Maddy’s Reviews > The Deluge > Status Update

Wow, this book has really taken a dark and disturbing turn... and I can't pull myself away. Some of these scenes are quite grisly and I can feel my stomach twist, a feeling the King himself never even inspired in me when I was a kid devouring his books. It took to about the midpoint, but damn this is solidly good and crazy compelling.

I officially am at the point of liking this book and feeling addicted. The writing about Tony's harrowing experiences with the LA fires were quite compelling and also scary. I have to say, I do think this author does a good job with the socio-political commentary as well.

This is actually getting good. There's still one character sort of dangling on the side that I can't fully place... but I think everyone else has at least referenced one another/something relevant. Also, this book is really fucking topical and scary. Great political commentary, I think.

Okay, the druggie is wildly out of pocket. I'm glad it seems like he's turning his life around but holy shit was that a gnarly scene in the parking lot. Also, glad to see how he ties in to the main plot line.

I guess I missed an update before this one. Anyway, back to this book again. It's definitely slow starting, but I'm starting to see some of the storylines cross over which is satisfying. It's written in a way that encourages you to keep reading and unravel the mystery of how everything connects.

I like Tony, he's cool. The way he interacts with and thinks about his daughters makes me sad... daddy issues, I suppose. Finally seeing a crossover of two storylines!! Also, fucking Pollyanna. That was a trivia answer last night that I had never heard of, and now I won't forget it. How queer to have it come up in today's reading. Anyway, Will is landing soon and I must drive to SFO!

I wonder if all the characters cycle through different methods of storytelling for their individual arcs. Anyway, still iffy on the druggie and am worried about the woman he brought home. I like Kate more now (I think?) and was glad to hear she's still with Matt, though it sounds somewhat tense. Still deciding if I like this author...

Intriguing storyline for Kate and Matt. However, I will say it again, I do not like how this author writes female characters. IT IS OKAY for women to be flawed and not conventionally attractive or mysterious and alluring. It feels like I'm reading "Looking for Alaska" (derogatory) and I'm struggling to understand how this book was on the library's "Best of 2023" list simply because of this (major) flaw. Rant over.

I like the autistic math guy a lot. Don't like the drug addict. Wasn't expecting what happened in that chapter to have happened, honestly kind of fucked up to just drop in there. Interesting the drug addict section was written in second-person perspective. One more chapter of character introductions to go. Very, very curious how they link together.

Still learning new characters and intrigued to see how they eventually intertwine their narratives. Not too sure I like how the female character (Jackie) has been written... Perhaps this author needed more women around him to offer judgement. Or I'm weird. It's not enough of a problem to keep me from reading on.