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Mary
Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doing her best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself.
But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things.
Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past and inner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and she begins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of an infamous serial killer.
Then the killings begin again.
Mary’s definitely going to find herself.
But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things.
Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past and inner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and she begins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of an infamous serial killer.
Then the killings begin again.
Mary’s definitely going to find herself.
405 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2022
About the author
Nat Cassidy
17 books2,617 followersNat Cassidy writes horror for the page, stage, and screen. His acclaimed novels, including
Mary: An Awakening of Terror
and
Nestlings
, have been featured in best-of lists from Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, NPR, the Chicago Review of Books, the NY Public Library, Paste Magazine, and more, and he was named one of the "writers shaping horror’s next golden age" by Esquire. His award-winning horror plays have been produced throughout New York City and across the United States. He won the NY Innovative Theatre Award for his one-man show about H. P. Lovecraft, another for his play about Caligula, and was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to write the libretto for a short opera (about the end of the world, of course). You've also likely seen Nat on your TV, playing various Bad Guys of the Week on shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, Bull, Quantico, FBI, and many others ... but that's a topic for a different bio. He lives in New York City with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,547 reviews
April 17, 2023
Yeah, I'm probably biased. But in fairness, I have read this book a whole buncha times, so I'm kind of an expert on it, right?
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! If you like things like serial killers, ghosts, the desert, unreliable narrators, metaphysics, etc., I think you will. The Author's Note at the beginning and the Afterword at the end pretty much say everything I was trying to *do* with this book--and the former also offers some spoiler-free content warnings if you'd like them. I also included in the Acknowledgements page a list of the books that were inspirational to me when writing MARY. Maybe I'll recreate that list here on Goodreads--that could be fun ... (UPDATE: I did it! If you look for my bookshelf label "MARY Influences," you can see a whole motley batch o' books that helped inspire MARY.)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! If you like things like serial killers, ghosts, the desert, unreliable narrators, metaphysics, etc., I think you will. The Author's Note at the beginning and the Afterword at the end pretty much say everything I was trying to *do* with this book--and the former also offers some spoiler-free content warnings if you'd like them. I also included in the Acknowledgements page a list of the books that were inspirational to me when writing MARY. Maybe I'll recreate that list here on Goodreads--that could be fun ... (UPDATE: I did it! If you look for my bookshelf label "MARY Influences," you can see a whole motley batch o' books that helped inspire MARY.)
July 5, 2022
I was really surprised to find that this was written by a guy because it's a very good tale of horror centering around mid-life womanhood.
March 22, 2023
In true me fashion, I forgot to update my review after book club lol
BUT
I LOVED IT!!! It ended up being one of my favorites of last year, and is genuinely one of the most unique/memorable reading experiences period. I was never able to predict what was going to happen next, and was never bored. It’s gory, intense, funny (aunt Nadine ohmyGOD), dark, and timely. I’ll never forget Mary, and will be talking about her for years to come.
I can’t wait for whatever comes next from Nat!!!!
BUT
I LOVED IT!!! It ended up being one of my favorites of last year, and is genuinely one of the most unique/memorable reading experiences period. I was never able to predict what was going to happen next, and was never bored. It’s gory, intense, funny (aunt Nadine ohmyGOD), dark, and timely. I’ll never forget Mary, and will be talking about her for years to come.
I can’t wait for whatever comes next from Nat!!!!
February 23, 2023
This will NOT be a book for everyone but it really worked for me. I especially appreciate the Authors Note in the beginning as well as the Afterward. I’m gonna miss Mary 🥹
October 12, 2022
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/TInqowqF-Lc
The little girl with beetles crawling out of her mouth?!?! I need a movie ASAP!
This is stunning in so many ways. The writing is descriptively grotesque while eerily beautiful at the same time. You want to look away but you can't. You're mesmerized but terrorized simultaneously.
For all of it's highlights, the one gripe that hinders this from being a 4.5 or 5 star is that this book is too long and certain issues were drawn out to the point of feeling tedious. I'm a woman. I relate to or at least respect everything Cassidy brought to the table about how hard and unfair it is to be a woman and an aging woman at that. The beauty standards, the financial instability, the being too-much but not-enough, the having to have a man or you're broken and worthless. There are so many fantastic problems brought up in this book and that's something I adore about horror.
