Why do people like this book? Am I missing something?
I get it. Bad writing and an improbable plot that could also operate as a pasta strainer have united like a defective pair of power twins before to create cult successes (I’m looking at you Sharknado). And really, there is a whole genre of bad horror films…but does it work with books, too? I’m not a horror book reader, so I’m sincerely asking.
Why do people think this book is so scary? Creepy kids? Scary. Does this book have creepy kids?
No.
Psychological drama? Can be scary. Like when someone thinks they’re going crazy because they are seeing things other aren’t. Or when they hear things other people don’t. Does this book have psychological drama?
No.
Clowns? Scary. Does this book have clowns?
No.
Ghosts? Okay, now we’re talking. This book has ghosts! However, they aren’t Japanese or Korean ghosts, and we all know those are the scariest kind. And IDGAF if I’m spoiling anything, because this book is so bad, I’m doing you a favor. If you read it anyway after you read this review, you deserve to have it spoiled for the poor decision making skills you are exhibiting.
So there are ghosts. But (okay, I’ll indulge you) *SPOILER ALERT* they’re not scary.
And the plot? The plot, you ask? We have a handful of characters who are written as caricatures that we care little about. They work in an IKEA knock-off store that might be haunted and spend a night there figuring it all out. There’s a homeless guy/possible ghost living in the store, but that’s never resolved or really followed up on. In fact, it was like Hendrix was going in one direction and then forgot what he previously wrote and decided to completely change tack, so he killed the homeless guy and we are left wondering how he fit into the story at all. But maybe he was a ghost…one character wonders at the end. This is Hendrix’s idea of resolution, I guess.
I won’t go into any more of the holes in the plot. Suffice it to say you will find less in a heroin addict’s arms after nickel night in the back alley.
I think the only good thing about this book is the actual book, which is made to look like an IKEA catalogue, complete with a store map and product drawings and descriptions. But I read the audiobook, so…
The dialogue was boring and humorless, and the only reason I finished the book is because it was short and I wanted credit for my cannonball goal. So here’s my review and now I can move on with my life.
Check out the blist for more reviews by genericwhitegirl.
I love the title of this book, but I don’t think I’ve heard many positive things about it. I’ll give it a miss. Great review though!
Thanks for taking the bullet for the rest of us!
So I was just trolling through the 1 star reviews, because they make me happy. I read through this one because I read this book last year. Then I scrolled down and saw that I had ALREADY READ THIS 1 STAR REVIEW AND STILL READ THE FREAKING BOOK! You tried to save me from reading this book, and then I tried to save myself by reading your review, and then my brain was like “hahahahah screw you, we’re reading this terrible book!”
that’s awesome that you read the one star reviews like that. I’m going to look for your review!
And as I was reading your review I was remembering how much I hated it and how much of a slog it was! I’m a book completer, and I didn’t even finish it because I hated it 🙂