Right before I started this book, I was telling someone that reading main stream horror isn't something I really do anymore after starting myself on extreme horror. And then I read You by Caroline Kepnes.
This novel is complicated, which makes it a little difficult to review.I could go the easy route and riddle this review with spoiler but I wont. It's a book worth reading and I will tell you why.
YOU isn't your typical blood and gore horror story. So if you are anything like me and look for that in a scary novel, you wont find it here. Nope. This is stalker horror, which in my opinion, is much scarier. This story is told completely from the stalkers point of view, which only adds to the creepiness factor.
Joe is your average, semi-humble guy who works in a book store. He cares about his work and completely judges people on the books they buy. Joe has a bit of a hangup. When he finds a girl he is interested in, he skips the other emotions and goes straight to the love thing.
One day, Beck enters Joe's book store. It is obsession at first sight. Joe just knows Beck is the only woman on this earth made for him and him alone.
Instead of having a long drawn out conversation with her, like your typical person would do, he checks up on the name that is on her credit card, and stalks her on every form of social media known to man. Joe even sits outside of Beck's apartment and watches what Beck does on a daily basis.
Joe is a patient man, so he bides his time and works in conversations and chance meetings here and there. Soon enough, Joe has worked his way in to Beck's life and makes himself indispensable.
That is really is the all I can write about without getting in to spoilers.
Like I said, this book is completely from Joe's point of view. Being in his head is disturbing, mostly because his logic is oddly sound most of the time, and I found myself kind of connecting with his character. Its sound until you close the book and take a moment to remember how utterly NOT okay Joe actions are. Not sure what that says about me, being able to connect to a stalker and all. It disturbed me more than anything.
Let us talk about Beck for a moment. I don't get Joe's attraction to this self absorbed, damaged woman. Not damaged like "awww. She has it so rough" kind of way. Damaged like she's a pathological liar. She tells lie after lie in order to make people feel sorry for her. Beck also allows her best friend, (who is also a pathological liar. Of course Beck doesn't see this and buys in to the friends bullshit stories),to boss her around and use her as an emotional punching bag. I make Beck sound more complex than she really is. Apparently, she's beautiful and I suppose that is an attraction point. Otherwise I don't understand the obsession Joe has with her.
There is some killing in this book, but it isn't overly detailed or gory. Oddly enough, I was okay with it.
The ending is something I kind of didn't see coming, yet I wasn't surprised. You know how stalker stories usually end, but just the way everything went down was a bit of a twist. The ending also left it open for more books. Something I am all for, because I will be reading the next book.
If you are in the mood for an atmospheric horror and nothing extreme, I recommend picking this up. It's a slow burn horror, but it captures your attention from the first page to the last. It doesn't drag, and Mrs. Kepnes keeps things moving and interesting.
Not the type of horror I usually read, but it's still a 5/5 read.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
The Book Sacrifice Tag.
This is an older tag but it sounds like so much fun, because, and lets be realistic here, all of us book worms enjoy hating on shitty books.
This tag was created three years ago by Ariel Bissett. I will link her youtube channel below so you can see the original tag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_2UxYi8fOA
Disclaimer: I don't mean to offend anyone. This is not attack on your personal preference. I just really did not like these. Plus this tag just sounds like a lot of fun.
1. The over-hyped book: Let’s start this off with a Zombie Apocalypse! Let’s say you’re in a book store, just browsing, when BAM! ZOMBIE ATTACK. An announcement comes over the PA System saying that the military has discovered that the zombies’ only weakness is over-hyped books. What book that everyone else says is amazing but you really hated do you start chucking at the zombies knowing that it will count as an over-hyped book and successfully wipe them out?!
Hands down these zombies would get a taste of this:
So much dislike for this entire series. Teenage brooding and drama I can deal with. Vampires that sparkle. No, no and fuck no. Fuck you sparkly vampires. Not to mention the abusive relationship.
2. The Sequel: Let's say you've just left the salon with a SMASHING new haircut and BOOM: Torrential downpour. What sequel are you willing to use as an umbrella to protect yourself?
This is most likely going to get me a lot of hate....but this one:
Nothing happens! Walking, eating, sleeping, more walking, talking about this epic journey, walking and more sleeping. That is what happens in this book. Oh and two hobbits eventually destroy a ring. You have to read through a lot of detailed walking, sleeping, eating, walking, walking and more walking to get there though.
3. The Classic: Let's say you're in a lecture and your English teacher is going on and on about how this classic changed the world, how it revolutionized literature and you get so sick of it that you chuck the classic right at his face because you know what? This classic is stupid and it's worth detention just to show everyone how you feel! What Classic did you chuck?
