My vacation would have had a few more reads covered if it was not for Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Cole. This is not because the book is bad. It is an interesting theme, it is well written and it can capture your attention as you wonder “what is next,” but it’s terribly slow paced for me. The first half is the build up to a quick reveal and then the rest is more of the beginning only with people trying to help Ariel with her issues.
Ariel has OCD and this is an intense story about the extremeness OCD can take and how it affects all around us. A lot is happening: dealing with gender, race, femininity, mental health and there are Content Warnings (including, but not limited too) Death, Mental illness, Transphobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual harassment.
The biggest issue is how the thoughts of Ariel control her and her actions of how she thinks she controls the symptoms, but we never really get a result. I don’t feel Ariel is any farther along than she was at the beginning of things. With that being said, I get that there is no cure, not a magic pill to make it all better, but I was hoping for a better understanding by Ariel that things will get better, that she feels more comfortable with who she is (a tall, non-traditional, queer, female living with OCD). There is a little happening with a better outlook by Ariel, but we build so much to that point the ending feels almost lost.
One part that sadly was very realistic was the fact that Ariel’s parents are in fact, the second biggest bullies in her life. The first being herself. They don’t believe in therapy, they don’t understand OCD, they do not feel “safe” around their daughter because she does not “fit the mold” as she is not straight, she is not a perfect little size two, she is not long haired and waiting for her prince charming, she wants to weight lift, she is not a “good girl” in all the connotations of that.
So, needless to say, this is a complicated read, it is not an easy read, each reader will have their own interpretation of things, they will have their own feelings and most importantly, each one of us will take away what we put into it. I do recommend this book, but caution it is not for everyone and will say it is for at least 14 and up, but always know your readers comfort levels.
