Came here to let you know that after your review, I went out and bought the book. Here’s something you should know about me: I rarely “read” books, unless they are comics. I find audiobooks more accessible, being a working mum, I rarely get a chance to actually sit and read. But I couldn’t put it down! Took me five days, but I finished it! Thanks to your review. I agree pretty much with everything you said; I’m also one of those who loved all the innocent coming-of-age scenes, that were a bit slower. Likely because I was the same age as these characters back in 2002, so the childhood nostalgia was somewhat pleasant (Dear God, Encarta 97…) But yes, it absolutely was a disturbing read, and has stuck with me since I finished it. It was wonderfully written, and the translator too has done a great job, but I understand it might be too much for some readers.
I am reading it, and I still have less than a hundred pages left. Yesterday I had to take a pill to sleep. I didn't think it was going to be that disturbing. And I still have to read the end.
I finished this today, and the shocking scene was read at 2am this morning/last night I struggled to go to sleep Lize is a really talented writer, and Kristen is a talented translator. Growing up in the same time frame lent to a sense of nostalgia, the micro observations dug deeper and deeper, and then that ending, ooof. What a read. Thank you for recommending this! It's not something I'll forget!
I read this back to back with Marieke Lucas Rijneveld's The Discomfort of Evening which is maybe one of the bleakest reading mistakes I've ever made. When Discomfort won the International Booker the Spit book kept being mentioned so I picked them up. Both are very well-written but I liked the Spit book more if only because it wasn't as miserable as Discomfort. Damning with faint praise..
@CriminOllyBlog I'm writing a trilogy titled "Wildwind", set in the Australian Outback. The plot is very simple: the entire feline species is disappearing one by one, and we soon find out that they fled to the Outback just to escape from the dramas of the human race because they had "woken up", so to speak--very similar to AM from I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Then a very bizarre event takes place, they begin to become more and more anthropomorphic due to an anomalous gene they inherited from an unknown entity. Whether its God, or aliens, all we know is that the cats are becoming people and they plan to isolate themselves from the world to find solace.
Ooooh. You do a good job describing these in a way that’s intriguing. I know where I’m coming for my horror recommendations! Thanks for making this video!
Reminds me somehow of an iranian movie "Modest Reception", where two rich people from Teheran drive to the countryside to give away money to do the villagers something good. The villagers refuse the money, thinking they are just some perverts from the city. So the two start to invent "social games" to lure the villagers into taking the money. Things start to go more and more sideways until the police intervenes.
I've read the book and agree on all you're saying, but your point that there is also al lot of cosiness in the book I don't get. For me it is 500 pages of feeling naseaus. Everything is told with a undertone which gives me a discomfortable feeling. There is nothing cosy or normal in this book. It could be that it's because I'm dutch myself and I can relate to the setting from my own childhood, maybe, but I doubt it. The starting points for this naseaus feeling are given in the first two chapters (the first one in the current time and te second chapter which goes back in time), both set directly the tone which is hold for the entire book. Lize has done a great job in doing this and her style of writing is beautiful, but it's cetainly not a pleasant reading experience. So your point that you need the right stomach for this I totally agree. In hindsight i don't have it, it was a bit too much for me.
Hi Olly, nope for this one but it sounds like a modern take on Lord Of The Flies but more horrifying, I found Helter skelter horrifying, as well as other memoirs about Mansons family
I was ine if the ones that recommended this book to you, and the reason why was bc i had just read "notice" on your recommendation, and it just made me think of this one.
Yep I ‘ve read it . Back then it was a big sensation in Belgium. The thing is I solved the riddle quite early in the book and so at the end it felt very satisfying to find out I was right. As for what happens …. Well you can feel it coming from afar. There is some originality to the idea but ( the answer to the riddle I mean ) but the theme of the book is not that original . And the end in a way predictable… But again, solving the riddle quite early in the story influenced my reading experience a lot. There is a lot more I could say about the book but difficult doing so without spoilers.
I just finished it. 80% of the way through, I couldn't understand what was so disturbing about it. Then I hit the last 20%. Holy fucking shit... it was brutal.
There is so many shocking things in the world I don't think I want to read something that is horrifying in a novel which could be in real life. Perhaps i am a bit naive but I want to escape the horrors we are subjected to in the news and TV. I'm a wimp I guess.
always enjoy your introduction on different type of books.. This book might be a little too disturbing for me. ... I have read many different books over the years.. My dad read an older book ..Papilion.. did you ever read that book?.. Its during war time, but it is quite interesting..
