Adeline
Literary gothic horror mystery translated from Swedish, following Rafa a young woman who goes working with eight other seasonal workers in a desolate hotel in the mountains.
This was…an interesting reading experience.
This was really a slow burn, all vibes no plot, (no character arc actually) kind of story.
The writing style was very hypnotic, lush and gothic, like a dark fairytale. Because the writing was very descriptive and with lots of surrealistic imagery and metaphors, the atmosphere felt oppressive, like a fever dream. For most part I liked that atmosphere but the story became less interesting as pages went by, sometimes overwritten, not helped by the lack of plot or character arc.
Also some sentences were a bit clunky, but I’m unsure if it was in the original writing or because of the translation. I did like the use of the “we” pronouns that strengthen that eerie, strange atmosphere.
The characters were not totally compelling or fully fleshed out people but I did like the girlhood they created in their circumstances.
Because the location and period was vague, it felt like an out of time story, simultaneously historical and dystopian.
I liked how the author tackled the theme of feminicide, girlhood, social expectations and patriarchy though I felt it was not developed enough.
I also liked the uncertainty, unanswered questions and open ending.
Not a perfect reading experience but thankfully it was a quick novel that could be read in one sitting.
Literary gothic horror mystery translated from Swedish, following Rafa a young woman who goes working with eight other seasonal workers in a desolate hotel in the mountains.
This was…an interesting reading experience.
This was really a slow burn, all vibes no plot, (no character arc actually) kind of story.
The writing style was very hypnotic, lush and gothic, like a dark fairytale. Because the writing was very descriptive and with lots of surrealistic imagery and metaphors, the atmosphere felt oppressive, like a fever dream. For most part I liked that atmosphere but the story became less interesting as pages went by, sometimes overwritten, not helped by the lack of plot or character arc.
Also some sentences were a bit clunky, but I’m unsure if it was in the original writing or because of the translation. I did like the use of the “we” pronouns that strengthen that eerie, strange atmosphere.
The characters were not totally compelling or fully fleshed out people but I did like the girlhood they created in their circumstances.
Because the location and period was vague, it felt like an out of time story, simultaneously historical and dystopian.
I liked how the author tackled the theme of feminicide, girlhood, social expectations and patriarchy though I felt it was not developed enough.
I also liked the uncertainty, unanswered questions and open ending.
Not a perfect reading experience but thankfully it was a quick novel that could be read in one sitting.