopoulos

#14Books14Weeks #LibraryEdition Update. 8/14 is not too shabby. If I focus I might actually finish this one. Considering I have 50+ books on hold at the library this would be awesome.

@Liz_M

21 likes

ShananigansReads

Summerlong: A Novel | Dean Bakopoulos

#14Books14Weeks #OwnedEdition Update 5/14

Doing a little better here but still feeling behind. I‘ve been craving familiar characters and all these books are not only new characters but new authors too. Oh well, maybe I‘ll get over it in August

@Liz_M

15 likes

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books