Status Updates From The Manchurian Candidate

plot twist of the century

(2) "I can feel it. There isn't anything about those crazy voices and those fast… colors and the eyes of that terrible audience that frightens me any more." He took his hands away from his face and reflexively reached over to take Raymond’s can of beer… Marco fell asleep, sitting up. Raymond stretched him out on the sofa, brought him a blanket, put out the lights, and went into his office…

THEYRE SO??!@?&!@?

(1) Marco ran his fingers through his thick hair on both sides of his head. He put his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. Raymond stared down at him, almost tenderly. "Don't be embarrassed if you feel like you're going to cry, Ben," Raymond said gently.

Marco shook his head. Raymond opened another can of beer.

"I swear to sweet, sweet God I think I am going to be able to sleep," Marco said.

oh no :(

chapter 4 went on way too long and my relief at leaving it is palpable. please let’s get to thriller pacing from here on out. this was technically the second longest chapter in the book after chapter 2, but at least chapter 2 is more consistently engaging

“Raymond stood as though someone might have just opened a beach umbrella in his bowels.”

i’m getting slammed in the face every paragraph with these frankly insane similes but this might be the funniest one yet

omg every time i read a crime/procedural novel about cops/soldiers/detectives i will, without fail, get attached to a pair (partnership?) of guys that i know is doomed by the freaking narrative. mick kennedy & richie from broken harbor. mcgrady & ball from five decembers. and now this. raymond & marco, i love u already. and i’ll mourn u when ur gone.

maybe i should just bite the bullet and read sherlock holmes.

til the term “getting laid” dates back to 1950s

the writing style is so… dense. but in a quirky, sardonic way? i’m having to stop and look words up often. it’s not bad, the first chapter is crazy effective at setting up this guy’s character, a masterclass really. but every time i think i’m getting used to the writing i’ll get hit with yet another totally baffling turn of phrase and wind up three links deep in search of a definition that makes sense