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Plain
Essy is released from a psychiatric hospital after orchestrating her mother’s death a few years earlier. She moves to the neighboring town, where she can continue therapy with her psychiatrist. In pursuit of an idealistic happiness and normalcy, she finds herself both haunted and driven by those she hurt...
Writing about Plain, the author David T. Griffith said: “Plain started out as a four-page story in which I challenged myself to make a ridiculously mundane character fascinating. I wanted something more than a slice of life short story, so I added the voices Essy hears to create an unhealthy catalyst to her story. A traumatic event in her past that she orchestrated helped establish her psychological and confidence issues and serve as the driving force at the core of the story. It all grew from there.”
Writing about Plain, the author David T. Griffith said: “Plain started out as a four-page story in which I challenged myself to make a ridiculously mundane character fascinating. I wanted something more than a slice of life short story, so I added the voices Essy hears to create an unhealthy catalyst to her story. A traumatic event in her past that she orchestrated helped establish her psychological and confidence issues and serve as the driving force at the core of the story. It all grew from there.”
81 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 12, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Recently, I had the enjoyment of reading Griffith’s ‘Darkness Calls’ from Demain Publishing. It was a blast and when I signed up for Kindle Unlimited, I knew which book would be my first borrow from the program – ‘Plain.’ Released in 2019, I had always had my eye on reading it, but this was the kick in the butt to dive in.
What I liked: ‘Plain’ is a complex, multi-layered story of a young woman named Essy, who is struggling to figure out their place in the world. As the story moves along, we learn more and more about her past, events that have shaped her and cause her to lash out in violent ways.
Griffith has created a really compelling character study here. Essy is deeply flawed, a product of excessive and consistent trauma and it was interesting to watch how she attempted to rationalize her responses to new moments by referring to previous incidents. Griffith makes you love and loathe this character, which made for an engaging experience.
What I didn’t like: The beginning throws you into the mix of Essy’s life and for a bit I struggled to sort out what was happening now and then. I pushed through because Griffith had planted this kernel that was starting to dance and wiggle in the pan on the stove and I wanted to see what happened when it finally popped. For some, the intended confusion may be a struggle, but I highly recommend you keep going.
Why you should buy this: Griffith gives a great take on mental health ‘dilemmas’ one where Essy believes she knows best. The character interactions are all really well done and once finished you’ll see a number of clues pop out that you missed along the way. This was really well done, and one I highly recommend. Happy this was my first book on KU!
Recently, I had the enjoyment of reading Griffith’s ‘Darkness Calls’ from Demain Publishing. It was a blast and when I signed up for Kindle Unlimited, I knew which book would be my first borrow from the program – ‘Plain.’ Released in 2019, I had always had my eye on reading it, but this was the kick in the butt to dive in.
What I liked: ‘Plain’ is a complex, multi-layered story of a young woman named Essy, who is struggling to figure out their place in the world. As the story moves along, we learn more and more about her past, events that have shaped her and cause her to lash out in violent ways.
Griffith has created a really compelling character study here. Essy is deeply flawed, a product of excessive and consistent trauma and it was interesting to watch how she attempted to rationalize her responses to new moments by referring to previous incidents. Griffith makes you love and loathe this character, which made for an engaging experience.
What I didn’t like: The beginning throws you into the mix of Essy’s life and for a bit I struggled to sort out what was happening now and then. I pushed through because Griffith had planted this kernel that was starting to dance and wiggle in the pan on the stove and I wanted to see what happened when it finally popped. For some, the intended confusion may be a struggle, but I highly recommend you keep going.
Why you should buy this: Griffith gives a great take on mental health ‘dilemmas’ one where Essy believes she knows best. The character interactions are all really well done and once finished you’ll see a number of clues pop out that you missed along the way. This was really well done, and one I highly recommend. Happy this was my first book on KU!
March 12, 2020
If you met Essy on the street, you probably wouldn’t give her a second glance. You might pick up something off about her, but quickly dismiss it and be on your way. But author David T. Griffith wants you to see everything about Essy. Hidden behind her ordinary appearance is a history of violence, alcoholism, and voices of the past which haunt her daily. Plain takes the reader deep into Essy’s fractured mind where the past, present, reality and delusions bleed together.
After Essy is released from Brook Haven psychiatric hospital, her life seems to be coming together nicely in Stratsbury, Connecticut – stable job, decent apartment, and located close to her psychiatrist, Dr. Marianne Brody. As the story progresses red flags pop up, hinting that all is not what it seems. Bit by bit Essy’s world unravels, plunging her further into self-loathing and psychosis. Can she ever escape the torturous voice of her deceased mother, or is she doomed to remain unhinged and dangerous?
Griffith brilliantly uses an unreliable narrator to evoke empathy and revulsion, with glimpses of the character’s life as both victim and perpetrator of violence. While primarily a character driven story, flashbacks to the events leading to Essy’s hospitalisation provide a nice balance of action. Normally I prefer plot driven tales, but the writing of Plain was so compelling that I didn’t even notice the minimal amount of activities until long after reading. And not to worry gore fans, there are a few blood and brain splattered scenes to delight you as well.
I loved every minute of this story and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a disturbing and immersive reading experience.
*This review first appeared on Kendall Reviews*
After Essy is released from Brook Haven psychiatric hospital, her life seems to be coming together nicely in Stratsbury, Connecticut – stable job, decent apartment, and located close to her psychiatrist, Dr. Marianne Brody. As the story progresses red flags pop up, hinting that all is not what it seems. Bit by bit Essy’s world unravels, plunging her further into self-loathing and psychosis. Can she ever escape the torturous voice of her deceased mother, or is she doomed to remain unhinged and dangerous?
