And the Trees Crept In

There is some fine writing in this book. There are also some repetitive gimmicks that can distract. There are visual gimmicks more than literary ones, and they're stale by the time one finishes the book. There is also quite a bit of repetition in Silla's account of what is happening–multiple times she speaks of trying to eat, trying to feed her sister, the trees encroaching upon the house. Over and over, Silla says the same things. She gets a bit annoying. I don't dislike her, but the characters start out strong and sort of peter into dullness. The multiple viewpoints also get a bit sloppy and uneven, because they're not evenly distributed. Almost the entire novel is told from Silla's p.o.v., but there are a few random snatches of her aunt and little sister randomly throughout the novel. And Gowan. In the end, it's a romance, and she's saved by the dude who never stopped loving her. Her wonderful, beautiful prince. Meh. One is also not quite certain what in the world happened to the world these characters lived in. Did Trump become President and destroy everything?

All THAT being said, AtTCI was never dull. It was, at times, beautifully written. It was also at times disturbing and creepy, and it was fun trying to figure out what the devil was going on. It was also sad, in the same way that ‘The Others' with Nicole Kidman is. And even though I'm not happy with Gowan saving the day, SPOILER here!–I was charmed by the fact that he always loved her and went right to her side once he died–as an old man in his 90s. That little detail saved his character for me. Whatever, it was sweet.

So despite flaws, I would happily read ‘Dead House,' and, since I'm going to the library this evening, I think I'll look it up.