⋆｡˚꒰ঌ worm ໒꒱˚｡⋆’s Reviews > Roadside Picnic > Status Update

gross. really really gross. I won't lie (and perhaps it was less reading comprehension and more me not being able to pay attention) but I didn't realize Monkey wasn't actually a monkey (I went back and forth on it in the beginning)- but she is, and she can't understand anymore. The whole situation is gross- wanting to marry her, that is- from seeing her from when she was a literal child to a nonconsenting adult.

andddd there it is: the title. In talks of knowledge and intelligence- what makes someone/thing intelligent- it's and argument going in circles (a conversation I probably would have loved reading if the book so far hadn't been miserable). We were but a roadside picnic. I don't understand the upset of Noonan. What makes man so great? his destruction?

In other notes, the bagel I ate doesn't taste very good.

I want to dnf this so bad :( I'm too far in I'd feel like it'd be a waste tho. The author(s) good at certain things- action scenes and building a tense atmosphere with the zones, otherwise it's miserable to read. Perhaps I haven't read enough reviews but I haven't been seeing anyone talk about the blatant racism in this book- just in general characters aren't written well imo- they all read flat.

I have so many questions???
Is it their child that they call monkey, or a real monkey??? Because I’m leaning towards thinking it’s a real monkey that can talk due to “the zone”…
Also were we supposed to care about Burbridge? Because at no point was I remotely sympathetic (also I tried to just look past it but I’m pretty sure this book has some racist stereotypes, since so far the portrayal has been awful

OKAY im not really sure if I like the writing or not? Red’s character is written (or translated) in a way that makes his characterization contradict (I understand character depth- which I feel like that’s what they’re going for- but it just reads kinda off)? That being said, the story is still really enjoyable with its fear and tragedy.

I absolutely love parts of this book so far- the descriptions of fear and paranoia are honestly really well done.

I'm so glad I'm finally am able to read a print version of this book! The foreword is so interesting and while I don't really care about the characters (yet) the zone is truly unsettling.