In a Dark, Dark Wood in Pick-a-Shelf

Jan 20, 2018 Jenn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-cover-to-cover

As much as I finished this in one day, I can’t give it more than three stars. It was fast paced but somewhat predictable. Nothing shocked me or made me sit on the edge of the couch. It’s not a bad thriller or maybe it’s not even a thriller. More like a less tame whodunit. With predictable results.

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Feb 28, 2017 Julianne rated it liked it · review of another edition

I read Ware's other novel (The Woman in Cabin 10) first, before this one. When people recommended that her first novel was "better," (and I decently enjoyed her second) I decided to get this one in the hopes it would be just that.

I was disappointed. I didn't buy the story, not even a little bit. I thought the characters were overplayed and typecast, and the entire premise of the story didn't seem to work. Why would Nora go to this party? Why would they have a hen weekend with no other members of I read Ware's other novel (The Woman in Cabin 10) first, before this one. When people recommended that her first novel was "better," (and I decently enjoyed her second) I decided to get this one in the hopes it would be just that.

I was disappointed. I didn't buy the story, not even a little bit. I thought the characters were overplayed and typecast, and the entire premise of the story didn't seem to work. Why would Nora go to this party? Why would they have a hen weekend with no other members of the bridal party? How could Nora have no idea who Clare was marrying? How, if you still have such an emotional reaction to anything from high school (even that traumatic), could you possibly leave yourself open to being placed in a situation where you'd have to go through such intense "exposure therapy"? Many people have argued that Nora's character is totally unbelievable that she would still be so upset about something that happened 10 years ago, when she was 16. I disagree to a point. I think that one thing Ware got right with her character is the danger of what can happen when you're allowed to completely walk away from major adversity without dealing with it. Nora essentially hit the pause button on her life when she was 16 and, because she never worked through things, it was very easy to hit the play button again at 26 when she was put back into an environment with enough emotional triggers. As someone with anxiety issues (and a child with anxiety issues), I think this was an extreme (but likely accurate) example of what can happen when avoidance is your only response to a transformative life experience. If Nora had gone through therapy, if her family made her go back to school, if she'd had a conversation with Clare or James at any point after xxx, she would not have been susceptible to anything else that happened in the story. Kudos to Ware for setting up this portion of Nora's past to make this psychologically more likely. Which leads me to my last point:

What really disappointed me is that I've read such a string of immensely popular books with terrible, weak, lame female protagonists. It took this book to make me realize what was bothering me so much about the books I'd been reading. In the last 12 months I've read both of Ware's novels and The Girl on the Train, and these females have really pissed me off. I mean, really made me want to strangle the protagonist...and not because of what she did, but because of who she is. I want strong, badass, take charge, give me confidence, show me it can be done women who are put in bad situations and come out better for it...who can't avoid where they are now, but persevere and show us all that "you can do this!" Nora was the opposite of this, and it made me sad. The only thing I can say about Nora is that she may have struck a bit of a chord in me, and what type of person I probably was in high school...I was more of a Nora than a Clare, for sure. But my overtly popular, outspoken, extrovert friends were not Clare by any means. Nora was the one dimensional representation of what can happen if a natural introvert does not become a well-adapted adult; able to somehow become a recluse in a major international city and have virtually no healthy adult relationships with other humans...they are not able to self advocate, make good decisions, deal with emotionally charged surprises, read people, speak your mind in a healthy way, or maintain allegiance with yourself and your own needs over others who matter much less. ...more

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Aug 24, 2015 Lisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

I put off reading this book for a little while, because of the raves. Often I will pick up a book because many others are reading and enjoying and talking about it. I end up picking up that book and am like "ehhhh what is the hype about, its just not THAT good for me".............however this book was totally different. I picked it up to read "a few chapters before bed" and ended up reading it in one sitting, and having a very long day the next day but it was So Worth IT! I will definately get h ...more

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Aug 17, 2015 Jayme Pendergraft rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

Like many others have said, I figured it out and waited for the reasons to unfold. Lee/Leo/Nora/Leonora was pretty unlikeable so that didn't really help. I think her obsession could have been built upon even more to really emphasize how much her life was ruined. An okay little mystery. ...more

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