This:
I am not only pissed off at myself for actually spending 20 bucks on the edition shown here, but I have tried sooooo many times to read this. I just can't do it. I love weirdness in books, but this is just scrambled weirdness that has no definitive story. Kudos to those of you that love and appreciate this book. I do not.
4.Your least favorite book of life!: Let's say that you're hanging out at the library when BAM global warming explodes and the world outside becomes a frozen wasteland. You're trapped and your only chance for survival is to burn a book. What is the book you first run to, your least favorite book of all life, what book do you not fully regret lighting?
Anyone who knows me, knows damn well what is coming. My complete and utter loathing for this book and the three books that followed is endless. I actually have been known to go on hour long tangents over how these books add nothing to the literary world.
I am, of course, talking about these blights upon the eyes:
*takes a deep calming breath*
Let's see if I can sum this up in the style of Ana's narration:
"Meg bites her lower lip and her inner goddess roars as her eyes flutter sexily across these unattractive words of unattractiveness. Meg bites her lower lip and she slowly shuts the book. Then, Meg, (while biting her lip), sexily walks across the room to the place where you set fires and stuff. Meg's inner goddess screams at her to throw the unattractive book of extreme unattractiveness in to the attractive and hot fire of extreme hotness. Meg bites her lower lip before she gives in. She chucks the unattractive book in to the sexy flames of sexiness and sighs sexily in relief."
So much loathing for this series. I felt dirty reading it. Glorifying abuse and abusive relationships is NEVER okay. I felt it set back women's rights. I am so finding myself wanting to send E.L James a thesaurus.
On a completely related side note. I feel I should add that I actually HAVE burned all four Twilight books. It was totally worth it and don't regret it.
Wow! I managed not to go on my usual Fifty Shades rant. Go me!
So there you all have it. My least favorite books ever.
This tag was created three years ago by Ariel Bissett. I will link her youtube channel below so you can see the original tag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_2UxYi8fOA
Disclaimer: I don't mean to offend anyone. This is not attack on your personal preference. I just really did not like these. Plus this tag just sounds like a lot of fun.
1. The over-hyped book: Let’s start this off with a Zombie Apocalypse! Let’s say you’re in a book store, just browsing, when BAM! ZOMBIE ATTACK. An announcement comes over the PA System saying that the military has discovered that the zombies’ only weakness is over-hyped books. What book that everyone else says is amazing but you really hated do you start chucking at the zombies knowing that it will count as an over-hyped book and successfully wipe them out?!
Hands down these zombies would get a taste of this:
2. The Sequel: Let's say you've just left the salon with a SMASHING new haircut and BOOM: Torrential downpour. What sequel are you willing to use as an umbrella to protect yourself?
This is most likely going to get me a lot of hate....but this one:
Nothing happens! Walking, eating, sleeping, more walking, talking about this epic journey, walking and more sleeping. That is what happens in this book. Oh and two hobbits eventually destroy a ring. You have to read through a lot of detailed walking, sleeping, eating, walking, walking and more walking to get there though.
3. The Classic: Let's say you're in a lecture and your English teacher is going on and on about how this classic changed the world, how it revolutionized literature and you get so sick of it that you chuck the classic right at his face because you know what? This classic is stupid and it's worth detention just to show everyone how you feel! What Classic did you chuck?
This:
4.Your least favorite book of life!: Let's say that you're hanging out at the library when BAM global warming explodes and the world outside becomes a frozen wasteland. You're trapped and your only chance for survival is to burn a book. What is the book you first run to, your least favorite book of all life, what book do you not fully regret lighting?
Anyone who knows me, knows damn well what is coming. My complete and utter loathing for this book and the three books that followed is endless. I actually have been known to go on hour long tangents over how these books add nothing to the literary world.
I am, of course, talking about these blights upon the eyes:
*takes a deep calming breath*
Let's see if I can sum this up in the style of Ana's narration:
"Meg bites her lower lip and her inner goddess roars as her eyes flutter sexily across these unattractive words of unattractiveness. Meg bites her lower lip and she slowly shuts the book. Then, Meg, (while biting her lip), sexily walks across the room to the place where you set fires and stuff. Meg's inner goddess screams at her to throw the unattractive book of extreme unattractiveness in to the attractive and hot fire of extreme hotness. Meg bites her lower lip before she gives in. She chucks the unattractive book in to the sexy flames of sexiness and sighs sexily in relief."
So much loathing for this series. I felt dirty reading it. Glorifying abuse and abusive relationships is NEVER okay. I felt it set back women's rights. I am so finding myself wanting to send E.L James a thesaurus.
On a completely related side note. I feel I should add that I actually HAVE burned all four Twilight books. It was totally worth it and don't regret it.
Wow! I managed not to go on my usual Fifty Shades rant. Go me!
So there you all have it. My least favorite books ever.
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