Dee Bonney > Recent Status Updates

On chapter 5. Having grown up around and cared for someone who was never able to care for herself, I'm having a hard time with this MC and her view of her mother. I don't know if I can finish this one.

I'm on chapter 4 of the audio (about 3 hours in). I paused this mid-chapter 3 and then skipped the rest of chapter 3 due to a scene with a seal that was still alive. I can read most anything except animal suffering. So be aware if that's something that bothers you. If it comes up again, I'll dnf the book.

Well, I'm very wary of my own attic right now.

Are editors not employed anymore? Copyeditors?

Well Stephen King was right - the road to hell is paved with adverbs. 42 pages in and I've never seen so many adverbs.
I'm not clear on why the MC is so hostile about everything. And why is Blatty referring to every character by their occupation rather than their names?
This is rather poorly written, which is a surprise coming from Blatty and that Cemetery Dance published it this way. I'm glad it's a short book.

I'm going to need an entire book on Jeckle Island and The Blanks, please.

*audiobook listen*
What have I gotten into here?

I hope Mark is eaten by a puppet.

This author needs to let go of using italics and the three dots in every other sentence. Distracting, unnecessary, and overused; therefore, there's no impact.

On the third story (audible) and already I've heard a few King easter eggs such as the deadlights (It) and the last rung on the ladder (Night Shift) which is always SO MUCH FUN!

Random political talking points thrown in for no reason - climate change, gun ownership, vote democrat, blue lives matter, cops are scary. I read fiction to get away from these things.

The wording is too lofty. I'm not sure what the author is trying to prove but a lot of these words just don't fit the context.
Also, the sweetbreads are not in the skull. That shouldn't have passed the editor.

For future reference, stop referring to a guy or group of guys as dude/dudes. "The dudes walked into the living room." This is poor writing. They have names; use them. Also, it's okay for people at a party to be "all white." I'm not sure why that was pointed out. The story concept is good but the writing is annoying.

First sentence I read is a Taylor Swift song quote, which does not make me want to go on. 😆

On chapter 7. I keep forgetting the main character isn't a teenager but a full grown adult because she thinks and acts like a teenager. I almost dnf'd when they gathered at Roza's house and brought up pronouns and slavery right away. I don't know what the point was since neither is relevant to this story.

This is really repetitive so far.

Leah is one of the most annoying characters. Well written, though. So far the story moves along smoothly.

I peeked at the acknowledgments already. I don't know what the author has against people who use the idiom "pulled myself up by the bootstraps" to indicate they did what they had to do to overcome their situation.

So far, the characters are unlikeable and superficial but we'll see what happens.

Did an editor even glance at this story?

I'm a little wary of starting this during the current state of world affairs, but.... I can't resist either.

So far, I genuinely dislike Malcom. I hope he gets his comeuppance.

This is just terrifying...

On chapter 6. The narrator is not that great. The language is jarring. I know it's the language used during this time period, but still jarring to hear today.