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Cuckoo
Have you ever been in love? Truly, madly, deeply?
Only to lose it? Your tether suddenly snapped.
How broken can you become?
And how can you ever hope to piece yourself back together?
This is a love story.
Only to lose it? Your tether suddenly snapped.
How broken can you become?
And how can you ever hope to piece yourself back together?
This is a love story.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 2023
81 people are currently reading
1241 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 8, 2023
Ennenbach spelled backward is Hcabnenne, which means "cum guzzler" in Croation.
November 19, 2023
This book is incredible and I really hope I do it the justice it deserves with this review! If I could write half as beautifully as Mike, I'd be writing books instead of reviewing them! 😉 Reading anything by Mike just makes you feel all warm and cozy inside, like coming home on a cold day, sitting in your favourite armchair, all wrapped up in your favourite hoodie and slippers, full of anticipation and excitement for what's to come! And he NEVER disappoints….Ever!! 💜 Always a beautifully poetic narrative, drawing out the hidden horrors within and keeping you entranced throughout. The descriptions, imagery, sights, sounds and smells all hit you full force in the face, creating an atmospheric mind movie for your soul.
A chance encounter at a gas station ends in a relationship, the wonder and elation of love felt for real for the first time is told, as is the fear of it being reciprocated and equally, of it not being reciprocated. Fraught with anxiety, the MC has regular episodes of blacking out and hallucinating. Told in 'before' and 'after' chapters, the story jumps around a lot, but it is never confusing, it always makes sense and flows smoothly, brilliantly so.
A man slowly losing his grip on reality, his mind cracking, bit by bit, a man who never truly recovers from his loss and devastation, from the travesties of war and the dark side of his very own mind. When Candy becomes sick, it becomes a battle of wits for him to keep her with him. I love their relationship, from beginning to end, their love for each other, their total understanding of each other, their playfulness and private jokes!
This book is a terrifying trip into insanity, realisation, and of coming out on the other side, not unscathed, but reawakened almost, to what he must now do. And that ending! Woah! That ending hit HARD!
It's one of those books that you can't put down, (not that you'd want to either), because you need to know whats happening, you need the buzz it gives you, like a drug that has got a hold of you, you crave more and more, you know if you pick it up you're not going to stop until you've overdosed. But, you also don't want to pick it up because you don't want that feeling to ever end! The intrigue and suspense build steadily, and stealthily, throughout the story, pulling you along with it, completely captivating and enthralling, surreal and chilling. The tale unravels brilliantly, it's mesmerising and hypnotising. Utterly, beautifully addictive!
I am in awe of Mike's mind, this book has become one of my favourite books EVER!! Everyone needs to read this! Everyone! Its heartbreaking, soul destroying, thought provoking, emotional, beautiful, intense, psychologically powerful, poetic and just….fucking….incredible! This hits hard, so fucking hard, not just a punch to the gut but to your very soul. 💜 Like an exquisitely haunting fever dream. A true masterpiece. It moved me, massively. Affected me in a big way, and will stay with me for a long time, if not forever. Several times I was reminded a bit of King's Insomnia, one of my favourite King books ever, I've read it and re-read it several times over. This might just be my new Insomnia, one I'll pick up and re-read over and over too!
Why are you still here? Get your ass to Amazon right now, buy this book, read it, enjoy it, review it, and thank me later!! 💜
A chance encounter at a gas station ends in a relationship, the wonder and elation of love felt for real for the first time is told, as is the fear of it being reciprocated and equally, of it not being reciprocated. Fraught with anxiety, the MC has regular episodes of blacking out and hallucinating. Told in 'before' and 'after' chapters, the story jumps around a lot, but it is never confusing, it always makes sense and flows smoothly, brilliantly so.
A man slowly losing his grip on reality, his mind cracking, bit by bit, a man who never truly recovers from his loss and devastation, from the travesties of war and the dark side of his very own mind. When Candy becomes sick, it becomes a battle of wits for him to keep her with him. I love their relationship, from beginning to end, their love for each other, their total understanding of each other, their playfulness and private jokes!
This book is a terrifying trip into insanity, realisation, and of coming out on the other side, not unscathed, but reawakened almost, to what he must now do. And that ending! Woah! That ending hit HARD!
