Yesterday I had a very lighthearted review of the fun movie Always Be My Maybe... this review is a lot different. This is a very dark book... possibly one of the most disturbing books I've ever read.
First off... this book is written in the second person... meaning that Joe Goldberg the narrator is talking to "You." Who is you? Guinevere Beck- an aspiring writer who is currently attending Brown University who wonders into the book store Joe works at an instantly becomes obsessed with her.
This book is very voyeuristic because basically you are following Beck through Joe's eyes. If he's watching her in her apartment- so are you... and you only really see Beck from Joe who is kind of an unreliable narrator because really he doesn't know much about her other than the person he thinks she is by watching her. He doesn't know how she thinks about him or how she feels at any point in the book really.
This book also had some dark humor in it. Compared to something like Gone Girl or Sharp Objects- I'd say this is a bit of an easier quick read despite it being so creepy because there are funny things in this book that both add to the creepiness but also make it a little easier to read. Joe's relationship with Benji, Peach's snobbery and Elton John love, Joe insisting he isn't a stalker, Ethan and Blythe... it has it's charm.
The suspense is also really great for this book. I had a hard time putting it down when I first read it. It's one you definitely want to keep reading and you need to know what happens next.
Also... some light spoilers... but Joe and Beck were actually a disturbingly cute couple together... and at points as awful and disgusting as Joe is... I kind of wanted him to get the help he needed. Also everyone knew Joe was a good guy. Ethan liked Joe and Ethan was such a good guy.
Everyone in this book is also manipulating Beck also. Peach, her father... even her therapist... some spoilers. Everyone is just as bad as Joe. I guess ultimately Joe was worse... but I felt bad for Beck through all of this. Everyone was like instantly infatuated with her and would do anything for her affection. It's not good.
There were some "Setting up the sequel" moments in the book that I didn't really like... but the sequel does sound good and I'm hoping Joe will be held responsible for his actions.
I also know they have some discussion questions in the back of the book. I'll probably answer those and go more into depth in the book there... maybe I'll do a couple of posts with some breaks in between so it's not all heavy, disturbing book talk.
Bye!
-Shannon
First off... this book is written in the second person... meaning that Joe Goldberg the narrator is talking to "You." Who is you? Guinevere Beck- an aspiring writer who is currently attending Brown University who wonders into the book store Joe works at an instantly becomes obsessed with her.
This book is very voyeuristic because basically you are following Beck through Joe's eyes. If he's watching her in her apartment- so are you... and you only really see Beck from Joe who is kind of an unreliable narrator because really he doesn't know much about her other than the person he thinks she is by watching her. He doesn't know how she thinks about him or how she feels at any point in the book really.
This book also had some dark humor in it. Compared to something like Gone Girl or Sharp Objects- I'd say this is a bit of an easier quick read despite it being so creepy because there are funny things in this book that both add to the creepiness but also make it a little easier to read. Joe's relationship with Benji, Peach's snobbery and Elton John love, Joe insisting he isn't a stalker, Ethan and Blythe... it has it's charm.
The suspense is also really great for this book. I had a hard time putting it down when I first read it. It's one you definitely want to keep reading and you need to know what happens next.
Also... some light spoilers... but Joe and Beck were actually a disturbingly cute couple together... and at points as awful and disgusting as Joe is... I kind of wanted him to get the help he needed. Also everyone knew Joe was a good guy. Ethan liked Joe and Ethan was such a good guy.
Everyone in this book is also manipulating Beck also. Peach, her father... even her therapist... some spoilers. Everyone is just as bad as Joe. I guess ultimately Joe was worse... but I felt bad for Beck through all of this. Everyone was like instantly infatuated with her and would do anything for her affection. It's not good.
There were some "Setting up the sequel" moments in the book that I didn't really like... but the sequel does sound good and I'm hoping Joe will be held responsible for his actions.
I also know they have some discussion questions in the back of the book. I'll probably answer those and go more into depth in the book there... maybe I'll do a couple of posts with some breaks in between so it's not all heavy, disturbing book talk.
Bye!
-Shannon
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