Griffith brilliantly uses an unreliable narrator to evoke empathy and revulsion, with glimpses of the character’s life as both victim and perpetrator of violence. While primarily a character driven story, flashbacks to the events leading to Essy’s hospitalisation provide a nice balance of action. Normally I prefer plot driven tales, but the writing of Plain was so compelling that I didn’t even notice the minimal amount of activities until long after reading. And not to worry gore fans, there are a few blood and brain splattered scenes to delight you as well.
I loved every minute of this story and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a disturbing and immersive reading experience.
*This review first appeared on Kendall Reviews*
September 25, 2023
A chilling character study! A woman's memories, inner voices from her trauma-filled past speak to us even more vividly than the character herself. A woman, Essy, is tormented and haunted by memories, body dysmorphia, withdrawal, the voices of her past, and her tenuous hold on her present. Outwardly she seems rather "plain" in appearance and temperament, but inside she is just barely holding on. She hopes to reunite with a new old friend from the facility where she had hoped to heal and recover and claim herself--and hope is a wonderful thing--the best of things, but the past doesn't easily let go of its hold on Essy and the present can be disorienting and distorted when one is so haunted.
D. T. Griffith has a gift for the psychological exploration of character and I have no doubt that he has the potential to take us further and deeper into our own reflections and inner voices. We follow along with Essy and see her through the distorted reflections and try and make sense of the voices that speak to her and of her... but we want so much to hear Essy speak. We want the best for Essy.
The ending had me speechless. Powerful and poignant.
D. T. Griffith has a gift for the psychological exploration of character and I have no doubt that he has the potential to take us further and deeper into our own reflections and inner voices. We follow along with Essy and see her through the distorted reflections and try and make sense of the voices that speak to her and of her... but we want so much to hear Essy speak. We want the best for Essy.
The ending had me speechless. Powerful and poignant.
February 10, 2020
I would say that the title of this story is very misleading, or perhaps it is ironic, because there is very little about this tale that is plain.
But plain is how Essy sees herself. When we meet her she has just been discharged from a psychiatric hospital where she had been ‘living’ for reasons that are, to begin with anyway, unknown.
As this short story progresses we are shown more insight into Essy’s troubled past and her perception of reality.
Daughter of one hell of an evil woman, Essy has been put down her whole life by her domineering mother. They fuck you up, your parents, as they say. And Essy is certainly fucked. Up.
All she has in her life is her best friend, Sarah, someone she met in the hospital and someone she hopes to see again very soon.
The narrative of this story skips between the present day, Essy’s growing up, her time in the institution, and that fateful day that drove her to become a resident there. But instead of these differing timelines being confusing, the whole thing flows seamlessly and fully presents the character of Essy in an extremely short space of time.
Some of the scenes are depicted in such graphic detail it was difficult to not smell the rotten decay, or feel the terror bestowed upon poor Essy. Told in the third person it still reads like the memoir of an unreliable narrator, if that makes sense.
As the story progressed I began to realise just what was going on. But I don’t feel this is because I’m some sort of reading genius who can spot twists way ahead of time. No, it is almost like the story is leading you down a path you really wish it wasn’t and you read on just hoping that your instincts are wrong.
But alas, you can’t turn around. You’re in for the duration, sucker!!
I seem to be saying this all the time now, but this is another excellent addition to the Short Sharp Shocks! series and I can’t wait to read more of them.
But plain is how Essy sees herself. When we meet her she has just been discharged from a psychiatric hospital where she had been ‘living’ for reasons that are, to begin with anyway, unknown.
As this short story progresses we are shown more insight into Essy’s troubled past and her perception of reality.
Daughter of one hell of an evil woman, Essy has been put down her whole life by her domineering mother. They fuck you up, your parents, as they say. And Essy is certainly fucked. Up.
All she has in her life is her best friend, Sarah, someone she met in the hospital and someone she hopes to see again very soon.
The narrative of this story skips between the present day, Essy’s growing up, her time in the institution, and that fateful day that drove her to become a resident there. But instead of these differing timelines being confusing, the whole thing flows seamlessly and fully presents the character of Essy in an extremely short space of time.
Some of the scenes are depicted in such graphic detail it was difficult to not smell the rotten decay, or feel the terror bestowed upon poor Essy. Told in the third person it still reads like the memoir of an unreliable narrator, if that makes sense.
As the story progressed I began to realise just what was going on. But I don’t feel this is because I’m some sort of reading genius who can spot twists way ahead of time. No, it is almost like the story is leading you down a path you really wish it wasn’t and you read on just hoping that your instincts are wrong.
But alas, you can’t turn around. You’re in for the duration, sucker!!
I seem to be saying this all the time now, but this is another excellent addition to the Short Sharp Shocks! series and I can’t wait to read more of them.
March 9, 2021
A quality and off-kilter tale of one women's insecurities and psychological struggle with a past that seems determined to keep her company, no matter what. Griffith keeps the reader guessing with a cleverly constructed, surrealist narrative that rockets along and delivers a satisfying ending.
Mental health issues are dealt with sensitively and without any kind of stigmatising, sensationalist narrative, which is always good to see in the genre.
Highly recommended.
Mental health issues are dealt with sensitively and without any kind of stigmatising, sensationalist narrative, which is always good to see in the genre.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews