What do you think?
Rate this book
Estamos todos de puta madre
¿Necesitas terapia? Toma dos tazas.
Parecen sesiones de terapia de grupo normales. Una terapeuta y cinco pacientes sentados en círculo, compartiendo experiencias y miedos. Pero ¿y si los monstruos que los acosan no son figurados? ¿Y si el único transtorno es ser capaces de ver lo que no se puede ver, el mundo que hay al otro lado?
Premio Shirley Jackson 2014
Estamos todos de puta madre teje con humor y verosimilitud una historia malsana que arranca el el filo de nuestra rutina y nos deja a las puertas del manicomio. Cada capítulo es una pieza de rompecabezas, y a cada pieza la acompaña un escalofrío... hasta que formamos el cuadro completo y se nos hiela el espinazo.
«Los personajes de Gregory ya están sometidos a psicoterapia, pero es muy posible que sus lectores también la necesiten después de terminar esta novela jugosa y perturbadora.»
Robert j. Sawyer
Parecen sesiones de terapia de grupo normales. Una terapeuta y cinco pacientes sentados en círculo, compartiendo experiencias y miedos. Pero ¿y si los monstruos que los acosan no son figurados? ¿Y si el único transtorno es ser capaces de ver lo que no se puede ver, el mundo que hay al otro lado?
Premio Shirley Jackson 2014
Estamos todos de puta madre teje con humor y verosimilitud una historia malsana que arranca el el filo de nuestra rutina y nos deja a las puertas del manicomio. Cada capítulo es una pieza de rompecabezas, y a cada pieza la acompaña un escalofrío... hasta que formamos el cuadro completo y se nos hiela el espinazo.
«Los personajes de Gregory ya están sometidos a psicoterapia, pero es muy posible que sus lectores también la necesiten después de terminar esta novela jugosa y perturbadora.»
Robert j. Sawyer
223 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2014
116 people are currently reading
6676 people want to read
About the author
Daryl Gregory
151 books1,449 followersAward-winning author of Revelator, The Album of Dr. Moreau, Spoonbenders, We Are All Completely Fine, and others. Some of his short fiction has been collected in Unpossible and Other Stories.
He's won the World Fantasy Award, as well as the Shirley Jackson, Crawford, Asimov Readers, and Geffen awards, and his work has been short-listed for many other awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon awards . His books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and have been named to best-of-the-year lists from NPR Books, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal.
He is also the writer of Flatline an interactive fiction game from 3 Minute Games, and comics such as Planet of the Apes.
He's a frequent teacher of writing and is a regular instructor at the Viable Paradise Writing Workshop.
He's won the World Fantasy Award, as well as the Shirley Jackson, Crawford, Asimov Readers, and Geffen awards, and his work has been short-listed for many other awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon awards . His books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and have been named to best-of-the-year lists from NPR Books, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal.
He is also the writer of Flatline an interactive fiction game from 3 Minute Games, and comics such as Planet of the Apes.
He's a frequent teacher of writing and is a regular instructor at the Viable Paradise Writing Workshop.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 785 reviews
December 12, 2017
We Are All Completely Fine is a fabulous, complicated novella about a group of five damaged people and the psychologist who brings them together. Dr. Jan claims she wants to help them, but the five members have been through various supernatural traumas and are accustomed to disbelief when they share their unlikely histories: “Every small group was a chemistry experiment and the procedure was always the same: bring together a group of volatile elements, put them in a tightly enclosed space, and stir. The result was never a stable compound, but sometimes you arrived at something capable of doing hard work, like a poison that killed cancer cells. And sometimes you get a bomb.“
The story becomes almost a character study as we find out more about each person, and the strange situations they’ve survived: “After all, one of the issue we had in common was that we each though we were unique. Not just survivors, but sole survivors. We wore our scars like badges.” But Gregory wisely stays away from historical info-dumping and instead allows their stories to be shared in the course of conversation. As they trust–and challenge–each other, they discover they have more in common than they expected. Shortly after, the pace catapults forward, focusing on immediate danger.
Gregory writes in ways that touch the heart of what it means to be human. He also writes in ways that are horrorific, surprising, and humorous. We Are All Completely Fine is like a psychotherapy text in comic book form, making it accessible and applicable in ways one would have never considered. There are moments that make me squirm, but they are done with such sophistication that Gregory brings me to a place of compassion.
“She believed that people were captains of their own destiny. He agreed, as long as it was understood that every captain was destined to go down with the ship, and there wasn’t a damned thing you could do about it.“
Gregory is fast becoming one of my go-to authors, with stories I can pick up in almost any mood and end up deliciously satisfied. I want something with humor? Here: “And then he wondered what the collective noun was for psychologists: a shortage of shrinks? A confession of counselors?” Or profound: “What the patients didn’t understand was that this was the human condition. The group members’ horrific experiences had not exempted them from existential crises, only exaggerated them.”
Or do I need a diverting plot in a genre-bender setting to distract me from my everyday life? Gregory provides that too. I re-read this today thinking about my review, and was no less entertained or captivated–but I did highlight another handful of lovely phrases. I highly recommend it.
“Also, I might be entertaining the idea of tamping down my nihilism. Just a bit. Not because life is not meaningless–I think that’s inarguable. It’s just that the constant awareness of its pointlessness is exhausting. I wouldn’t mind being oblivious again. I’d love to feel the wind in my face and think, just for a minute, that I’m not going to crash into the rocks.“
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for a review copy, and to Carly for introducing me to Gregory’s works.
2017: Published (and signed!) copy: as fabulous as the advanced copy. Note that he also seems to be doing interesting things with the narrative voice. I think they were there before, but I glossed over. There's a mix of anonymous first person and third that's intriguing--maybe the group as an entity?
The story becomes almost a character study as we find out more about each person, and the strange situations they’ve survived: “After all, one of the issue we had in common was that we each though we were unique. Not just survivors, but sole survivors. We wore our scars like badges.” But Gregory wisely stays away from historical info-dumping and instead allows their stories to be shared in the course of conversation. As they trust–and challenge–each other, they discover they have more in common than they expected. Shortly after, the pace catapults forward, focusing on immediate danger.
Gregory writes in ways that touch the heart of what it means to be human. He also writes in ways that are horrorific, surprising, and humorous. We Are All Completely Fine is like a psychotherapy text in comic book form, making it accessible and applicable in ways one would have never considered. There are moments that make me squirm, but they are done with such sophistication that Gregory brings me to a place of compassion.
“She believed that people were captains of their own destiny. He agreed, as long as it was understood that every captain was destined to go down with the ship, and there wasn’t a damned thing you could do about it.“
Gregory is fast becoming one of my go-to authors, with stories I can pick up in almost any mood and end up deliciously satisfied. I want something with humor? Here: “And then he wondered what the collective noun was for psychologists: a shortage of shrinks? A confession of counselors?” Or profound: “What the patients didn’t understand was that this was the human condition. The group members’ horrific experiences had not exempted them from existential crises, only exaggerated them.”
Or do I need a diverting plot in a genre-bender setting to distract me from my everyday life? Gregory provides that too. I re-read this today thinking about my review, and was no less entertained or captivated–but I did highlight another handful of lovely phrases. I highly recommend it.
“Also, I might be entertaining the idea of tamping down my nihilism. Just a bit. Not because life is not meaningless–I think that’s inarguable. It’s just that the constant awareness of its pointlessness is exhausting. I wouldn’t mind being oblivious again. I’d love to feel the wind in my face and think, just for a minute, that I’m not going to crash into the rocks.“
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for a review copy, and to Carly for introducing me to Gregory’s works.
2017: Published (and signed!) copy: as fabulous as the advanced copy. Note that he also seems to be doing interesting things with the narrative voice. I think they were there before, but I glossed over. There's a mix of anonymous first person and third that's intriguing--maybe the group as an entity?
February 12, 2019
$1.99 Kindle sale, Feb. 12, 2019. A psychotherapist gathers a group of trauma survivors together for group therapy. The twist: all of the patients have had horrific experiences of the spooky, supernatural variety.
Are they lying or hallucinating about the supernatural aspect of their traumas, or could it be real?
The therapy group is a diverse one: Harrison helped save a small part of his town from some strange disaster when he was a teen; the rest of the townspeople died. Stan was held captive and partially eaten by a family of cannibals - he has no hands or lower legs. Barbara's body was cut open years ago by a scrimshander, who carved mysterious designs on her bones. Greta has a terribly scarred body and was the only survivor of a fire that killed everyone she lived with. And Martin can't bear to ever remove his gaming glasses, for reasons he refuses to explain.
I liked living through the therapy and developing relationships between this odd group of people, without knowing - for quite a while - what was real and what was not. The story sucked me in, the characters were well-rounded and, fantastical subject matter notwithstanding, felt realistic, and there are some nice touches of humor.
This is my first time reading a book by Daryl Gregory, but it won't be my last.
Content notes: scattered F-bombs, horror
Free ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
Are they lying or hallucinating about the supernatural aspect of their traumas, or could it be real?
The therapy group is a diverse one: Harrison helped save a small part of his town from some strange disaster when he was a teen; the rest of the townspeople died. Stan was held captive and partially eaten by a family of cannibals - he has no hands or lower legs. Barbara's body was cut open years ago by a scrimshander, who carved mysterious designs on her bones. Greta has a terribly scarred body and was the only survivor of a fire that killed everyone she lived with. And Martin can't bear to ever remove his gaming glasses, for reasons he refuses to explain.
I liked living through the therapy and developing relationships between this odd group of people, without knowing - for quite a while - what was real and what was not. The story sucked me in, the characters were well-rounded and, fantastical subject matter notwithstanding, felt realistic, and there are some nice touches of humor.
This is my first time reading a book by Daryl Gregory, but it won't be my last.
Content notes: scattered F-bombs, horror
Free ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
February 28, 2019
When I was in the 6th grade, I got sucker punched.
I had an argument with the class bully, I turned around, and
BAM!
I never saw it coming.
So I picked up We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory, a lot of my GR friends had really liked him and his book, so Hey! I’ll give it a try and
BAM!
I never saw it coming.
We are all Completely Fine is Fight Club … except you need to talk about it.
Seriously, if you think you have problems, if you think you are slogging through dysfunction, then sit in on this group therapy session.
“Hi, my name is Lyn …
“Hi, Lyn!”
“ - and I thought I had problems, but after listening to y’all, I’m just going to sit quietly in the back.”
This was a really, really damn fine book and Daryl Gregory has jumped from unknown to very interesting author status with me in one book.
