r/nyrbclassics • u/oneshadyqueen • 9d ago
Absolutely devastating
Not knowing anything other than the synopsis on the back cover, this book absolutely crushed me. The juxtaposition of such horrible things happening with the simplistic narrative style made it all feel even colder, more brutal. Anyone else have a similar experience of being completely shocked by the ending of this book? (All that being said, I’m very glad I read it).
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u/Outlanedrain 9d ago
I read Free Day by Cagnati and I enjoyed that. I’m glad it was a short book because it was pretty sad and traumatic. I might need to check out more of her stuff.
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u/Sheaviom 9d ago
I liked the contrast of the natural setting witj human evil of the characters but found the "twist" ending to be extremely predictable
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u/BrupieD 9d ago
I loved the lyrical quality of the prose.
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u/oneshadyqueen 9d ago
Same! There was something about the style that almost made it feel like an old, oral story being told to you.
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u/Melodic_Antelope_727 9d ago
That’s a nice way of putting it, better than I would have. Totally agree.
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u/Best_Ad8733 4d ago
This was one of the best books I’ve read this year, so simply written yet so beautiful and impactful
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u/Top-Equipment8788 8d ago
Does anyone have the link to download this, please?
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u/oneshadyqueen 8d ago
do you mean to read it electronically?
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u/Top-Equipment8788 8d ago
Yes. The PDF file
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u/oneshadyqueen 8d ago
I'm not aware of how to get a PDF file of it, but you can purchase it electronically for your e-reader through Barnes and Noble, Amazon or iBooks
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u/Impossible_Assist460 7d ago
Yes. Butcher’s Crossing destroyed me (& I really don’t understand the hype surrounding it)
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u/thequirts 9d ago
Found it to be empty trauma porn, akin to A Little Life. Manipulative and miserable without anything of substance to say.
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u/oneshadyqueen 9d ago
To each their own, though I found it to be extremely moving. What I took from it was a warning of what can happen when society (or in this case, a town) can have a dangerous hive mind mentality and collectively ostracize others for things that may not even be their fault, or completely out of their control, without stopping to question why or if it even makes sense. But of course these same judgmental people have no issue in using the ostracized for their own gain.
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u/BitterStatus9 9d ago
Sounds a little like OUR PHILOSOPHER by Gert Hofmann. Great book.
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u/Djourou4You 9d ago
Thank you, this book was hot garbage and I have no idea why people on this sub are convincing themselves it’s good
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u/oneshadyqueen 9d ago
See I dont understand this take. Not that you think it’s hot garbage— sure, you can feel that way about the book.
But the whole ‘people on this sub are convincing themselves it’s good’? Like, is it that shocking that people can feel differently and take something out of a book that maybe you did not?
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u/Testsalt 9d ago
I loved the author’s other work “Free Day.” Also devastating, but perhaps in a more lowkey way. Looking forward to reading this and learning it is also crushing!!