It's one of those books that you can't put down, (not that you'd want to either), because you need to know whats happening, you need the buzz it gives you, like a drug that has got a hold of you, you crave more and more, you know if you pick it up you're not going to stop until you've overdosed. But, you also don't want to pick it up because you don't want that feeling to ever end! The intrigue and suspense build steadily, and stealthily, throughout the story, pulling you along with it, completely captivating and enthralling, surreal and chilling. The tale unravels brilliantly, it's mesmerising and hypnotising. Utterly, beautifully addictive!
I am in awe of Mike's mind, this book has become one of my favourite books EVER!! Everyone needs to read this! Everyone! Its heartbreaking, soul destroying, thought provoking, emotional, beautiful, intense, psychologically powerful, poetic and just….fucking….incredible! This hits hard, so fucking hard, not just a punch to the gut but to your very soul. 💜 Like an exquisitely haunting fever dream. A true masterpiece. It moved me, massively. Affected me in a big way, and will stay with me for a long time, if not forever. Several times I was reminded a bit of King's Insomnia, one of my favourite King books ever, I've read it and re-read it several times over. This might just be my new Insomnia, one I'll pick up and re-read over and over too!
Why are you still here? Get your ass to Amazon right now, buy this book, read it, enjoy it, review it, and thank me later!! 💜
September 1, 2023
TL;DR - This book will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Honesty moment: I have dragged my feet on writing this review. Not because I don’t love Mike Ennenbach with my whole heart or because the story isn’t amazing. Those assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth.
This isn’t going to be a synopsis post, it’s going to be a very personal type of post.
Why did I lollygag when I fell in love with CUCKOO over a year and a half ago?
First, I don’t want to share it with anyone. I became immersed in the world of CUCKOO, had my heart broken and lived to read it again. I don’t want to share that heart break but I know I have to. There’s hope in heartbreak and I hope you see it in this story.
“I felt my DNA being rewritten.”
Second, Mike set the attainability of love like that between Candy and the narrator to goddamn high for those of us in the real world. He states in the quote above that everything about him changed the moment he saw her and he spends the rest of his life loving her in all the way he needs to. Not wants to, needs to. I want that. The love that is so powerful you would die trying to prove yourself.
Last, I think about CUCKOO and everything inside of it daily. It’s not just a love story, it’s air for your lungs, happiness for your soul, and hell for your heart. Ennenbach gives us all of it and we still beg for more. I hope you read this and think, “I have that kind of love”, but realize not to take it for granted.
Honesty moment: I have dragged my feet on writing this review. Not because I don’t love Mike Ennenbach with my whole heart or because the story isn’t amazing. Those assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth.
This isn’t going to be a synopsis post, it’s going to be a very personal type of post.
Why did I lollygag when I fell in love with CUCKOO over a year and a half ago?
First, I don’t want to share it with anyone. I became immersed in the world of CUCKOO, had my heart broken and lived to read it again. I don’t want to share that heart break but I know I have to. There’s hope in heartbreak and I hope you see it in this story.
“I felt my DNA being rewritten.”
Second, Mike set the attainability of love like that between Candy and the narrator to goddamn high for those of us in the real world. He states in the quote above that everything about him changed the moment he saw her and he spends the rest of his life loving her in all the way he needs to. Not wants to, needs to. I want that. The love that is so powerful you would die trying to prove yourself.
Last, I think about CUCKOO and everything inside of it daily. It’s not just a love story, it’s air for your lungs, happiness for your soul, and hell for your heart. Ennenbach gives us all of it and we still beg for more. I hope you read this and think, “I have that kind of love”, but realize not to take it for granted.
November 2, 2023
3.25 stars
I want to start my review by saying that the beginning of the book was perfect. The writing was fantastic.
But sadly I didn't like it, when I read a book about a crazy/unreliable narrator I'm always considering that I will understand what's real. I did not. It felt like the movie fear and loathing in Las Vegas. You don't know how you got there and why.
If you like unreliable narrator, being left without answers you might like this, thought.
The author is a master with words, just not my cup of tea.
I want to start my review by saying that the beginning of the book was perfect. The writing was fantastic.
But sadly I didn't like it, when I read a book about a crazy/unreliable narrator I'm always considering that I will understand what's real. I did not. It felt like the movie fear and loathing in Las Vegas. You don't know how you got there and why.
If you like unreliable narrator, being left without answers you might like this, thought.
The author is a master with words, just not my cup of tea.
August 25, 2023
With a writing style similar to Haruki Murakami, Cuckoo will take you on a journey into a love story that's like a disorienting dream. Ennenbach weaves a blanket of words that is comforting and uncomfortable at the same time. I imagine the author took his soul and turned it into ink to write this book. You'll never forget this story and you'll question your own sanity.
I can't pin down exactly what genre this book would fit into, give it a read and decide for yourself.
I can't pin down exactly what genre this book would fit into, give it a read and decide for yourself.
March 26, 2024
Ok so, I gave this book 5*, and I'll tell you why. It was long, and intriguing, and frustrating, and confusing and insane and unreliable narrator times a million but it was so goddamn perfect I can't help but appreciate it in the best way I can (5* and a hardcover purchase, I'd read it on Kindle Unlimited). I have 56 highlights. And I'm still confused. Genius!!
November 22, 2023
“We learned to bury the dead from the way we learned to bury secrets. Six feet is just deep enough to remember, but far enough away it can no longer hurt us.”
I loved parts of this story, was frustrated by some sections, and utterly confused the majority of the time.
Despite this, I pushed through, as Ennenbach’s storytelling was like quicksand, pulling you in and keeping you there. The writing was poetic and magical, flowing like water across the pages.
Typically, I’m not a fan of the unreliable narrator trope, but for this story it works. My complaint is this story pushed and pushed me till I got a little too angry with it at times and wanted to know WHAT the heck was actually going on. So this is more my personal problem than the story’s. I’m still not sure about a lot of what I read, but I suppose that’s what the narrator wanted to share.
I loved parts of this story, was frustrated by some sections, and utterly confused the majority of the time.
Despite this, I pushed through, as Ennenbach’s storytelling was like quicksand, pulling you in and keeping you there. The writing was poetic and magical, flowing like water across the pages.
Typically, I’m not a fan of the unreliable narrator trope, but for this story it works. My complaint is this story pushed and pushed me till I got a little too angry with it at times and wanted to know WHAT the heck was actually going on. So this is more my personal problem than the story’s. I’m still not sure about a lot of what I read, but I suppose that’s what the narrator wanted to share.
January 29, 2025
I truly had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading Cuckoo.
The novel follows our MC as he experiences love, devastation, loss and as he slowly loses his grip on reality. I had to read this story bit by bit to avoid my own confusion. I felt lost in the chaos and turmoil in the middle, struggling to make sense of what's happening to this man. I really started to see how much of a masterpiece this book was at about 75% as it began to come together. The layers of trauma, PTSD, violence and darkness dwelling in this mind was devastating. I’m not sure that my words could even start to put a dent in what this book entails. No other book has ever made me feel like I was really in someone’s mind quite like this. Really well written.
The novel follows our MC as he experiences love, devastation, loss and as he slowly loses his grip on reality. I had to read this story bit by bit to avoid my own confusion. I felt lost in the chaos and turmoil in the middle, struggling to make sense of what's happening to this man. I really started to see how much of a masterpiece this book was at about 75% as it began to come together. The layers of trauma, PTSD, violence and darkness dwelling in this mind was devastating. I’m not sure that my words could even start to put a dent in what this book entails. No other book has ever made me feel like I was really in someone’s mind quite like this. Really well written.
August 10, 2025
This might be a love story and I might be having an existential crisis.
“Life is a series of fragmented memories, sharp things which slash, or soft silk to soothe, and we don't get to pick and choose which we experience. All we can do is learn to live with the scars and hope enough of those perfect, frozen instances can balance the scales.”
“It wasn't goodbye. It could never be as long as his heartbeat. But it was what he had, small comforts in a world of gigantic terrors, the only luxuries he could afford. Even in madness, he knew how rich he was.”
“Life is a series of fragmented memories, sharp things which slash, or soft silk to soothe, and we don't get to pick and choose which we experience. All we can do is learn to live with the scars and hope enough of those perfect, frozen instances can balance the scales.”
“It wasn't goodbye. It could never be as long as his heartbeat. But it was what he had, small comforts in a world of gigantic terrors, the only luxuries he could afford. Even in madness, he knew how rich he was.”
