Our Share of Night is such a monster of a book that I've struggled with how to review it. The amount of explicit child abuse in this novel was difficuOur Share of Night is such a monster of a book that I've struggled with how to review it. The amount of explicit child abuse in this novel was difficult to stomach, and I would encourage anyone sensitive to the torture and mutilation of children in media to prepare themselves before diving in. While I was deeply disturbed by much of the content here and thoroughly disgusted by the behaviour of the majority of the characters, I must say this was one of the most intriguing horror novels I've ever read. From commentary on Argentinian history (specifically the 'dirty war' and the disappeared), classism/the dehumanization of the poor, and the pursuit of power and immortality at any cost, to the complexities of familial relationships and generational trauma, Enriquez ties a plethora of fascinating ideas together with a cult of darkness, taking me on a journey I never could have anticipated.
While the writing was, at times, a touch clunky and bloated (possibly as a result of translation), and there were some forrays into nonessential characters that distracted from the primary narrative, I was fully immersed and invested in this story from the beginning, especially when it came to Gaspar and Adela, who truly deserved so much better. The slow unravelling of the mysteries of the Order was as painful as it was mesmerizing, and the demonization of the upper echelons of society was frankly cathartic. The many LGBTQIA+ characters in a plethora of combinations were lovely to see, and I was especially grateful to the author for showing queerness not only in the villains and morally grey characters in the story but also in one of the very few indisputably good human beings, Pablo. The fact that she also dove into the realities of the AIDS crisis in South America was truly commendable and added another layer of richness to this novel's historical setting and thematic throughlines.
I've barely begun untangling my thoughts on this strange, surreal, twisted novel, so I may return after my brain has a little longer to percolate and add to this review.
As it stands now, I am left a little baffled, quite disturbed, and a lot in awe of what Enriquez managed to do in this single, massive tome.
Representation: multiple bisexual POV and secondary characters, prominent gay secondary character, several examples of nonmonogamy/polyamory, many gay tertiary characters, MLM and WLW sex, a largely latino/a cast of characters, and a prominent secondary character with an amputated limb.
Trigger/Content Warnings: child abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), child murder, child torture and mutilation, kidnapping and confinement of children, blood and gore, body horror, violence, murder, cannibalism, autocannibalism, dismemberment, torture, mutilation, domestic violence, death, suicide, threatening suicide, death from HIV/aids, alcoholism, overdose, self-harm, eating disorders, homophobia and homophobic slurs, racism, loss of parents, vomit, classism, ableism, bullying
The White People is a unique and intellectually engaging short story that delves into themes of Good and Evil, sin and sainthood. The narrative is fraThe White People is a unique and intellectually engaging short story that delves into themes of Good and Evil, sin and sainthood. The narrative is framed as a debate between two men, one of whom shares a diary he found that was written by a young girl. This diary, written in a stream-of-consciousness style, details the girl's experiences with her mysterious nurse, who inducts her into a cult-like, ritualistic religion.
The story's prose is relentless and fast-paced, creating an almost hypnotic effect that immerses the reader in the girl's perspective. Her diary is written in one singular, unsettling, run-on sentence, and as the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that the girl is encroaching upon womanhood while being exposed to dark, unsettling rituals that she doesn't fully comprehend. This creates a fascinating and horrifying dual perspective where the reader, aware of the ominous undertones the girl cannot detect at her current stage of mental development, feels a growing sense of dread and helplessness for the girl's plight.
Machen's story is uniquely eerie and unsettling and very difficult to describe. Despite reading this months ago, I often find myself thinking back on it, both the atmosphere and general malaise induced by the story, but also the vivid imagery it created in my mind. It is best read in a single sitting to fully immerse yourself in the frantic pace of the writing. "The White People" is a haunting exploration of innocence lost and the insidious nature of evil, and it left a lasting impression on me. I can't wait to read more of Machen's work!
"My life, which had been so predictable before, was now stuck in that blank space between keys, treading silence."
The more time that has passed since "My life, which had been so predictable before, was now stuck in that blank space between keys, treading silence."
The more time that has passed since I finished reading this book, the more it lingers in my mind, and the more I love it. This is an absolutely captivating exploration of themes surrounding beauty, ugliness, womanhood, family, belonging, grief and cultural identity. The author's skill in weaving together multiple layers of narrative, particularly the portrayal of a first-generation American child of Chinese immigrants and the intricate dynamics of a family deeply connected through music, was awe-inspiring, considering this is a debut novel.
I loved the creative use of body horror and monstrous transformation to peel back the many societally ingrained layers of unattainable Eurocentric beauty standards and wellness culture in a grotesque cautionary tale that had as much heart as it did guts.
Despite some unresolved plot threads and questionable character motivations, the eerie atmosphere that steadily built up the tension, the plentiful instances of gorgeous prose, and the many profound insights into the human experience more than made up for any deficiency.
I was deeply moved by the way Ling Ling Huang concluded this story, particularly the exploration of radical self-acceptance and freedom from societal beauty standards. This was a cathartic and heartbreaking read, and in the months since I read it, I haven't gone more than a day without thinking about it.
A glorious example of literary horror, Natural Beauty is a very valuable use of time, and I highly recommend it to just about everyone!
"I enjoy the immense freedom that comes with being safe from desire. And it is a kind of power to embrace ugliness and its possibility of expression, so much more imaginative than beauty."
Watch me read and review this book (& other nominees in the horror category!) here: https://youtu.be/dVOamSxBvnk
Representation: bisexual and lesbian characters, sapphic romance & sex
Trigger/Content Warnings: car accident, bullying, eating disorders, sexual assault, animal death, sexual harassment, animal cruelty, cannibalism, body horror, loss of parents, gore, fire injury, pedophilia, medical experimentation, forced medical procedures
A surreal and visceral love letter to the evolution from girl to woman, and the ties that bind us inextricably together.
Full of bizarre imagery and saA surreal and visceral love letter to the evolution from girl to woman, and the ties that bind us inextricably together.
Full of bizarre imagery and sapphic yearning, I felt the poetic passages pulling me under into a trance. I love weird lit, but I must admit I felt confused through much of this novel. The characters and their relationships were compelling, but the line between reality and imagination was so blurred I found myself losing the thread of the narrative. This is beautifully written, but I’m not sure I understood what Chang was trying to convey.
I’d like to read more of K-Ming Chang’s work, if only for the gorgeous prose and surreal, dreamlike quality, though I must admit I find myself hoping that Chang’s future work is slightly more accessible!
“Her laughter is a season you want to stand in forever, golden leaves relinking with the trees, springtime fizzing out of a bottle. She has a dimple on either side of her smile, one lower than the other, and the asymmetry describes joy perfectly. Her smile is so radiant it makes me ashamed.” Page 17
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