Olly, I have a question, I have literally no limits, so I'm wondering, in all the books you've read, what was the most disturbing? I'm always looking for that one book.
He has a video about it. It's a book called "Notice." and I think the video is called "The most disturbing book I've ever read." From about a year or so ago.
@jefferybeckman5231 Sorry, I'm not sure I understand your meaning? I know some people post spoiler comments with the comment saying "spoiler'first so that no one is spoilt who doesnt want to be.
@jefferybeckman5231 i would disagree, some people like to know what happens so they can prepare themselves - or so they know whether they could handle a peice of media. For example, I might want to read a book, but I really struggle with readong about animal violence, so I would like animal violence to be "spoilt" for me before reading a book so I can make an informed choice whether the book is something I would like to read or would rather avoid reading.
Came here to let you know that after your review, I went out and bought the book. Here’s something you should know about me: I rarely “read” books, unless they are comics. I find audiobooks more accessible, being a working mum, I rarely get a chance to actually sit and read.
But I couldn’t put it down! Took me five days, but I finished it! Thanks to your review.
I agree pretty much with everything you said; I’m also one of those who loved all the innocent coming-of-age scenes, that were a bit slower. Likely because I was the same age as these characters back in 2002, so the childhood nostalgia was somewhat pleasant (Dear God, Encarta 97…)
But yes, it absolutely was a disturbing read, and has stuck with me since I finished it. It was wonderfully written, and the translator too has done a great job, but I understand it might be too much for some readers.
Comments like this make my day! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave it. Really glad you liked the book so much.
I am reading it, and I still have less than a hundred pages left. Yesterday I had to take a pill to sleep. I didn't think it was going to be that disturbing. And I still have to read the end.
I finished this today, and the shocking scene was read at 2am this morning/last night
I struggled to go to sleep
Lize is a really talented writer, and Kristen is a talented translator.
Growing up in the same time frame lent to a sense of nostalgia, the micro observations dug deeper and deeper, and then that ending, ooof. What a read.
Thank you for recommending this! It's not something I'll forget!
Really glad you enjoyed it (if that's the word!)
@CriminOllyBlog as odd as "enjoyed" is in this particular context 😂 I actually did, it was definitely worth the read!
I read this back to back with Marieke Lucas Rijneveld's The Discomfort of Evening which is maybe one of the bleakest reading mistakes I've ever made. When Discomfort won the International Booker the Spit book kept being mentioned so I picked them up. Both are very well-written but I liked the Spit book more if only because it wasn't as miserable as Discomfort. Damning with faint praise..
I just reserved this from my library! The title is also called Smelt for some reason. Thanks Olly, looking forward to reading it!
Het Smelt is the Flemish title.
@CriminOllyBlog I'm writing a trilogy titled "Wildwind", set in the Australian Outback. The plot is very simple: the entire feline species is disappearing one by one, and we soon find out that they fled to the Outback just to escape from the dramas of the human race because they had "woken up", so to speak--very similar to AM from I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Then a very bizarre event takes place, they begin to become more and more anthropomorphic due to an anomalous gene they inherited from an unknown entity. Whether its God, or aliens, all we know is that the cats are becoming people and they plan to isolate themselves from the world to find solace.
Ooooh. You do a good job describing these in a way that’s intriguing. I know where I’m coming for my horror recommendations! Thanks for making this video!
Reminds me somehow of an iranian movie "Modest Reception", where two rich people from Teheran drive to the countryside to give away money to do the villagers something good. The villagers refuse the money, thinking they are just some perverts from the city. So the two start to invent "social games" to lure the villagers into taking the money. Things start to go more and more sideways until the police intervenes.
I've read the book and agree on all you're saying, but your point that there is also al lot of cosiness in the book I don't get. For me it is 500 pages of feeling naseaus. Everything is told with a undertone which gives me a discomfortable feeling. There is nothing cosy or normal in this book. It could be that it's because I'm dutch myself and I can relate to the setting from my own childhood, maybe, but I doubt it. The starting points for this naseaus feeling are given in the first two chapters (the first one in the current time and te second chapter which goes back in time), both set directly the tone which is hold for the entire book. Lize has done a great job in doing this and her style of writing is beautiful, but it's cetainly not a pleasant reading experience. So your point that you need the right stomach for this I totally agree. In hindsight i don't have it, it was a bit too much for me.
