Beth

I felt like this book was a 3.5 when I finished it, but now it's a 4 after thinking about it for the last week. I related to too many awkward, disgusting, or hilariously dark things in this book, and I'm SO glad. At times it made me appreciate parts of my life in new ways... And at other times it made me snort-suffocate while my husband glared at me for laughing so much.

I bought a bunch of audiobooks once, and then discovered that I'm not especially fond of them. I get annoyed with the narrator's voice, or it's too slow, or I fall asleep. It's not the book's fault, at all. This was the last one I convinced myself to listen to (out of guilt for spending money), but no more! One day I'll actually read it, and get more of a kick out of its Halloweeny myths and child-like wonder.

Wow. Read this book. It's not about a fringe-y survivalist family. It's about the family dynamics that converge from mental illness, religion, close-knit groups, and gender power imbalances. It's about how people still love the family members who are toxic to them, and desire a place within their family and community. It's about finding the education that provides a new lens to see your entire life, just by giving it context.