September 2, 2023
There aren’t enough words to describe this. Brilliant, phenomenal, beautiful, exhilarating, a work of art…genius even. It was so easy to sit down and read this cover to cover, in record time. It’s literal magic. A journey unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
September 7, 2023
I had to wait a day after finishing this book to collect my thoughts and organize them into something coherent and fluid enough to be able to write a review that would do this book justice. I read a LOT of books and I love a lot of books but this book was something different for me. A deeply moving, disjointed journey through true, visceral love and total madness. At times I was reminded of Kafka, at other times, Bukowski, but Ennenbach is in a league all his own with this one. I will admit that I have rarely ever been brought to tears while reading a book, but this one did it to me. At times it was took me to beautiful places- places we have all been or dream of going to. At other times it took me to some uncomfortable, dark places and held me there in a vice grip. I truly hope Ennenbach continues to gift us with his work. His talent is incredible. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 1, 2024
ok, first of all, when I started to read this book I wanted to quit half way. But at the end.. the end almost broke me and then I understood. Understood it all. And I cried. I would give this book a 5 star rating, however I think the fact that I wanted to give up so many times made me give this one a 4 stars. I believe a lot of readers feel this way. Maybe it was done like this on purpose? Dunno. But I almost never ever DNF a book (so far only like 3 or books in 5 years) and most of the time I ended up loving the story/book. Glad I stuck with it.
This is book is a love story. But not a normal love story. When Cuckoo meets Candy, everything stops and love begins. But like most stories, everything has an end. What about the end? What happens then? The story is told in before/after sequences and quite confusing at times. However, in the end everything will make sense. And maybe you'll cry too.
This is book is a love story. But not a normal love story. When Cuckoo meets Candy, everything stops and love begins. But like most stories, everything has an end. What about the end? What happens then? The story is told in before/after sequences and quite confusing at times. However, in the end everything will make sense. And maybe you'll cry too.
September 5, 2023
What the hell did I just read? It was oddly compelling, even though I spent a majority of the time confused. I suffer from C-PTSD myself, so I can imagine it's probably an apt metaphor for trauma. I wasn't frightened, but I definitely felt uncomfortable in parts.
March 9, 2025
Mike Ennenbach’s Cuckoo is one of the rawest and most mesmerizing journeys through love, madness, and nostalgia I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The story instantly suffocates you with it’s deeply unsettling atmosphere. Ennenbach intricately weaves trauma, fragmented memories, and dreamlike hallucinations into a narrative that is as disorienting as it is beautiful.
Our main character’s past is steeped in violence and instability which, in turn, shifts his perception of the world. His relationship with Candy provides a strong but fragile hope, and as his mind fractures, reality distorts into paranoia and delusion. The nonlinear chapters mirror his descent into madness, making every page feel like a plunge deeper into his unraveling mind.
Dark, poetic, and emotionally DEVASTATING, Cuckoo is a beautifully written descent into chaos and will leave you feeling all of the emotions simultaneously.
Our main character’s past is steeped in violence and instability which, in turn, shifts his perception of the world. His relationship with Candy provides a strong but fragile hope, and as his mind fractures, reality distorts into paranoia and delusion. The nonlinear chapters mirror his descent into madness, making every page feel like a plunge deeper into his unraveling mind.
Dark, poetic, and emotionally DEVASTATING, Cuckoo is a beautifully written descent into chaos and will leave you feeling all of the emotions simultaneously.
September 3, 2023
I read a lot of books, but it's only once in a great while that I stumble upon one that is, to me at least, a masterpiece. A book that not only reels me in to the point where I can't put it down, but also has me thinking 'This is fucking brilliant' The entire time. 'Cuckoo' is one of those books. Between the base story, purposely disjointed timeline, the poetry placed sporadically throughout, and the range of emotion this story reaches, I was infatuated as I read it. As you follow the narrator through his journey of love, grief, and fighting spirit, all while struggling with mental illness, you're treated to a story that crosses over an array of genres. Ennenbach has really created something special here, and I look forward to seeing what he does next!
December 20, 2024
I’m conflicted on how many stars to give this one. It is beautifully written, but it became so chaotic that I got lost at a certain point. I guess that’s how Cuckoo felt though, lost and confused.
If I could rate it in parts: 5 stars for the first half, 2 stars for the second, 5 stars for the last few pages.
If I could rate it in parts: 5 stars for the first half, 2 stars for the second, 5 stars for the last few pages.
September 13, 2025
2,5✨
N-am reușit să rezonez cu cartea așa cum speram din păcate.