I missed this one entirely, and now I'm tempted. Thanks for the review!
Love these disturbing book reviews. Just bought this one and Birdman. Thanks for the recommendations.
I did read this book and really liked it. Reminds me a bit of 'the girl next door' by Ketchum
another one to add to the list, thanks Olly.
You sent this book soaring to my TBR!!!!
O M G Dude. I just finished “the scene.” I think I was about to have a coronary. Holy S’’t WOW!
@@Argst13 Yeah, that was brutal.
Hi Olly, nope for this one but it sounds like a modern take on Lord Of The Flies but more horrifying, I found Helter skelter horrifying, as well as other memoirs about Mansons family
I like how you talked about this. Not sure it’s going on my TBR but you never know… maybe? 😊💙
I was ine if the ones that recommended this book to you, and the reason why was bc i had just read "notice" on your recommendation, and it just made me think of this one.
Yep I ‘ve read it . Back then it was a big sensation in Belgium. The thing is I solved the riddle quite early in the book and so at the end it felt very satisfying to find out I was right. As for what happens …. Well you can feel it coming from afar. There is some originality to the idea but ( the answer to the riddle I mean ) but the theme of the book is not that original . And the end in a way predictable… But again, solving the riddle quite early in the story influenced my reading experience a lot. There is a lot more I could say about the book but difficult doing so without spoilers.
LOL, he's got a Gor novel on his book shelf.
More than one
@@CriminOllyBlog Too funny.
Thanks for the recommendation. I never heard of it.
I just finished it. 80% of the way through, I couldn't understand what was so disturbing about it.
Then I hit the last 20%. Holy fucking shit... it was brutal.
I know!
There is so many shocking things in the world I don't think I want to read something that is horrifying in a novel which could be in real life. Perhaps i am a bit naive but I want to escape the horrors we are subjected to in the news and TV. I'm a wimp I guess.
Olly comes out distinguishing the book, then says "at the end ... most shocking, disturbing things I've read..."
The WHAT.
Yeah I’m not watching that
You don’t want to know.
I do but don't want to read it the entire novel@@CriminOllyBlog
Thats another book I have to add to my list. Cheers Olly
I just ordered this and The Kindly Ones and Burnt Offerings ( I’m a big fan of the movie!)
Hope you like The Kindly Ones - it's definitely a heavy read
I hate that i love the cover, but i also hate myself soooo 😂
Dear Sir
Just wondering if you have an all time favourite horror novel?
Thanks for sharing
Kind regards
A fan 🇦🇺🙏
Okay. I'm intrigued.
It's definitely worth reading
always enjoy your introduction on different type of books.. This book might be a little too disturbing for me. ... I have read many different books over the years.. My dad read an older book ..Papilion.. did you ever read that book?.. Its during war time, but it is quite interesting..
I’m putting it on my pile of possibilities.
No I haven't read it. I'll leave the horror arms race to the the adherants.
Olly, I have a question, I have literally no limits, so I'm wondering, in all the books you've read, what was the most disturbing? I'm always looking for that one book.
haven't read it but I suspect Hogg
@@RyanLisbon actually I have read that one, honestly, just got bored, it's a book of pretty much the same thing over and over again
He has a video about it. It's a book called "Notice." and I think the video is called "The most disturbing book I've ever read." From about a year or so ago.
@@riomadre thank you, I'll have to have a look at that one 🙂
Well, I'mfinding this book enjoyable. The lazy parts of the book found a way to my funny bone.
The author has a gross name. With a name like that, I don't think she had a choice.
Like Lord of the flies, it seems a bit anti boy. Also bit over the top.
That's what you got out of it? The main instigator of the horrible things that happen is female.
🖤💚
Would you be willing to spoil the ending for me? I'm unsure whether I would be able to handle this or not, but I'm very intrigued.
There are others here.
@jefferybeckman5231 Sorry, I'm not sure I understand your meaning? I know some people post spoiler comments with the comment saying "spoiler'first so that no one is spoilt who doesnt want to be.
No one wants to be "spoilt".
@jefferybeckman5231 i would disagree, some people like to know what happens so they can prepare themselves - or so they know whether they could handle a peice of media. For example, I might want to read a book, but I really struggle with readong about animal violence, so I would like animal violence to be "spoilt" for me before reading a book so I can make an informed choice whether the book is something I would like to read or would rather avoid reading.
You say "spoilt", I say "spoiled". Let's call the whole thing off.