comfort me with apples catherynne valente

What I enjoyed the most was that constant feeling of knowing something is wrong but not being able to put my finger on it. But while this is a book with a pretty cool twist, that wasn’t even the best part. Okay, this is as much as I want to say about the plot because one word more and I might just accidentally burst out something spoilery. That is, until something turns up that makes no sense, something that shouldn’t be here, something Sophia can’t let go… Sophia loves her husband, even if he’s often away for work, she loves her house and her neighbors, she enjoys her place in society and the life she has made for herself. So, what’s this about and why is it so great? Well, it’s about Sophia, who lives in Arcadia Gardens, an exclusive luxury residential area where everything is perfect. You won’t find a good spot to put the book down. It’s best to go into it knowing as little as possible and enjoying how things slowly unravel, how your mind picks up on certain clues, and how it all comes together in the end.īut do make sure you pick this up when you have enough time to finish it. In fact, if I’m being honest, I think you shouldn’t read this review at all before you have read the book.

This novella is only 112 pages long and its wonderful creep factor hinges on not knowing what’s going on, so I will remain very, very vague in describing the plot and characters. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can’t quite meet her gaze… The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. The look on her husband’s face when he comes back from a long business trip. He is the perfect husband and everything is perfect.īut sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Valente, for fans of Gone Girl and Spinning Silver Ī terrifying new thriller from bestseller Catherynne M. Opening line: The Following Agreement is made this first day of the first month between the members of the Arcadia Gardens Homeowners Association and the title-holders of 1 Cedar Drive.

If you want to feel creeped out (but not in a jump scare way) or made uncomfortable by a book, if you need something you want to devour in one sitting, then this is for you. Cat Valente is such a writer and so she not only delivered two vastly different books this year but also succeeded in making them both work incredibly well. It is the mark of a great writer that can give us one hopeful, heartwarming post-apocalyptic novella and a creepy what-the-hell-is-going-on type novella in the same year.

Comfort me with apples catherynne valente