- m-am tot întrebat ce citesc o bună parte; după am înțeles ce se întâmplă și mi-am zis că-mi place; mai apoi, mă tot întrebam de ce ne lungim atât și când se termină; către final, mă gândeam ce am ratat de am schimbat registrul atât de drastic; când am citit ultimele pagini, mi-am zis că totuși a meritat, că are un mesaj înduioșător
- principala mea problemă a fost cu personajul principal; în vreme ce am înțeles de ce a fost atât de... complex, mi s-a părut mult prea mult pentru că cititorul nu e deloc avertizat; te trezești la un moment dat că ai schimbat genul și nu ai idee ce se întâmplă; abia la final înțelegi ce a făcut autorul, asta dacă ajungi până aici
- în vreme ce am apreciat abordarea complexă a subiectului, cred totuși că a fost mult prea lungă cartea; sunt multicele povestioare care ar putea fi tăiate și tot am înțelege ce se petrece
- am apreciat și salturile prin timp, chit că la început m-au zăpăcit de cap
- cred totuși că merită citită fix pentru haosul din ea; oferă o lecție frumoasă (să zicem).
În concluzie, mă bucur că am citit-o. A mers perfect cu această perioadă.
N-am reușit să rezonez cu cartea așa cum speram din păcate.
- m-am tot întrebat ce citesc o bună parte; după am înțeles ce se întâmplă și mi-am zis că-mi place; mai apoi, mă tot întrebam de ce ne lungim atât și când se termină; către final, mă gândeam ce am ratat de am schimbat registrul atât de drastic; când am citit ultimele pagini, mi-am zis că totuși a meritat, că are un mesaj înduioșător
- principala mea problemă a fost cu personajul principal; în vreme ce am înțeles de ce a fost atât de... complex, mi s-a părut mult prea mult pentru că cititorul nu e deloc avertizat; te trezești la un moment dat că ai schimbat genul și nu ai idee ce se întâmplă; abia la final înțelegi ce a făcut autorul, asta dacă ajungi până aici
- în vreme ce am apreciat abordarea complexă a subiectului, cred totuși că a fost mult prea lungă cartea; sunt multicele povestioare care ar putea fi tăiate și tot am înțelege ce se petrece
- am apreciat și salturile prin timp, chit că la început m-au zăpăcit de cap
- cred totuși că merită citită fix pentru haosul din ea; oferă o lecție frumoasă (să zicem).
În concluzie, mă bucur că am citit-o. A mers perfect cu această perioadă.
April 13, 2025
I began reading this book shortly before voting for the Indie Author Horror Brawl started last weekend and I knew early on it would be getting my vote. I was bummed that it didn’t make it into the top 32 then, and upon finishing it now, I’m confident it could have won the whole thing. I typically steer clear of books that center around romantic relationships, so I’m glad I went into this one blind. As I might have skipped it if I’d read the description beforehand. And then I would have missed out on this incredibly unique experience.
Four ghosties for sure: 👻👻👻👻
As a side note - not that the plot has anything to do with it, but there were parts that gave me noir thriller vibes akin to The Salton Sea (my fave Val Kilmer movie). I found myself so drawn into that ambience that I pictured bluesy trumpet music playing in the background while reading Cuckoo. But that’s probably just me 🥰
Four ghosties for sure: 👻👻👻👻
As a side note - not that the plot has anything to do with it, but there were parts that gave me noir thriller vibes akin to The Salton Sea (my fave Val Kilmer movie). I found myself so drawn into that ambience that I pictured bluesy trumpet music playing in the background while reading Cuckoo. But that’s probably just me 🥰
January 14, 2024
A masterpiece!
An intense story of heartbreaking love written with such poetic beauty. Mike has surpassed all my expectations and written a story that dare I say is his best. I felt every emotion reading this beautiful, tragic story and by the end my heart was heavy with pain and grief. I am in total awe of Mike's talent as an author. He is a poet, a genius, a writer unlike any other. A unique and special voice in horror literature. If you only read 1 book this year, make it Cuckoo.
An intense story of heartbreaking love written with such poetic beauty. Mike has surpassed all my expectations and written a story that dare I say is his best. I felt every emotion reading this beautiful, tragic story and by the end my heart was heavy with pain and grief. I am in total awe of Mike's talent as an author. He is a poet, a genius, a writer unlike any other. A unique and special voice in horror literature. If you only read 1 book this year, make it Cuckoo.
July 5, 2024
Man, where do I start with this one? For starters, for those looking for creepy horror, this is one you need to read. At the same time, this is a story of love with a big twist. It starts out innocently enough, but as soon as you get to the halfway mark, that is when Mike's writing sparkles. It was like I was taken to an alternative dimension. The poetic nature of the story hooked me and I had to see how it ended.