Gregory’s shifting perspectives and unsettled, though complex characterization draws us in to the group of Bizzaro world survivors. His expert sense of writing for a paranormal theme was on full display. The pace is fast, plot good, it was interesting, exciting, and the jaw dropping ending ties it all together.
Excellent and recommended.
[image error]
I had an argument with the class bully, I turned around, and
BAM!
I never saw it coming.
So I picked up We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory, a lot of my GR friends had really liked him and his book, so Hey! I’ll give it a try and
BAM!
I never saw it coming.
We are all Completely Fine is Fight Club … except you need to talk about it.
Seriously, if you think you have problems, if you think you are slogging through dysfunction, then sit in on this group therapy session.
“Hi, my name is Lyn …
“Hi, Lyn!”
“ - and I thought I had problems, but after listening to y’all, I’m just going to sit quietly in the back.”
This was a really, really damn fine book and Daryl Gregory has jumped from unknown to very interesting author status with me in one book.
Gregory’s shifting perspectives and unsettled, though complex characterization draws us in to the group of Bizzaro world survivors. His expert sense of writing for a paranormal theme was on full display. The pace is fast, plot good, it was interesting, exciting, and the jaw dropping ending ties it all together.
Excellent and recommended.
[image error]
April 18, 2015
Dr. Jan Sayer decides to begin group therapy on a group of "different" individuals.
You have Harrison-who was a child hero for slaying the monsters that threatened a town. Martin-who never takes off his sunglasses, Stan-who survived a group of cannibals and loves to talk, Greta-the quiet one of the group who hides a major secret and Barbara-who has messages left by a Scrimshander on her very bones.
Once I asked if it hurt, and she said, "Of course it does, honey. Everything beautiful hurts."
No one really believed any of their stories until they met with each other. They have all survived.
Once you know there are monsters under the bed, closing your eyes becomes a foolhardy act. So, we paced. We stared into the dark. We listened for the creak of the opening door.
For me this book just didn't work as well as I had hoped. Most of my Goodreads friends liked it though so I think it's a case of it's not you it's me.
You have Harrison-who was a child hero for slaying the monsters that threatened a town. Martin-who never takes off his sunglasses, Stan-who survived a group of cannibals and loves to talk, Greta-the quiet one of the group who hides a major secret and Barbara-who has messages left by a Scrimshander on her very bones.
Once I asked if it hurt, and she said, "Of course it does, honey. Everything beautiful hurts."
No one really believed any of their stories until they met with each other. They have all survived.
Once you know there are monsters under the bed, closing your eyes becomes a foolhardy act. So, we paced. We stared into the dark. We listened for the creak of the opening door.
For me this book just didn't work as well as I had hoped. Most of my Goodreads friends liked it though so I think it's a case of it's not you it's me.
February 14, 2019
My introduction to the fiction of Daryl Gregory is We Are All Completely Fine and this is another case of a good writer with lots of imagination who seems to have published a rough draft of an unfinished novel. Published in 2014, it comes in as a novella, at an estimated 37,500 words. Imagine nine-tenths of Stephen King's It, which is 444,414 words, being cut, along with the character backstories, mythology of the town and history of the monster--in other words, everything good--all gone, and you get this book, which is spooky in places and gets points for creativity, but feels awfully incomplete.
The conceit here is that five patients--three men and two women--are assembled for a weekly group therapy session under the guidance of their psychiatrist, Dr. Jan Sayer (a woman). Each patient suffers from what the doc has coined "Supernatural Victim Delusion," each crediting their trauma to boogeymen of some kind. Harrison Harrison (or, Harrison Squared) is monster detective now in his thirties who survived some sort of calamity that destroyed the town of Dunnsmouth; his adventures have inspired a movie on the Syfy Network and brought him fame and fortune and trauma.
Stan lost two forearms and a leg to a family of cannibals known as the Weavers in the 1970s. Martin wears dark glasses that keep him immersed in an augmented reality RPG which he believes allow him to see intradimensional creatures not in the game called dwellers, one of which told a homeless man to kill Martin, whose three male roommates were murdered instead. Barbara was abducted in the '90s by a psycho named the Scrimshander, who sliced her skin to the bone in five places and carved messages, the content of which remains unknown. Greta is a teenager who survived an all-female cult called the Sisters who perished in a ritual intended to bring on the devil.
The monster crosses into the everyday world. The mortals struggle and show great courage, but it's no use. The monster kills first the guilty, then the innocent, until finally only one remains. The Last Boy, the Last Girl. There is a final battle. The Last One suffers great wounds, but in the final moment vanquishes the monster. Only later does he or she recognize that this is the monster's final trick; the scars run deep, and the awareness of truth grows like an infection. The Last One knows that the monster isn't dead, only sent to the other side. There it waits until it can slip into the mundane world again. Perhaps next time it will be a knife-wielding madman, or a fanged beast, or some nameless tentacled thing. It's the monster with a thousand faces. The details matter only to the next victims.
For better and for worse, We Are All Completely Fine reads like a manuscript passed to me by a friend with the disclaimer that it's only a work in progress and what do I think. It's not bad, but it's not done. There's a point of view problem; Harrison tells the story here or there but a third person narrator is employed for most of the book. The title is bad; even Supernatural Victim Delusion would've been better. The dialogue is not particularly good and the psychobabble seems rudimentary. And Gregory lets a terrific boogeyman slip through his fingers; what little is shared about the Scrimshander is frightening, but he menaces the characters only as a vague memory.
Stories about characters in a room are so difficult to pull off and I've yet to see one in a group therapy environment that wasn't a mess. I don't want to hear characters taking turns talking about their pasts or their problems, I want to see them solving their problems through action. My recommendation would've been for the author to focus on the psychiatrist as she treats a patient who claims they were attacked by a boogeyman who's Still Out There. Allowing the reader to question whether the patient is sane or nuts would've generated suspense, which this draft does not have. It's ideas, not a finished book, and one I can't recommend.
Who thinks that It would've been better without Pennywise the Clown and with the Losers Club in therapy? I'm not a fan of the crazy long, crazy odd boat anchor by Stephen King, but did like the 2017 film a lot. More spooky than scary, the filmmakers did a fantastic job with the casting. I wanted to spend more time with the kids and even with the evil clown. Derry feels eerily real as well and we get to see a lot of it in the staging of various encounters with Pennywise. The screenplay by Chase Palmer & Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman omits the weaker material from the book while adding new scenes that feel like King wrote them.
Length: 44,725 words
The conceit here is that five patients--three men and two women--are assembled for a weekly group therapy session under the guidance of their psychiatrist, Dr. Jan Sayer (a woman). Each patient suffers from what the doc has coined "Supernatural Victim Delusion," each crediting their trauma to boogeymen of some kind. Harrison Harrison (or, Harrison Squared) is monster detective now in his thirties who survived some sort of calamity that destroyed the town of Dunnsmouth; his adventures have inspired a movie on the Syfy Network and brought him fame and fortune and trauma.
Stan lost two forearms and a leg to a family of cannibals known as the Weavers in the 1970s. Martin wears dark glasses that keep him immersed in an augmented reality RPG which he believes allow him to see intradimensional creatures not in the game called dwellers, one of which told a homeless man to kill Martin, whose three male roommates were murdered instead. Barbara was abducted in the '90s by a psycho named the Scrimshander, who sliced her skin to the bone in five places and carved messages, the content of which remains unknown. Greta is a teenager who survived an all-female cult called the Sisters who perished in a ritual intended to bring on the devil.
The monster crosses into the everyday world. The mortals struggle and show great courage, but it's no use. The monster kills first the guilty, then the innocent, until finally only one remains. The Last Boy, the Last Girl. There is a final battle. The Last One suffers great wounds, but in the final moment vanquishes the monster. Only later does he or she recognize that this is the monster's final trick; the scars run deep, and the awareness of truth grows like an infection. The Last One knows that the monster isn't dead, only sent to the other side. There it waits until it can slip into the mundane world again. Perhaps next time it will be a knife-wielding madman, or a fanged beast, or some nameless tentacled thing. It's the monster with a thousand faces. The details matter only to the next victims.
For better and for worse, We Are All Completely Fine reads like a manuscript passed to me by a friend with the disclaimer that it's only a work in progress and what do I think. It's not bad, but it's not done. There's a point of view problem; Harrison tells the story here or there but a third person narrator is employed for most of the book. The title is bad; even Supernatural Victim Delusion would've been better. The dialogue is not particularly good and the psychobabble seems rudimentary. And Gregory lets a terrific boogeyman slip through his fingers; what little is shared about the Scrimshander is frightening, but he menaces the characters only as a vague memory.
Stories about characters in a room are so difficult to pull off and I've yet to see one in a group therapy environment that wasn't a mess. I don't want to hear characters taking turns talking about their pasts or their problems, I want to see them solving their problems through action. My recommendation would've been for the author to focus on the psychiatrist as she treats a patient who claims they were attacked by a boogeyman who's Still Out There. Allowing the reader to question whether the patient is sane or nuts would've generated suspense, which this draft does not have. It's ideas, not a finished book, and one I can't recommend.
Who thinks that It would've been better without Pennywise the Clown and with the Losers Club in therapy? I'm not a fan of the crazy long, crazy odd boat anchor by Stephen King, but did like the 2017 film a lot. More spooky than scary, the filmmakers did a fantastic job with the casting. I wanted to spend more time with the kids and even with the evil clown. Derry feels eerily real as well and we get to see a lot of it in the staging of various encounters with Pennywise. The screenplay by Chase Palmer & Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman omits the weaker material from the book while adding new scenes that feel like King wrote them.
Length: 44,725 words
June 29, 2020
The Cult of Sisters? Hidden Ones? Gaming references? Google Glass? Spidermother? Scrimshander? Bone-etched prophecies? Elms Street? Time bubbles? Color me not persuaded this comics style writing was worthy of my reading time.
Overall 2 stars because it wasn't 100% asinine (only 99% so) but no more since it made precious little sense.
A lot of ideas that could have been cool. Instead they were bungled, jumbled and meshed together into a barely readable salad of borderline nastiness. This was supposed to be a horror? A novel at that? I don't think so!
Q:
After all, one of the issues we had in common was that we each thought we were unique. ... We wore our scars like badges. (c)
Q:
She believed that people were captains of their own destiny. He agreed, as long as it was understood that every captain was destined to go down with the ship, and there wasn’t a damned thing you could do about it. If you want to stand there with the wheel in your hand and pretend you were steering, he told her, knock yourself out. (c)
Q:
Also, I might be entertaining the idea of tamping down my nihilism. Just a bit. Not because life is not meaningless—I think that’s inarguable. It’s just that the constant awareness of its pointlessness is exhausting. (c)
Q:
I wouldn’t mind being oblivious again. I’d love to feel the wind in my face and think, just for minute, that I’m not going to crash into the rocks. (c)
Q:
She was like a feral cat: skinny, glint-eyed, shock-haired. Ready to bolt. (c)
Q:
He was willing to bet that she might be the craziest one of all. (c)
Q:
There’s no other place where you can be so honest, yet still have people show up every week. (c)
Q:
Time isn’t running parallel on the other side. The two universes bump up against each other. You get thin spots at random places. Space, time, it’s all different parts of the same bubble. Sometimes they look through and they see the future of our side. And sometimes we see the future of theirs. (c)
Overall 2 stars because it wasn't 100% asinine (only 99% so) but no more since it made precious little sense.
A lot of ideas that could have been cool. Instead they were bungled, jumbled and meshed together into a barely readable salad of borderline nastiness. This was supposed to be a horror? A novel at that? I don't think so!
Q:
After all, one of the issues we had in common was that we each thought we were unique. ... We wore our scars like badges. (c)
Q:
She believed that people were captains of their own destiny. He agreed, as long as it was understood that every captain was destined to go down with the ship, and there wasn’t a damned thing you could do about it. If you want to stand there with the wheel in your hand and pretend you were steering, he told her, knock yourself out. (c)
Q:
Also, I might be entertaining the idea of tamping down my nihilism. Just a bit. Not because life is not meaningless—I think that’s inarguable. It’s just that the constant awareness of its pointlessness is exhausting. (c)
Q:
I wouldn’t mind being oblivious again. I’d love to feel the wind in my face and think, just for minute, that I’m not going to crash into the rocks. (c)
Q:
She was like a feral cat: skinny, glint-eyed, shock-haired. Ready to bolt. (c)
Q:
He was willing to bet that she might be the craziest one of all. (c)
Q:
There’s no other place where you can be so honest, yet still have people show up every week. (c)
Q:
Time isn’t running parallel on the other side. The two universes bump up against each other. You get thin spots at random places. Space, time, it’s all different parts of the same bubble. Sometimes they look through and they see the future of our side. And sometimes we see the future of theirs. (c)
October 19, 2014
I enjoyed the hell out of this novella!
A small group of torture survivors are brought together by their doctor for experimental group therapy. These people have been through the most horrible things imaginable. Seriously, it's bad.
What begins as therapeutic meetings for this group eventually morphs into something else. Something otherworldly. Something that is not quite finished.
I loved how this tale was related, it wasn't a dreary recitation of each survivor and what happened to them. It flowed more naturally than that. The characters were well drawn and I couldn't help but feel for them and all they went through.
The only negative thing I can say is that I wish the story had been longer. I felt like I was just getting to the bottom of the mystery with Greta, (one of the survivors), and then it was over. However, I am happy to report that this tale ended in such a way that leaves it wide open for a sequel. I, for one, am hoping we get one.
Highly recommended for fans of dark fiction and psychological horror!
I received this novella free from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
A small group of torture survivors are brought together by their doctor for experimental group therapy. These people have been through the most horrible things imaginable. Seriously, it's bad.
What begins as therapeutic meetings for this group eventually morphs into something else. Something otherworldly. Something that is not quite finished.
I loved how this tale was related, it wasn't a dreary recitation of each survivor and what happened to them. It flowed more naturally than that. The characters were well drawn and I couldn't help but feel for them and all they went through.
The only negative thing I can say is that I wish the story had been longer. I felt like I was just getting to the bottom of the mystery with Greta, (one of the survivors), and then it was over. However, I am happy to report that this tale ended in such a way that leaves it wide open for a sequel. I, for one, am hoping we get one.
Highly recommended for fans of dark fiction and psychological horror!
I received this novella free from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
May 16, 2025
Premio Shirley Jackson y World Fantasy Award 2014.
Es algo curioso lo que me ha pasado con esta novela, pero me la he ido imaginando como si de un cómic se tratara. Mucho tiene que ver, como descubrí más tarde indagando en su obra, el hecho de que el autor también se dedica a escribir cómics y la galería de personajes extravagantes y situaciones rocambolescas que van surgiendo.
Por un lado tenemos a un variopinto grupo de terapia y por otro tenemos a esa madeja de hilo que poco a poco va dejando ver lo que se oculta detrás de todo.
La doctora Sayer reúne a un grupo con profundas heridas causadas por hechos traumáticos a los que no todo el mundo es capaz de darles credibilidad.
Por lo que la locura y lo paranormal se dan la mano muy estrechamente durante toda la narración.
La doctora está convencida de que el hecho de reunirse con ellos en un grupo cree que es más beneficioso que citarlos de manera individual. Aunque pronto se dará cuenta de la gravedad de esas heridas, mucho más profundas de lo que creía saber en un principio.
Tenemos a Stan, un anciano que carece de manos y piernas, superviviente de una masacre. Martin, el rarito que nunca se quita esas extrañas gafas. Bárbara, que vive obsesionada por las torturas que vivió hace décadas. Harrison, el único superviviente de otra masacre que tuvo lugar años atrás. Y, por último, tenemos a Greta, una chica gótica que casi no habla y siempre se mantiene al margen en las reuniones, incapaz de hablar de su pasado.
Como ven, de masacre en masacre vamos servidos 😁
El pensamiento que más me rondaba de manera insidiosa durante toda la lectura era; qué cosa tan rara y original.
Con una galería de personajes de lo más peculiares, el estilo tan fluido, ese tono tan gamberro y alguna que otra escena escabrosa, esta pequeña obra hará las delicias de los amantes de lo paranormal pero también de las historias que tratan a fondo el aspecto psicológico de sus personajes, y eso incluye sus heridas del pasado y sus cicatrices, que no son pocas, y que parece que nunca cerrarán del todo.
Todo ello aderezado con una buena dosis de monstruos, ¿figurados o reales? Eso tendrás que descubrirlo tú 😜
El disfrute está asegurado 👌🏻
Es una novela muy corta, poco más de doscientas páginas, pero que daría para una buena saga, así que cuanto más a ciegas vayas más la disfrutarás.
"Estamos todos de p#ta madre" es una lectura fresca y original, con sus toques de humor negro que te leerás de una sentada.
Además, la edición de Gigamesh me ha parecido magnífica; en tapa dura, con un tamaño de letra perfecto y con ilustraciones por parte de Luis Bustos, todo ello ha sido el acompañamiento perfecto para esta historia corta tan singular 🖤
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚🖤💀
Es algo curioso lo que me ha pasado con esta novela, pero me la he ido imaginando como si de un cómic se tratara. Mucho tiene que ver, como descubrí más tarde indagando en su obra, el hecho de que el autor también se dedica a escribir cómics y la galería de personajes extravagantes y situaciones rocambolescas que van surgiendo.
Por un lado tenemos a un variopinto grupo de terapia y por otro tenemos a esa madeja de hilo que poco a poco va dejando ver lo que se oculta detrás de todo.
La doctora Sayer reúne a un grupo con profundas heridas causadas por hechos traumáticos a los que no todo el mundo es capaz de darles credibilidad.
Por lo que la locura y lo paranormal se dan la mano muy estrechamente durante toda la narración.
La doctora está convencida de que el hecho de reunirse con ellos en un grupo cree que es más beneficioso que citarlos de manera individual. Aunque pronto se dará cuenta de la gravedad de esas heridas, mucho más profundas de lo que creía saber en un principio.
Tenemos a Stan, un anciano que carece de manos y piernas, superviviente de una masacre. Martin, el rarito que nunca se quita esas extrañas gafas. Bárbara, que vive obsesionada por las torturas que vivió hace décadas. Harrison, el único superviviente de otra masacre que tuvo lugar años atrás. Y, por último, tenemos a Greta, una chica gótica que casi no habla y siempre se mantiene al margen en las reuniones, incapaz de hablar de su pasado.
Como ven, de masacre en masacre vamos servidos 😁
El pensamiento que más me rondaba de manera insidiosa durante toda la lectura era; qué cosa tan rara y original.
Con una galería de personajes de lo más peculiares, el estilo tan fluido, ese tono tan gamberro y alguna que otra escena escabrosa, esta pequeña obra hará las delicias de los amantes de lo paranormal pero también de las historias que tratan a fondo el aspecto psicológico de sus personajes, y eso incluye sus heridas del pasado y sus cicatrices, que no son pocas, y que parece que nunca cerrarán del todo.
Todo ello aderezado con una buena dosis de monstruos, ¿figurados o reales? Eso tendrás que descubrirlo tú 😜
El disfrute está asegurado 👌🏻
Es una novela muy corta, poco más de doscientas páginas, pero que daría para una buena saga, así que cuanto más a ciegas vayas más la disfrutarás.
"Estamos todos de p#ta madre" es una lectura fresca y original, con sus toques de humor negro que te leerás de una sentada.
Además, la edición de Gigamesh me ha parecido magnífica; en tapa dura, con un tamaño de letra perfecto y con ilustraciones por parte de Luis Bustos, todo ello ha sido el acompañamiento perfecto para esta historia corta tan singular 🖤
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚🖤💀
May 15, 2022
"We were a team of professional insomniacs. Once you know there are monsters under the bed, closing your eyes becomes a foolhardy act. So, we paced. We stared into the dark. We listened for the creak of the opening door."
This is an excellent little book. A wonderful examination of the “lone survivor” trope found throughout horror fiction and a realistic look at what would happen to the people who made it out.
The book focuses on the group therapy sessions run by Dr. Jan Sayer who has brought together a group of people who have survived supernatural events. We get the group dynamic wonderfully, as we slowly come to learn their pasts, but only when they feel like opening up. Some talk their first session, others remain an enigma only opening when confronted. Gregory captures this group dynamic wonderfully and gives a great set of characters that feel well developed especially considering the short page count (only around 180 pages).
The backgrounds are well constructed, and just about any of them would have made a wonderful novel on their own (and indeed one of them has since gone on to be a novel, leaving me hopeful that the author will continue to revisit this world). My favorite involved the Scrimshander, a killer who apparently really wants to keep his victims alive so that they can appreciate his art, which he carves into their very bones.
The book has potential to frustrate many readers. We only get the information that the characters are comfortable with sharing, thus their stories are never fully told and there are a lot of vague details. This is not a series of survival stories; it’s the aftermath at the heart of this tale, and so some things will never be known.
This is well worth a read to any horror fan, managing to be thoughtful, disturbing and also genuinely touching. A terrific Halloween read and a solid 4/5 stars.
This is an excellent little book. A wonderful examination of the “lone survivor” trope found throughout horror fiction and a realistic look at what would happen to the people who made it out.
The book focuses on the group therapy sessions run by Dr. Jan Sayer who has brought together a group of people who have survived supernatural events. We get the group dynamic wonderfully, as we slowly come to learn their pasts, but only when they feel like opening up. Some talk their first session, others remain an enigma only opening when confronted. Gregory captures this group dynamic wonderfully and gives a great set of characters that feel well developed especially considering the short page count (only around 180 pages).
The backgrounds are well constructed, and just about any of them would have made a wonderful novel on their own (and indeed one of them has since gone on to be a novel, leaving me hopeful that the author will continue to revisit this world). My favorite involved the Scrimshander, a killer who apparently really wants to keep his victims alive so that they can appreciate his art, which he carves into their very bones.
The book has potential to frustrate many readers. We only get the information that the characters are comfortable with sharing, thus their stories are never fully told and there are a lot of vague details. This is not a series of survival stories; it’s the aftermath at the heart of this tale, and so some things will never be known.
This is well worth a read to any horror fan, managing to be thoughtful, disturbing and also genuinely touching. A terrific Halloween read and a solid 4/5 stars.
December 8, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“We’re different from other people. We only feel at home when we’re a little bit afraid.”
I requested We Are All Completely Fine for the simple reason that it kept popping up on my Goodreads’ feed due to other people reading it. Upon reading the synopsis explaining how the story revolves around group therapy sessions wherein the members are a “monster hunter,” a former victim of a cannibalistic family, someone who escaped a serial killer (but not before he filleted her and carved on her bones), a mass-murderer in the form of a firestarter and a dude who never takes off his sunglasses my brain was convinced it was going to be getting into something like this:
Not that there’s anything wrong with that – it’s just kind of become the horse that I want taken out of its misery already for being BEATEN. TO. DEATH. Another thing that wasn’t working for me??? That cover. You have to admit, it’s fug. And although it’s really not fair/is really shallow to judge a book by its cover . . . I totally do it all the time.
Lucky for me the bad cover was not a foreshadowing of what was to come once I got inside the book and doubly lucky for me just because a guy doesn’t ever take off his sunglasses it doesn’t automatically mean it’s because he shoots lasers out his eyeballs. What I found instead was a short, but deeply woven horror/mystery. Once again I’m probably the odd (wo)man out because I wouldn’t categorize We Are All Completely Fine as a “horror.” Horror is supposed to . . . well, HORRIFY me, and I think this book earned the moniker simply for the squick factor rather than the scare factor. At the end of the day this story is about finding out why these people were selected to become members of this particular therapy group. I mean, aside from coming to terms with the the typical stages of “forming, storming, norming, and perhaps, someday, performing” ; )
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
“We’re different from other people. We only feel at home when we’re a little bit afraid.”
I requested We Are All Completely Fine for the simple reason that it kept popping up on my Goodreads’ feed due to other people reading it. Upon reading the synopsis explaining how the story revolves around group therapy sessions wherein the members are a “monster hunter,” a former victim of a cannibalistic family, someone who escaped a serial killer (but not before he filleted her and carved on her bones), a mass-murderer in the form of a firestarter and a dude who never takes off his sunglasses my brain was convinced it was going to be getting into something like this:
Not that there’s anything wrong with that – it’s just kind of become the horse that I want taken out of its misery already for being BEATEN. TO. DEATH. Another thing that wasn’t working for me??? That cover. You have to admit, it’s fug. And although it’s really not fair/is really shallow to judge a book by its cover . . . I totally do it all the time.
Lucky for me the bad cover was not a foreshadowing of what was to come once I got inside the book and doubly lucky for me just because a guy doesn’t ever take off his sunglasses it doesn’t automatically mean it’s because he shoots lasers out his eyeballs. What I found instead was a short, but deeply woven horror/mystery. Once again I’m probably the odd (wo)man out because I wouldn’t categorize We Are All Completely Fine as a “horror.” Horror is supposed to . . . well, HORRIFY me, and I think this book earned the moniker simply for the squick factor rather than the scare factor. At the end of the day this story is about finding out why these people were selected to become members of this particular therapy group. I mean, aside from coming to terms with the the typical stages of “forming, storming, norming, and perhaps, someday, performing” ; )
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
November 17, 2016
We were a team of professional insomniacs. Once you know there are monsters under the bed, closing your eyes becomes a foolhardy act. So, we paced. We stared into the dark. We listened for the creak of the opening door.
This is a story about a group of strangers, all from different walks of life, who have been brought together for a group therapy session. They are all trauma survivors but each of them carries scars caused by the stuff that haunts dreams and fuels horror films. None of them are fine. Not even close.
The horrors unravel very slowly and the reader is forced to piece together each reveal and attempt to make sense of it. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on with each character because there is no big info. dump spew. Not that I’m complaining. Things unravel just as I assume they would in a real life therapy group. Because of the trauma (or simply because they are human) only one guy jumps in and spills his entire history but not in a coherent manner. The rest are wary of each other. And for good reasons.
This was an intriguing novella filled with frightening ideas but I truly wish it had been a wee bit longer and that I could’ve learned more about the characters than I did. Their backstories were fascinating and horrifying but there was much left unsaid. Perhaps a sequel is on the horizon?
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review.
This is a story about a group of strangers, all from different walks of life, who have been brought together for a group therapy session. They are all trauma survivors but each of them carries scars caused by the stuff that haunts dreams and fuels horror films. None of them are fine. Not even close.
The horrors unravel very slowly and the reader is forced to piece together each reveal and attempt to make sense of it. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on with each character because there is no big info. dump spew. Not that I’m complaining. Things unravel just as I assume they would in a real life therapy group. Because of the trauma (or simply because they are human) only one guy jumps in and spills his entire history but not in a coherent manner. The rest are wary of each other. And for good reasons.
This was an intriguing novella filled with frightening ideas but I truly wish it had been a wee bit longer and that I could’ve learned more about the characters than I did. Their backstories were fascinating and horrifying but there was much left unsaid. Perhaps a sequel is on the horizon?
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review.
April 27, 2020
So very good. If you're curious about Daryl Gregory but don't know where to start, consider this novella. It's short enough to not waste your time and long enough to give you a good sense of his writing.
This story is much more than the sum of its parts, and its genius lies in the subtle writing and unassuming storytelling style, and it's one of those stories you should go into knowing as little about it as possible, so as to experience it fully it as it unfolds.
Daryl Gregory would like you to imagine a world very much like our own with one significant difference: supernatural monsters are real and they manifest as symptoms of psychological disorders. Only a select few can see these monsters or know of their existence, and these people are usually victims of uniquely disturbing traumas.
Dr. Jan Sayer, a psychiatrist and believer, pulls together 5 individuals with similar experiences for a therapy group hoping that by sharing their stories they can alleviate some of their pain and perhaps make peace with their traumas together. It starts as a series of therapy sessions and then unfolds as a series of events that test the merit and mettle of each character, even the good doctor herself.
This is easily one of the best character-driven stories I've read in awhile, and the writing is as close to perfect as a mix-genre novella can get.
Some of my favorite moments:
[...]
[...]
Most of the time I like the length of this story and think it's perfect the way it is, but sometimes I wish it were a full-length novel instead of a novella because there are still so many interesting ideas that could be expanded on. Gregory has plans to expand on Harrison's story (and he did in Harrison Squared), but no word on whether or not he's doing the same for the other characters. I had been hoping he'd expand on Martin's or Dr. Sayer's stories too.
* * * * *
UPDATE: April 2020
Picking up this one again because I'm still in the mood for novellas and short(ish) fiction. Well, good novellas and short(ish) fiction anyway.
* * * * *
Cross-posted over at http://covers2covers.wordpress.com/20...
This story is much more than the sum of its parts, and its genius lies in the subtle writing and unassuming storytelling style, and it's one of those stories you should go into knowing as little about it as possible, so as to experience it fully it as it unfolds.
Daryl Gregory would like you to imagine a world very much like our own with one significant difference: supernatural monsters are real and they manifest as symptoms of psychological disorders. Only a select few can see these monsters or know of their existence, and these people are usually victims of uniquely disturbing traumas.
Dr. Jan Sayer, a psychiatrist and believer, pulls together 5 individuals with similar experiences for a therapy group hoping that by sharing their stories they can alleviate some of their pain and perhaps make peace with their traumas together. It starts as a series of therapy sessions and then unfolds as a series of events that test the merit and mettle of each character, even the good doctor herself.
We're different from other people, she'd said. We only feel at home when we're a little bit afraid.
This is easily one of the best character-driven stories I've read in awhile, and the writing is as close to perfect as a mix-genre novella can get.
Some of my favorite moments:
"Thank you for coming in," the doctor said.
She lifted her eyes from the floor. "I'm Greta."
Harrison, Barbara, and Stan responded in AA unison: "Hi, Greta."
[...]
"Maybe it's all of your jobs," Jan said. "Each of you is on the hero's journey."
"Oh, no," Harrison said. "Leave Joseph Campbell out of it."
"The Mormon guy?" Stan asked.
"Joseph Campbell," Martin said. "The monomyth? Star Wars? Damn it, Stan, read a book."
[...]
Harrison noticed that Stan was wearing a pair of split-hook prostheses. "Wait, when did you get those?"
"I've got loads of 'em," Stand said. "Hooks, rubber hands, you name it. I only use them for special occasions. Like pulling triggers."
Most of the time I like the length of this story and think it's perfect the way it is, but sometimes I wish it were a full-length novel instead of a novella because there are still so many interesting ideas that could be expanded on. Gregory has plans to expand on Harrison's story (and he did in Harrison Squared), but no word on whether or not he's doing the same for the other characters. I had been hoping he'd expand on Martin's or Dr. Sayer's stories too.
* * * * *
UPDATE: April 2020
Picking up this one again because I'm still in the mood for novellas and short(ish) fiction. Well, good novellas and short(ish) fiction anyway.
* * * * *
Cross-posted over at http://covers2covers.wordpress.com/20...
March 1, 2015
This novella largely served to convince me that I need to read the rest of Daryl Gregory's stuff. This, like The Devil's Alphabet, is a fine, unique piece of work. The premise is novel and the execution is nearly flawless. He deftly handles a large cast of characters (for a novella) interacting in a group setting without once stumbling and confusing the reader. All of the characters are interesting, distinct, and are fully realized in record time.
This piece is dark and creepy and humorous when appropriate. I'd like to read more about these misfits. And, as it turns out, I suppose I'll get to read more about at least one of them in a forthcoming novel, Harrison Squared, a prequel to this story. This seems like a weird way to go about things, since this novella seems to have neatly encapsulated the events of that forthcoming novel. In effect, nearly cancelling out any need to read it.
But after being thus far impressed with everything I've read by Mr. Gregory, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and pick that one up, too.
Recommended.
This piece is dark and creepy and humorous when appropriate. I'd like to read more about these misfits. And, as it turns out, I suppose I'll get to read more about at least one of them in a forthcoming novel, Harrison Squared, a prequel to this story. This seems like a weird way to go about things, since this novella seems to have neatly encapsulated the events of that forthcoming novel. In effect, nearly cancelling out any need to read it.
But after being thus far impressed with everything I've read by Mr. Gregory, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and pick that one up, too.
Recommended.
October 1, 2017
4.5 stars
Excellently written novella that makes me want to read more from Daryl Gregory. Unexpectedly fulfilling.
Excellently written novella that makes me want to read more from Daryl Gregory. Unexpectedly fulfilling.
November 1, 2014
We are all Completely Fine was recommended by a hell of a lot of friends in the blogging world, so I approached it expecting big things and did it live up to the hype, damn right it did.
Intriguing world building, characters tinged in tragedy, a history of darkness and things on the periphery, not seen by all and on top of that monsters with names such as the Scrimshander, a carver of bones. All good so far.
Dr Jan Sayer was the psychologist that found them all, 5 survivors of horrific events, their scars shaping them, tortured and carved by the knife that cuts through life, a shade either side of insanity itself. Was a group therapy session what they needed, you’re about to find out as they relive their past horrors and see them seep out into the present.
I won’t give anymore plot details away except to say, thanks for the recommendation because this is an awesome novella, you know a novella is good when you feel like you’ve read something a lot more substantial and that is how this feels.
This looks to be Daryl Gregory’s first foray into this world and I have to say it can’t be his last, he’s hit on something memorable and I hope there’s more to come.
I received We are all Completely Fine from Tachyon Publications & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Intriguing world building, characters tinged in tragedy, a history of darkness and things on the periphery, not seen by all and on top of that monsters with names such as the Scrimshander, a carver of bones. All good so far.
Dr Jan Sayer was the psychologist that found them all, 5 survivors of horrific events, their scars shaping them, tortured and carved by the knife that cuts through life, a shade either side of insanity itself. Was a group therapy session what they needed, you’re about to find out as they relive their past horrors and see them seep out into the present.
I won’t give anymore plot details away except to say, thanks for the recommendation because this is an awesome novella, you know a novella is good when you feel like you’ve read something a lot more substantial and that is how this feels.
This looks to be Daryl Gregory’s first foray into this world and I have to say it can’t be his last, he’s hit on something memorable and I hope there’s more to come.
I received We are all Completely Fine from Tachyon Publications & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
April 26, 2016
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/03/15/n...
If you recall in my review of Harrison Squared, I described that book as a fun, adventurous mystery which strikes the perfect balance for teen and adult crossover appeal. Well, nothing could be further from my experience with We Are All Completely Fine. Rather, try descriptions like “traumatic”, “disturbing” and “mature audiences only”.
Don’t get me wrong, though; I’ve developed a taste for horror fiction in recent years, and I loved this book. But what surprised me was just how completely different this it from Harrison Squared, which is actually its prequel. In fact, that was what prompted me to pick up We Are All Completely Fine, after finding out how the two books were related, and because I wanted to read more from Daryl Gregory.
The teenaged Harrison whom I first met in Harrison Squared is presently a man in his mid-thirties. Not that he was a jolly personality even at aged sixteen, but as an adult he has become even more gloomy, jaded and world-weary. He’s a famous author now, known for his “Monster Detective” childrens’ stories starring the boy hero from Dunnsmouth named Jameson Jameson, AKA Jameson Squared (things are getting kind of meta here). He’s also seeing a psychiatrist, which is how he eventually landed in a support group with four other members – Stan, Barbara, Martin, and Greta – led by the psychotherapist Dr. Jan Sayer.
Some reviewers have remarked on the strange quirk in the narrative style, specifically how at the beginning of each chapter in this book an unknown narrator appears to be speaking in the first person, though the usage of the pronoun “we” suggests he or she would be part of the support group. However, after a few paragraphs the narration will invariably shift back to the third person. As strange as it sounds, this style immediately brought to my mind the movie The Breakfast Club. Director John Hughes used a slightly different but similar “breaking the fourth wall” technique with voiceover narration at the beginning of the film, explaining to the audience what’s going to happen and why all the characters were there. This creates a kind of “reflection to the past” effect which helps us gain a slightly better understanding. In the case of this book, it tells you that despite the horror that is coming, you know that at least some members of this group managed to survive and come through intact. Well…mostly.
And perhaps comparing this book to The Breakfast Club isn’t so absurd, if you think about it. Instead of five teenagers who have little in common with each other, all trying to fit in amidst the crushing pressures of high school life, you have five likely-insane adults who have little in common with each other, all trying to get by in their normal day lives without the crushing fear of appearing completely unhinged. The characters in The Breakfast Club find themselves in detention, where none of them want to be. The characters of We Are All Completely Fine find themselves in group therapy, where none of them want to be. Despite their differences, the teens in TBC realize they are more than their individual stereotypes, and band together against a common enemy, Principal Vernon. Despite their differences, the strangers in WAACF realize they are more than their individual fucked up pasts, and band together against a common enemy, an ancient all-devouring evil from another world entirely.
All fanciful comparisons to classic 80s movies aside though, this was a fantastic book. It’s the characters that make We Are All Completely Fine – mainly because they are all so completely not. Everyone in Dr. Sayer’s support group is there because they have experienced something terrifying and traumatic…but also unexplainable. No one would believe them if they told their stories of what really happened to them. Unraveling each group member’s mystery is therefore the first step of this hair-raising journey, and my favorite part of the novella. How does Stan handle his minor celebrity status, after being abducted by a family of cannibals a la The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and emerging as the sole survivor? What message did the Scrimshander leave on Barbara’s bones twenty years ago, when he bound her, drugged her, and carved up her flesh with his knives? Why doesn’t Martin ever want to take off his sunglasses? And Greta, what awful inconceivable secrets must she be hiding behind her silence?
However, the biggest mystery of all – at least to me – was what on earth happened to the Harrison Harrison that I thought I knew from Harrison Squared?
It does make me wonder now, how I would have felt if I hadn’t read that book first before this one. We Are All Completely Fine reveals no major spoilers but does refer to many of the significant events from Harrison Squared, especially those relating to the nightmarish creature called The Scrimshander. It’s made me rethink everything I read in the prequel novel. How much of it was glossed over, played down for “a story for kids?” Mind you, I want to make it clear that reading this in no way diminished my experience with HS, but I am now looking at it in a whole different light. It’s that meta thing again. In a weird trippy way, the two books actually complement each other very well.
Well, now I realize I’ve gone about this review in a very roundabout way. Partly, it’s because I don’t want to spoil too much of the story. We Are All Completely Fine is an average-sized novella, a very quick read, and yet it is just so densely packed with goodness. It just begs to be experienced firsthand. True, it might not be an easy read at times, with its disturbing themes and bone-chilling violence, but I did also find it tremendously addicting. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book and author. It’s a good place to jump on board if you love the horror genre, or if you’re curious about checking out Daryl Gregory’s work. I for one am looking forward to more from his pen.
If you recall in my review of Harrison Squared, I described that book as a fun, adventurous mystery which strikes the perfect balance for teen and adult crossover appeal. Well, nothing could be further from my experience with We Are All Completely Fine. Rather, try descriptions like “traumatic”, “disturbing” and “mature audiences only”.
Don’t get me wrong, though; I’ve developed a taste for horror fiction in recent years, and I loved this book. But what surprised me was just how completely different this it from Harrison Squared, which is actually its prequel. In fact, that was what prompted me to pick up We Are All Completely Fine, after finding out how the two books were related, and because I wanted to read more from Daryl Gregory.
The teenaged Harrison whom I first met in Harrison Squared is presently a man in his mid-thirties. Not that he was a jolly personality even at aged sixteen, but as an adult he has become even more gloomy, jaded and world-weary. He’s a famous author now, known for his “Monster Detective” childrens’ stories starring the boy hero from Dunnsmouth named Jameson Jameson, AKA Jameson Squared (things are getting kind of meta here). He’s also seeing a psychiatrist, which is how he eventually landed in a support group with four other members – Stan, Barbara, Martin, and Greta – led by the psychotherapist Dr. Jan Sayer.
Some reviewers have remarked on the strange quirk in the narrative style, specifically how at the beginning of each chapter in this book an unknown narrator appears to be speaking in the first person, though the usage of the pronoun “we” suggests he or she would be part of the support group. However, after a few paragraphs the narration will invariably shift back to the third person. As strange as it sounds, this style immediately brought to my mind the movie The Breakfast Club. Director John Hughes used a slightly different but similar “breaking the fourth wall” technique with voiceover narration at the beginning of the film, explaining to the audience what’s going to happen and why all the characters were there. This creates a kind of “reflection to the past” effect which helps us gain a slightly better understanding. In the case of this book, it tells you that despite the horror that is coming, you know that at least some members of this group managed to survive and come through intact. Well…mostly.
And perhaps comparing this book to The Breakfast Club isn’t so absurd, if you think about it. Instead of five teenagers who have little in common with each other, all trying to fit in amidst the crushing pressures of high school life, you have five likely-insane adults who have little in common with each other, all trying to get by in their normal day lives without the crushing fear of appearing completely unhinged. The characters in The Breakfast Club find themselves in detention, where none of them want to be. The characters of We Are All Completely Fine find themselves in group therapy, where none of them want to be. Despite their differences, the teens in TBC realize they are more than their individual stereotypes, and band together against a common enemy, Principal Vernon. Despite their differences, the strangers in WAACF realize they are more than their individual fucked up pasts, and band together against a common enemy, an ancient all-devouring evil from another world entirely.
All fanciful comparisons to classic 80s movies aside though, this was a fantastic book. It’s the characters that make We Are All Completely Fine – mainly because they are all so completely not. Everyone in Dr. Sayer’s support group is there because they have experienced something terrifying and traumatic…but also unexplainable. No one would believe them if they told their stories of what really happened to them. Unraveling each group member’s mystery is therefore the first step of this hair-raising journey, and my favorite part of the novella. How does Stan handle his minor celebrity status, after being abducted by a family of cannibals a la The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and emerging as the sole survivor? What message did the Scrimshander leave on Barbara’s bones twenty years ago, when he bound her, drugged her, and carved up her flesh with his knives? Why doesn’t Martin ever want to take off his sunglasses? And Greta, what awful inconceivable secrets must she be hiding behind her silence?
However, the biggest mystery of all – at least to me – was what on earth happened to the Harrison Harrison that I thought I knew from Harrison Squared?
It does make me wonder now, how I would have felt if I hadn’t read that book first before this one. We Are All Completely Fine reveals no major spoilers but does refer to many of the significant events from Harrison Squared, especially those relating to the nightmarish creature called The Scrimshander. It’s made me rethink everything I read in the prequel novel. How much of it was glossed over, played down for “a story for kids?” Mind you, I want to make it clear that reading this in no way diminished my experience with HS, but I am now looking at it in a whole different light. It’s that meta thing again. In a weird trippy way, the two books actually complement each other very well.
Well, now I realize I’ve gone about this review in a very roundabout way. Partly, it’s because I don’t want to spoil too much of the story. We Are All Completely Fine is an average-sized novella, a very quick read, and yet it is just so densely packed with goodness. It just begs to be experienced firsthand. True, it might not be an easy read at times, with its disturbing themes and bone-chilling violence, but I did also find it tremendously addicting. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book and author. It’s a good place to jump on board if you love the horror genre, or if you’re curious about checking out Daryl Gregory’s work. I for one am looking forward to more from his pen.
January 25, 2015
"Every small group was a chemistry experiment, and the procedure was always the same: bring together a group of volatile elements, put them in a tightly enclosed space, and stir. The result was never a stable compound, but sometimes you arrived at something capable of doing hard work, like a poison that killed cancer cells. And sometimes you got a bomb."
We Are All Completely Fine is an engrossing character-driven horror novella. The story features an ensemble cast of well-drawn, vivid characters. The world-building is unique and imaginative. The storytelling is rich, paced well, and delivers a satisfying ending while also leaving just enough dangling strands to suggest a sequel. Basically, this is how it should be done. I was gripped from page 1, and it didn't let up until I reached the final sentence.
My only criticism is the price. An $8.99 price tag for a 184 page novella is excessive. While I would recommend We Are All Completely Fine (it's great, Folks), I can only do so when the publisher stops smoking whatever it is they are smoking and reduces the price to reasonable market levels.
Final Rating: 4 stars
We Are All Completely Fine is an engrossing character-driven horror novella. The story features an ensemble cast of well-drawn, vivid characters. The world-building is unique and imaginative. The storytelling is rich, paced well, and delivers a satisfying ending while also leaving just enough dangling strands to suggest a sequel. Basically, this is how it should be done. I was gripped from page 1, and it didn't let up until I reached the final sentence.
My only criticism is the price. An $8.99 price tag for a 184 page novella is excessive. While I would recommend We Are All Completely Fine (it's great, Folks), I can only do so when the publisher stops smoking whatever it is they are smoking and reduces the price to reasonable market levels.
Final Rating: 4 stars
August 13, 2016
Gerçekten ilginç bir kısa romandı. Öyle ki kendisini bir günde okuttu.
Birbirinden tuhaf ve bir o kadar dehşet verici geçmişlere sahip 4 hasta ve normalde hiçbir doktorun inanmadığı bu korkunç şeyleri yaşamış insanların her dediğine gerçekten inanan bir psikiyatr. Burası bir terapi grubu ve her birinin hem anlatıp hem de kesinlikle anlatmak istemediği çok şeyi var.
Daryl Gregory'nin hem önemli ödüller kazandığı, hem de büyük ödüllere aday olduğu bu kısa romanı farklı tatlar arayanlar için birebir. Ben özellikle türünün korku-gerilimden öte tuhaf kurgu olduğunu düşünüyorum. Ayrıca, grup terapisinden neden ve nasıl esinlendiğini anlatmış olsa da, kitabın en vurucu kısmı alt metninde yatan başka bir şeydi. Bu sıra dışı insanlar, bir daha asla normal olamayacaklar ve böyle "gayet iyiler". Ancak ne zaman ki hepsi tek bir noktada birleşecek, çözümleri doktorlarında olacak. Yazar burada güzel bir alt metin kurmuş işte. Psikiyatri bilimiyle tuhaf kurgunun en eski temellerini bir güzel harmanlayarak bilime bir selam çakmış adeta.
Farklı tatlar ve farklı kurgular arayanlara önerileri. Hele ki "tuhaf" şeyleri seviyorsanız bu kısa romana bir şans verin.
Birbirinden tuhaf ve bir o kadar dehşet verici geçmişlere sahip 4 hasta ve normalde hiçbir doktorun inanmadığı bu korkunç şeyleri yaşamış insanların her dediğine gerçekten inanan bir psikiyatr. Burası bir terapi grubu ve her birinin hem anlatıp hem de kesinlikle anlatmak istemediği çok şeyi var.
Daryl Gregory'nin hem önemli ödüller kazandığı, hem de büyük ödüllere aday olduğu bu kısa romanı farklı tatlar arayanlar için birebir. Ben özellikle türünün korku-gerilimden öte tuhaf kurgu olduğunu düşünüyorum. Ayrıca, grup terapisinden neden ve nasıl esinlendiğini anlatmış olsa da, kitabın en vurucu kısmı alt metninde yatan başka bir şeydi. Bu sıra dışı insanlar, bir daha asla normal olamayacaklar ve böyle "gayet iyiler". Ancak ne zaman ki hepsi tek bir noktada birleşecek, çözümleri doktorlarında olacak. Yazar burada güzel bir alt metin kurmuş işte. Psikiyatri bilimiyle tuhaf kurgunun en eski temellerini bir güzel harmanlayarak bilime bir selam çakmış adeta.
Farklı tatlar ve farklı kurgular arayanlara önerileri. Hele ki "tuhaf" şeyleri seviyorsanız bu kısa romana bir şans verin.
February 28, 2017
This was a surprisingly delicious read. I went to bed at almost 2 a.m. just to finish it, you guys. I expected it to be interesting, but not this good. It's one of those cases you feel like author is absolutely bullshitting you, but instead of shaking it off with a loud "wtf??" you smile and say "please go on!". I hope you get me, or maybe it's just my personal problem with authors...
I loved the story, a bit lovecraft-ish softcore horror and the idea of psychotherapy group for survivors of seemingly unconnected supernatural crimes. The characters made me want to come back to them again. Each one of them was unique and had his own creepy story to tell. And I liked them all, which doesn't happen too often. The story had a tad of humour in it, which was very welcome, otherwise it would be all too gruesome.
I don't want to spoil, go read it for yourself, it's rather short, maybe even too short for my tastes. Highly recommended.
I loved the story, a bit lovecraft-ish softcore horror and the idea of psychotherapy group for survivors of seemingly unconnected supernatural crimes. The characters made me want to come back to them again. Each one of them was unique and had his own creepy story to tell. And I liked them all, which doesn't happen too often. The story had a tad of humour in it, which was very welcome, otherwise it would be all too gruesome.
I don't want to spoil, go read it for yourself, it's rather short, maybe even too short for my tastes. Highly recommended.
February 25, 2024
El fuerte de esta novelita, que apenas llega a las 200 páginas y escrita en una fuente tan grande que podría verse desde la distancia, es la extravagancia de sus personajes y sus siniestros orígenes. En muy poco espacio todos consiguen presentar sus historias y particularidades, incluso de desplegar sus pocos hilos narrativos para ir entrelazándolos con la suficiente paciencia para que el desarrollo se sienta natural y nada apresurado. Apresurado solo se siente el final. En otras circunstancias, y siguiendo otra estructura, esta novela podría haber sido un excelente prólogo para una historia más larga.
Ojalá lo hubiera sido.
La historia sigue las confesiones de un grupo de ayuda para víctimas de la Maldad. Sí, en mayúscula. La maldad que emana de la retorcida naturaleza humana y una maldad primordial que se manifiesta como ente sobrenatural. Tenemos a un superviviente de una secta y ahora investigador de lo paranormal, un John Constantine de Hacendado más tocado del ala que cínico; los restos en silla de ruedas de un anciano mutilado y canibalizado por una familia de catetos; una mujer cuyos huesos utilizó un asesino psicópata para tallar mensajes crípticos; un hombre con unas gafas de realidad virtual que no puede quitarse porque realidad e ilusión se han fundido frente a sus ojos; y una chica silenciosa que pasó su infancia con otra secta. El grupo está dirigido por la psiquiatra que los trataba a todos de manera individual, y que esta convencida de que compartir las experiencias de sus pacientes puede ser beneficioso para su recuperación. Sin embargo, conforme cuentan sus historias lo que descubrirán es lo estrechamente entrelazados que están sus traumas.
La novela es frenética, tiene que serlo dada su brevedad; cargada de acción, situaciones extrañas y muy, muy divertidas. Si no habéis leído nada del autor creo que Estamos todos de puta madre es el mejor título para conocerlo. Otra buena opción es La familia Telemacus, aunque si empezáis con esta daos prisa, que están amenazando con destrozarla con una adaptación a serie.
Ojalá lo hubiera sido.
La historia sigue las confesiones de un grupo de ayuda para víctimas de la Maldad. Sí, en mayúscula. La maldad que emana de la retorcida naturaleza humana y una maldad primordial que se manifiesta como ente sobrenatural. Tenemos a un superviviente de una secta y ahora investigador de lo paranormal, un John Constantine de Hacendado más tocado del ala que cínico; los restos en silla de ruedas de un anciano mutilado y canibalizado por una familia de catetos; una mujer cuyos huesos utilizó un asesino psicópata para tallar mensajes crípticos; un hombre con unas gafas de realidad virtual que no puede quitarse porque realidad e ilusión se han fundido frente a sus ojos; y una chica silenciosa que pasó su infancia con otra secta. El grupo está dirigido por la psiquiatra que los trataba a todos de manera individual, y que esta convencida de que compartir las experiencias de sus pacientes puede ser beneficioso para su recuperación. Sin embargo, conforme cuentan sus historias lo que descubrirán es lo estrechamente entrelazados que están sus traumas.
La novela es frenética, tiene que serlo dada su brevedad; cargada de acción, situaciones extrañas y muy, muy divertidas. Si no habéis leído nada del autor creo que Estamos todos de puta madre es el mejor título para conocerlo. Otra buena opción es La familia Telemacus, aunque si empezáis con esta daos prisa, que están amenazando con destrozarla con una adaptación a serie.
September 1, 2014
Act normal. Pretend we don't know what we know. But it's so tiring. I start to hate people for their ignorance. Their complacency. Sometimes I see a couple people sitting around laughing and I think, What the fuck do you think is so funny?
Daryl Gregory and I have met before through Raising Stony Mayhall, something I didn't realize when I first requested this ARC from NetGalley. Had I known I probably would not have picked this up.
And boy would I have regretted that.
We Are All Completely Fine is about a therapy group for people who are unusual. People that have survived horrific events and lived to tell the tale. They are brought together by psychotherapist Dr. Jan Sayer who believes their crazy tales.
A dinner party for gluttons for punishment.
It is a short and wild ride, that left me wanting more. The characters are unique and I completely connected with them despite their dark histories. Gregory does a great job of gradually revealing their back story, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, unable to put this book down.
It is really short, so I don't want to reveal too much because it truly is something you have to experience for yourself. But the pacing was perfect, the characters unforgettable and the plot engaging.
I loved every single moment of it and I really would like to see more from this author.
Go read this. Now.
Cross posted at: Kaora's Corner
Daryl Gregory and I have met before through Raising Stony Mayhall, something I didn't realize when I first requested this ARC from NetGalley. Had I known I probably would not have picked this up.
And boy would I have regretted that.
We Are All Completely Fine is about a therapy group for people who are unusual. People that have survived horrific events and lived to tell the tale. They are brought together by psychotherapist Dr. Jan Sayer who believes their crazy tales.
A dinner party for gluttons for punishment.
It is a short and wild ride, that left me wanting more. The characters are unique and I completely connected with them despite their dark histories. Gregory does a great job of gradually revealing their back story, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, unable to put this book down.
It is really short, so I don't want to reveal too much because it truly is something you have to experience for yourself. But the pacing was perfect, the characters unforgettable and the plot engaging.
I loved every single moment of it and I really would like to see more from this author.
Go read this. Now.
Cross posted at: Kaora's Corner
August 28, 2014
There are a few people out there that therapists must see as hard cases. Lone survivors of terrible tragedies, damaged in both mind and body. Sometimes, they refuse to talk about what happened. Sometimes, they insist on explaining that what happened to them had some supernatural element to it - clearly a kind of self-delusion to avoid facing reality.
But one psychologist, Dr. Jan Sayer, has put out her professional feelers to try to contact and form a group therapy meeting with these victims. Half a dozen people, from different walks of life, with different dark secrets, agree to meet. The one thing they have in common is malfunction. But together, what they could uncover is... well, it's both slyly humorous and pretty horrific.
Think Lovecraft meets serial-killer, with a nod to the superhero-team genre. Add in a spooky cult, some cannibalism... it's got it all, 'American Horror Story'-style.
I didn't like this quite as much as Gregory's recent 'Afterparty' (which I loved.) This feels like it was written a bit more quickly - it's a short book, and a fast read. But it is very good.
Much appreciation to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book. As always, my opinion is my own.
But one psychologist, Dr. Jan Sayer, has put out her professional feelers to try to contact and form a group therapy meeting with these victims. Half a dozen people, from different walks of life, with different dark secrets, agree to meet. The one thing they have in common is malfunction. But together, what they could uncover is... well, it's both slyly humorous and pretty horrific.
Think Lovecraft meets serial-killer, with a nod to the superhero-team genre. Add in a spooky cult, some cannibalism... it's got it all, 'American Horror Story'-style.
I didn't like this quite as much as Gregory's recent 'Afterparty' (which I loved.) This feels like it was written a bit more quickly - it's a short book, and a fast read. But it is very good.
Much appreciation to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book. As always, my opinion is my own.
June 1, 2025
We all knew each other, at first, only by our words. We sat in a circle and spoke to each other, presenting some version of ourselves. We told our stories and tried out behaviours. Dr. Sayer said that the group was the place for "reality testing." What would happen if we exposed ourselves and shared our true thoughts? What if we talked about what we most feared? What if we behaved according to rules that were not predicated on our worst suspicions?
Perhaps the world would not end.
When Daryl Gregory is on my wavelength, he writes some of the books I enjoy more than any others - when he isn't, I can hardly even get started, but lucky for me this isn't one of those.
We Are All Completely Fine makes a lie of the title even before it begins - after all, that would make for a boring book - but the scale of just how not fine they all are that will take the reader by surprise. Fair enough, too, that they're struggling, because now they know there's worse out there than things that just go bump in the night; there's monsters and eldritch abominations and beings from other dimensions... oh my. As the reader, this mishmash of monstrosities was an absolute delight - living with them would be something completely different.
This is short, being a novella, but it's great. I'd strongly encourage you to check out Pandemonium if you enjoyed it - and maybe I'll give Spoonbenders another try.
Perhaps the world would not end.
When Daryl Gregory is on my wavelength, he writes some of the books I enjoy more than any others - when he isn't, I can hardly even get started, but lucky for me this isn't one of those.
We Are All Completely Fine makes a lie of the title even before it begins - after all, that would make for a boring book - but the scale of just how not fine they all are that will take the reader by surprise. Fair enough, too, that they're struggling, because now they know there's worse out there than things that just go bump in the night; there's monsters and eldritch abominations and beings from other dimensions... oh my. As the reader, this mishmash of monstrosities was an absolute delight - living with them would be something completely different.
This is short, being a novella, but it's great. I'd strongly encourage you to check out Pandemonium if you enjoyed it - and maybe I'll give Spoonbenders another try.
October 30, 2016
A group of people comes together for group therapy. They are survivors of horrendous events and together with psychotherapist Dr. Jan they talk about what they have been through. But what is really the purpose of the group? Are they just there to talk, or are gathered for a special purpose?
The book was interesting from the beginning. I liked all the characters and I liked that every one of them was part of a puzzle, even Dr. Jan (I managed to guess correctly to who she really was!). It was a great book and I would very much love to read a continuation to this one.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
The book was interesting from the beginning. I liked all the characters and I liked that every one of them was part of a puzzle, even Dr. Jan (I managed to guess correctly to who she really was!). It was a great book and I would very much love to read a continuation to this one.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
August 8, 2016
Daryl Gregory's talents are on full display in his latest novel. Infusing fantasy, horror and at times even humour he explores how we make sense of the impossible made real. A group of five survivors of extreme supernatural trauma are brought together by a therapist to share their fascinating stories and begin the process of understanding and dealing with their dark pasts. With a constant shift in narration it can be confusing at first, but if you stick with it you realize the brilliantly woven threads gradually come together forming a surprising and horrifying climax. Beautifully well written with extremely well drawn and believable characters, Gregory constructs a seductive puzzle that is well worth your time.
Really loved this one, if you haven't explored Gregory's previous work I suggest you do so!
Thank you Tachyon and Netgalley for this review copy.
Really loved this one, if you haven't explored Gregory's previous work I suggest you do so!
Thank you Tachyon and Netgalley for this review copy.
January 10, 2018
(Non-spoiler: they are not either completely fine.)
This is now my second-favorite Gregory novel. My ranking, best-to-worst, goes like this:
Pandemonium (still the best by a lot, despite the equivalent ratings)
We Are All Completely Fine
Masked
Harrison Squared
Spoonbenders
Maybe I'll try one of graphic novels he worked on next.
This is now my second-favorite Gregory novel. My ranking, best-to-worst, goes like this:
Pandemonium (still the best by a lot, despite the equivalent ratings)
We Are All Completely Fine
Masked
Harrison Squared
Spoonbenders
Maybe I'll try one of graphic novels he worked on next.
October 27, 2014
4.5 stars.
This is the story of five survivors--of unique, horrendous experiences--brought together by their enigmatic therapist. The purpose is supposedly to help them each not feel so alienated by their own traumas. As the stories of each begin to unfold, we see that they share much more in common than mere survival....
I felt that Daryl Gregory did a fantastic job with the characterization of each of these individuals. Every single one of them felt "real", and had a story behind them that I eagerly wanted to hear more of. Infused with a touch of supernatural and Lovecraftian imagery, this book was one that I was loathe to put down--even though I devoured it in only two sittings! The fragile exteriors of these patients housed interior knowledge of such magnitude that it was easy to sense that there was so much MORE to learn about them, even when the novel ended. In fact, my only complaint is in regards to just that: I feel that their story has not ended, and that this is all merely the beginning for some of them.....
A remarkable, memorable tale that I can easily see myself re-reading in the future. I sincerely hope that the author comes out with more on these characters!
Highly recommended!
*I received a copy of this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is the story of five survivors--of unique, horrendous experiences--brought together by their enigmatic therapist. The purpose is supposedly to help them each not feel so alienated by their own traumas. As the stories of each begin to unfold, we see that they share much more in common than mere survival....
I felt that Daryl Gregory did a fantastic job with the characterization of each of these individuals. Every single one of them felt "real", and had a story behind them that I eagerly wanted to hear more of. Infused with a touch of supernatural and Lovecraftian imagery, this book was one that I was loathe to put down--even though I devoured it in only two sittings! The fragile exteriors of these patients housed interior knowledge of such magnitude that it was easy to sense that there was so much MORE to learn about them, even when the novel ended. In fact, my only complaint is in regards to just that: I feel that their story has not ended, and that this is all merely the beginning for some of them.....
A remarkable, memorable tale that I can easily see myself re-reading in the future. I sincerely hope that the author comes out with more on these characters!
Highly recommended!
*I received a copy of this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
December 4, 2014
A therapy group commences, and the participants share one common issue: all of them were involved in some sort of monstrous trauma, or been a part of the 'monster' world that exists parallel to ours.
I loved this book. The kind of book you read where the author wrote it just for you. The group dynamics were so spot on, and the author referencing "Yalom", who is the guru for therapy group dynamics and progression, showed that he did his homework. What worked so well for me is that, from my experience working in mental health, the unique affliction felt by the participants of the group are so true to how people feel in therapy: the sense of oddness, that nobody can relate to them because of their oddness, the initial mistrust, ways that trust is gained through self-disclosure and confrontation and identifying ourselves in others. Also, how the group dynamics start to bleed into interactions outside of the group, and behavior gets 'practiced' and then reported back to others. Some PHD student somewhere should use this book for a thesis.
As for the creative, 'monster' side of the book, this was genius as well. Such cool descriptions, and each characters backstory was incredible yet all different in their response to each other and what they have been through. I read with delight, cheered and clapped out loud in my brain, and imagined the movie version (I hereby pledge $20 for the crowdfunding efforts to make this book into a movie)(yeah, I know, I'm a big spender.) For a moment towards the end, it got too 'supernatural' for me, and delved into areas I didn't care about as much, but it ended on a note that was brilliant, stunning, and touching all at the same time. Thanks Daryl Gregory, and next time, invite me to therapy.
I loved this book. The kind of book you read where the author wrote it just for you. The group dynamics were so spot on, and the author referencing "Yalom", who is the guru for therapy group dynamics and progression, showed that he did his homework. What worked so well for me is that, from my experience working in mental health, the unique affliction felt by the participants of the group are so true to how people feel in therapy: the sense of oddness, that nobody can relate to them because of their oddness, the initial mistrust, ways that trust is gained through self-disclosure and confrontation and identifying ourselves in others. Also, how the group dynamics start to bleed into interactions outside of the group, and behavior gets 'practiced' and then reported back to others. Some PHD student somewhere should use this book for a thesis.
As for the creative, 'monster' side of the book, this was genius as well. Such cool descriptions, and each characters backstory was incredible yet all different in their response to each other and what they have been through. I read with delight, cheered and clapped out loud in my brain, and imagined the movie version (I hereby pledge $20 for the crowdfunding efforts to make this book into a movie)(yeah, I know, I'm a big spender.) For a moment towards the end, it got too 'supernatural' for me, and delved into areas I didn't care about as much, but it ended on a note that was brilliant, stunning, and touching all at the same time. Thanks Daryl Gregory, and next time, invite me to therapy.
May 11, 2017
http://athenaninguncesi.blogspot.com.tr/
Biz Gayet İyiyiz hakkında ne düşündüğümden emin olamıyorum. Kitabı bitirdiğimden beri bir kitaba, bir de önümdeki boş sayfaya bakıp bakıp duruyorum ve en sonunda net bir karara varamayacağımı fark ettim. Beğendiğim ve beğenmediğim yanlarıyla, sevdiğim bir kitap oldu Biz Gayet İyiyiz fakat eksikliğini hissettiğim şeyler, kişisel olarak göz ardı edemeyeceğim kadar yer kaplıyor aklımda.
Kitap, kimliği belirsiz bir anlatıcının, bir parçası olduğu terapi grubunu anlatmasıyla başlıyor: “En başta altı kişiydik.” Bu cümlenin sonrasında gelen 160 sayfa boyunca bir ileri bir geri gidiyoruz okuyucular olarak. Anlatıcı, bize olayların sırasını biraz değiştirerek aktarıyor geçmişi. (Bunun merak unsurunu arttırmak için yapıldığı hissine kapıldım okurken.)
Hikayenin kimin ağzından yazıldığını asla öğrenemiyoruz çünkü bölümlerin ilk paragraflarında kullanılan birinci çoğul şahıs hariç, tüm hikaye üçüncü tekil şahıstan yazılmış. Yer yer acaba anlatıcı, kim olduğuna dair ipucu verecek mi diye satırları taradıysam da ya dikkatsizliğimden ya da öyle bir ipucunun yokluğundan bir sonuca varamadım.
Karakterlerin hepsi, sıradan insanların inanmayacağı deneyimler yaşadıkları için o ya da bu şekilde toplumdan uzaklaşmışlar ve Dr Sayer tarafından bir grup terapide toplanıyorlar. Yaşananların hepsi korkunç şeyler olsa da, - yenen uzuvlar, kemiklere kazınan mesajlar, dağlanan vücutlar – kitabın kendisinin korkutucu olduğunu düşünmüyorum.
Sıra dışı karakterleri ve olay örgüsüyle, bir süredir okuduğum en farklı ve tuhaf kitaplardan biri olduğu yadsınamaz bir gerçek. Shirley Jackson Ödülü ve Dünya Fantezi Ödülü'nü En İyi Kısa Roman kategorisinde kazanması zaten bunun en iyi kanıtı fakat uzun romanları ve tekrara düşmeyen detaylı açıklamaları daha çok sevdiğim için, Biz Gayet İyiyiz beni pek tatmin etmedi. Kitapta bahsi geçen karakterler hakkında söylenebilecek daha tonla şey olduğu hissini bir türlü atamadım üzerimden kitabı bıraktığımdan beri.
Bir şeyler eksik gibiydi benim için. Daha fazlasını aradım fakat o “daha fazlası” kitapta mevcut değildi. Kitabı gerçekten sevdim ama sonlarına doğru ilerledikçe, işte bu arayış yüzünden biraz hayal kırıklığına da uğramadım değil. Eğer okuyacak farklı şeyler arıyorsanız, farklı ve tuhaf karakterler seviyorsanız veya grup terapi kurguları hoşunuza gidiyorsa, Biz Gayet İyiyiz 'i okumanızı öneririm.
Biz Gayet İyiyiz hakkında ne düşündüğümden emin olamıyorum. Kitabı bitirdiğimden beri bir kitaba, bir de önümdeki boş sayfaya bakıp bakıp duruyorum ve en sonunda net bir karara varamayacağımı fark ettim. Beğendiğim ve beğenmediğim yanlarıyla, sevdiğim bir kitap oldu Biz Gayet İyiyiz fakat eksikliğini hissettiğim şeyler, kişisel olarak göz ardı edemeyeceğim kadar yer kaplıyor aklımda.
Kitap, kimliği belirsiz bir anlatıcının, bir parçası olduğu terapi grubunu anlatmasıyla başlıyor: “En başta altı kişiydik.” Bu cümlenin sonrasında gelen 160 sayfa boyunca bir ileri bir geri gidiyoruz okuyucular olarak. Anlatıcı, bize olayların sırasını biraz değiştirerek aktarıyor geçmişi. (Bunun merak unsurunu arttırmak için yapıldığı hissine kapıldım okurken.)
Hikayenin kimin ağzından yazıldığını asla öğrenemiyoruz çünkü bölümlerin ilk paragraflarında kullanılan birinci çoğul şahıs hariç, tüm hikaye üçüncü tekil şahıstan yazılmış. Yer yer acaba anlatıcı, kim olduğuna dair ipucu verecek mi diye satırları taradıysam da ya dikkatsizliğimden ya da öyle bir ipucunun yokluğundan bir sonuca varamadım.
Karakterlerin hepsi, sıradan insanların inanmayacağı deneyimler yaşadıkları için o ya da bu şekilde toplumdan uzaklaşmışlar ve Dr Sayer tarafından bir grup terapide toplanıyorlar. Yaşananların hepsi korkunç şeyler olsa da, - yenen uzuvlar, kemiklere kazınan mesajlar, dağlanan vücutlar – kitabın kendisinin korkutucu olduğunu düşünmüyorum.
Sıra dışı karakterleri ve olay örgüsüyle, bir süredir okuduğum en farklı ve tuhaf kitaplardan biri olduğu yadsınamaz bir gerçek. Shirley Jackson Ödülü ve Dünya Fantezi Ödülü'nü En İyi Kısa Roman kategorisinde kazanması zaten bunun en iyi kanıtı fakat uzun romanları ve tekrara düşmeyen detaylı açıklamaları daha çok sevdiğim için, Biz Gayet İyiyiz beni pek tatmin etmedi. Kitapta bahsi geçen karakterler hakkında söylenebilecek daha tonla şey olduğu hissini bir türlü atamadım üzerimden kitabı bıraktığımdan beri.
Bir şeyler eksik gibiydi benim için. Daha fazlasını aradım fakat o “daha fazlası” kitapta mevcut değildi. Kitabı gerçekten sevdim ama sonlarına doğru ilerledikçe, işte bu arayış yüzünden biraz hayal kırıklığına da uğramadım değil. Eğer okuyacak farklı şeyler arıyorsanız, farklı ve tuhaf karakterler seviyorsanız veya grup terapi kurguları hoşunuza gidiyorsa, Biz Gayet İyiyiz 'i okumanızı öneririm.
March 13, 2015
4.5*
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What happens to the people who have experienced severe trauma, the ones who have escaped horrors both human and supernatural. Group therapy, according to this read and the premise alone was enough to make my literary mouth water.
Five emotionally, and physically, scarred individuals attend group sessions with Dr Sayer. Harrison, the 'Monster Detective', Stan, who escaped the clutches of cannibals, Barbara, a victim of the Scrimshander, Martin, who sees otherworldly creatures and Greta who silently endures the sessions. They soon learn that they are connected in a very different way.
This was an incredibly fast read, the author giving just enough information to keep the story moving forward without explaining each characters back story. This was maddening as the back stories sounded fascinating, only a fraction of each was given and it was impossible not to keep turning the pages to read what else might be divulged.
The characters themselves are extremely engaging, the dialogue between them felt natural for their setting and it's interesting to see how the relationships within the group develop at each session.
Whilst I very much enjoyed the story, I did feel it lost a little bit of impact round about the half way mark when Greta's story was finally revealed. I took half a star off for this reason but it's detraction from the flow of the read was minimal. I very much enjoyed the ending as well and am quite excited to see what looks like a sequel being released next year. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What happens to the people who have experienced severe trauma, the ones who have escaped horrors both human and supernatural. Group therapy, according to this read and the premise alone was enough to make my literary mouth water.
Five emotionally, and physically, scarred individuals attend group sessions with Dr Sayer. Harrison, the 'Monster Detective', Stan, who escaped the clutches of cannibals, Barbara, a victim of the Scrimshander, Martin, who sees otherworldly creatures and Greta who silently endures the sessions. They soon learn that they are connected in a very different way.
This was an incredibly fast read, the author giving just enough information to keep the story moving forward without explaining each characters back story. This was maddening as the back stories sounded fascinating, only a fraction of each was given and it was impossible not to keep turning the pages to read what else might be divulged.
The characters themselves are extremely engaging, the dialogue between them felt natural for their setting and it's interesting to see how the relationships within the group develop at each session.
Whilst I very much enjoyed the story, I did feel it lost a little bit of impact round about the half way mark when Greta's story was finally revealed. I took half a star off for this reason but it's detraction from the flow of the read was minimal. I very much enjoyed the ending as well and am quite excited to see what looks like a sequel being released next year. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 785 reviews