There are points where he drags the reader to the POV of the main character and one feels whether they're the ones losing their mind. It's like a really bad dream where you have to put the pieces together. I read Cremated Remains. While that was great, this was excellent! I had to reread certain parts to understand. Other times I reread parts because it hit me hard.
Mike, thank you for making me think and nearly losing my mind. Well done, man, well done!
There are points where he drags the reader to the POV of the main character and one feels whether they're the ones losing their mind. It's like a really bad dream where you have to put the pieces together. I read Cremated Remains. While that was great, this was excellent! I had to reread certain parts to understand. Other times I reread parts because it hit me hard.
Mike, thank you for making me think and nearly losing my mind. Well done, man, well done!
September 6, 2023
From a mind plagued by uncertainty to another, this book was felt like every random thought that goes into my head on a difficult day. Random thoughts, ideas that twist my brain into ways I would have never thought possible. Sometimes, I feel like I am not able to separate what's real from what's not, I don't know who I can trust or believe they are being true in their words. That is what Cuckoo adds up and so much more, under the umbrella of an epic love story. A doomed love story that lives an imprint on the minds and hearts of each person that has picked it up to read.
December 18, 2024
I don't have the words to describe this. And honestly, I wouldn't want to. You should go in blind with no expectations so your world can be as thoroughly rocked as mine was. This book is beautiful and haunting and heartbreaking, and I'm still not completely sure I understand what actually happened.
September 6, 2023
I fell into a different world.
I fell into a different world and realms through Ennenbach's gripping words. This novel is an unusual blend of genres which is a true reflection of a multi-dimensional life we live in and through.
The suspense kept me to the last chapter to see the whole story unfold.
A skilled and gifted writer kept the reader engaged, on edges and on an emotion rollercoaster.
A must read if you are searching for something different and challenging to your mundane life.
I fell into a different world and realms through Ennenbach's gripping words. This novel is an unusual blend of genres which is a true reflection of a multi-dimensional life we live in and through.
The suspense kept me to the last chapter to see the whole story unfold.
A skilled and gifted writer kept the reader engaged, on edges and on an emotion rollercoaster.
A must read if you are searching for something different and challenging to your mundane life.
September 3, 2023
There is not a lot to say that hasn't already been said about Cuckoo. Is the hype real? Very much so. It's a novel that needs to be experienced. It's much more than a love story; it is, to me, a masterpiece. Never has a book touched me as deeply as this one has, and I highly doubt there will ever be one like this again. It left me speechless. Thank you, Mike. This is a book that should be talked about for years to come.
5 Pixies songs out of 5
October 13, 2024
The first third of this book was wonderful. The way he describes things is very poetic. Now, the rest of the book is just the mind of a guy who lost his mind and made it hard to follow. The ending was solid that being said.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
This book is hard to rate. Most of the time, I had no clue WTF was going on. I loved the first half. I hated the second half. It took me a month to get through the second half, because I just didn't want to read it. The first half was so good, I felt like I needed to see it through to the end, though. If I could sift out the parts that included Candy and just have that story, that would be a 4.5 star book for me. The other parts are 1 star. I guess that is also how the main character felt, though.
December 3, 2023
I finished Cuckoo several days ago and for the life of me cannot determine how to write a proper review of it. If you haven’t read it I can’t explain it to you and if you have read it, you understand exactly what I am saying. I’ll start by saying it is definitely in my top 5, probably top 3 of the year.
Two of my friends described the feeling after reading it as being “Cuckooed” and I think that is an apt way to state it.
First, the prose is distinct and unmatched. It is poetry. It is brutal. It is funny. It is emotional. It is insane. It is beauty. It is love.
The story is a tale of unconditional love between two broken souls. One with a body riddled with disease, the other’s mind well beyond repair.
All I can tell you is to read this book. It will take you places you may or may not want to go. I absolutely loved being “Cuckooed”, so I’ll just leave you with this quote.
"The world doesn’t allow happiness in great amounts. It gives you just enough to chase that high until the day you die."
Two of my friends described the feeling after reading it as being “Cuckooed” and I think that is an apt way to state it.
First, the prose is distinct and unmatched. It is poetry. It is brutal. It is funny. It is emotional. It is insane. It is beauty. It is love.
The story is a tale of unconditional love between two broken souls. One with a body riddled with disease, the other’s mind well beyond repair.
All I can tell you is to read this book. It will take you places you may or may not want to go. I absolutely loved being “Cuckooed”, so I’ll just leave you with this quote.
"The world doesn’t allow happiness in great amounts. It gives you just enough to chase that high until the day you die."
March 8, 2024
Just finished "Cuckoo" by M Ennenbach,
Pros:
*Beautifully written (the author is a poet & it SHOWS)
*Very non-formulaic, with multiple timelines
*Interesting dive into the depths of madness & perceived reality, a new take on an unreliable narrator
Cons:
*Even though this book was less than 350 pages, it just felt LONG. I found myself skimming parts toward the end. I was still interested in the destination, the journey just got tedious. (This comes from someone who prefers King's short stories to his novels, so take this with a grain of salt!)
*Speaking of the destination, the ending, while not necessarily ambiguous, did leave some questions unanswered. It was also fairly anticlimactic, considering all the build up to get there.
Though this book was not for me, he really is a wonderful wordsmith, and I hope I get a chance to read his poetry and any short stories he may have written (if any) eventually.
Pros:
*Beautifully written (the author is a poet & it SHOWS)
*Very non-formulaic, with multiple timelines
*Interesting dive into the depths of madness & perceived reality, a new take on an unreliable narrator
Cons:
*Even though this book was less than 350 pages, it just felt LONG. I found myself skimming parts toward the end. I was still interested in the destination, the journey just got tedious. (This comes from someone who prefers King's short stories to his novels, so take this with a grain of salt!)
*Speaking of the destination, the ending, while not necessarily ambiguous, did leave some questions unanswered. It was also fairly anticlimactic, considering all the build up to get there.
Though this book was not for me, he really is a wonderful wordsmith, and I hope I get a chance to read his poetry and any short stories he may have written (if any) eventually.
March 12, 2024
Wow, what a read!
This is one of those books that sits heavy on your mind for a while. I hadn’t really read any synopses and didn’t know anything going in. It started off fairly standard and takes a hard right into the land of what the fuck? Like other reviewers have mentioned, at times I was incredibly confused. I couldn’t piece together the different perspectives enough to see the story unfolding. Regardless, Ennenbach has a way with words where you just don’t want to stop.
One thing that stays consistent is the love for Candy. This book was an incredibly portrayal of love and also delirium. It takes to the very last page to completely understand what you’ve read, but once you’re there everything just clicks in a beautiful way.
This isn’t an easy book to fly through but Ennenbach’s writing makes you want to do that anyway. Highly recommend this one for those who don’t mind a bit of a trudge before an amazing payoff.
This is one of those books that sits heavy on your mind for a while. I hadn’t really read any synopses and didn’t know anything going in. It started off fairly standard and takes a hard right into the land of what the fuck? Like other reviewers have mentioned, at times I was incredibly confused. I couldn’t piece together the different perspectives enough to see the story unfolding. Regardless, Ennenbach has a way with words where you just don’t want to stop.
One thing that stays consistent is the love for Candy. This book was an incredibly portrayal of love and also delirium. It takes to the very last page to completely understand what you’ve read, but once you’re there everything just clicks in a beautiful way.
This isn’t an easy book to fly through but Ennenbach’s writing makes you want to do that anyway. Highly recommend this one for those who don’t mind a bit of a trudge before an amazing payoff.
March 1, 2024
So weird, I can barely explain
This story started out as relatable , then turned into alternate realities that I couldn't keep track of. I love psychological thrillers, and read a wide variety of other novels but this story was beyond my imagination. I read, and actually skimmed through the mind bending experiences of the primary character to the end, hoping I could understand but I just couldn't piece it all together. I felt like I needed cliff notes!! It was extremely verbose with the so called poetry which just distracted from the story for me. Then reading the brief bio about the author gave me a bit of insight as to the weirdness of his writing.
This story started out as relatable , then turned into alternate realities that I couldn't keep track of. I love psychological thrillers, and read a wide variety of other novels but this story was beyond my imagination. I read, and actually skimmed through the mind bending experiences of the primary character to the end, hoping I could understand but I just couldn't piece it all together. I felt like I needed cliff notes!! It was extremely verbose with the so called poetry which just distracted from the story for me. Then reading the brief bio about the author gave me a bit of insight as to the weirdness of his writing.
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