On the flip side, it is brought up far too often and with such depth that it did get a bit boring after a while. I felt like we were spending 85% of the book in Mary's insecurities instead of any action or outside eeriness being addressed.
Now, before y'all jump down my throat, I understand that that is the point. The point of this horror is that the horror is really the world's expectations of women and how we destroy ourselves and each other to the same intensity that the world destroys us. I GET THAT. But that doesn't mean I have to enjoy the way it was said. I enjoy Nat Cassidy's intention. I just wish it had been edited down a bit so as not to become drawn out (in my opinion!)
The little girl with beetles crawling out of her mouth?!?! I need a movie ASAP!
This is stunning in so many ways. The writing is descriptively grotesque while eerily beautiful at the same time. You want to look away but you can't. You're mesmerized but terrorized simultaneously.
For all of it's highlights, the one gripe that hinders this from being a 4.5 or 5 star is that this book is too long and certain issues were drawn out to the point of feeling tedious. I'm a woman. I relate to or at least respect everything Cassidy brought to the table about how hard and unfair it is to be a woman and an aging woman at that. The beauty standards, the financial instability, the being too-much but not-enough, the having to have a man or you're broken and worthless. There are so many fantastic problems brought up in this book and that's something I adore about horror.
On the flip side, it is brought up far too often and with such depth that it did get a bit boring after a while. I felt like we were spending 85% of the book in Mary's insecurities instead of any action or outside eeriness being addressed.
Now, before y'all jump down my throat, I understand that that is the point. The point of this horror is that the horror is really the world's expectations of women and how we destroy ourselves and each other to the same intensity that the world destroys us. I GET THAT. But that doesn't mean I have to enjoy the way it was said. I enjoy Nat Cassidy's intention. I just wish it had been edited down a bit so as not to become drawn out (in my opinion!)
December 10, 2022
I couldn’t get over how poorly written this was. The main character is probably the most bland, unlikeable character I’ve ever encountered, and the absolute clusterfuck of a plot redeems nothing. What was the point of any of it? So many twists and turns, none of them surprising or meaningful.
The whole book is quite serious and then we have a character saying things like “queef” as a joke. She kills her aunt by stuffing porcelain statues down her throat and somehow when she becomes a ghost, she’s cracking jokes and hovering around like this is a Disney movie.
Why are we referencing demons and religion, but then none of that is even relevant, however reincarnation - oh, that part is real. Seeing ghosts? Real. Oh wait, and the ghosts are actually furies, not ghosts. You know, from Greek mythology. Throw that in there. And they can touch people (only if someone encourages them, though.) And it’s a book about middle age - actually, no, it’s a book about misogyny. Wait, no, it’s a book about accepting death. Except, okay, it’s actually about - ope, I just realized I don’t care.
After reading the mention of Azazel, I was hoping we’d see some cool theological horror a la Hereditary, but alas, that was just me getting my hopes up. Would not recommend.
The whole book is quite serious and then we have a character saying things like “queef” as a joke. She kills her aunt by stuffing porcelain statues down her throat and somehow when she becomes a ghost, she’s cracking jokes and hovering around like this is a Disney movie.
Why are we referencing demons and religion, but then none of that is even relevant, however reincarnation - oh, that part is real. Seeing ghosts? Real. Oh wait, and the ghosts are actually furies, not ghosts. You know, from Greek mythology. Throw that in there. And they can touch people (only if someone encourages them, though.) And it’s a book about middle age - actually, no, it’s a book about misogyny. Wait, no, it’s a book about accepting death. Except, okay, it’s actually about - ope, I just realized I don’t care.
After reading the mention of Azazel, I was hoping we’d see some cool theological horror a la Hereditary, but alas, that was just me getting my hopes up. Would not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 8, 2023MARY by Nat Cassidy (debut horror novel)
Release Date: July 2022
General genre: Adult horror
Subgenre: Murder mystery, small-town, cults, serial killer, psychological
Writing Style: humorous, reads like a thriller, Intricately plotted, suspenseful
What you need to know: Mary's body has been going through some changes, she believes this is due to being perimenopausal. Some of the symptoms are quite severe like delusions, visions, and hearing voices. After being fired from her job at a bookstore in NYC, she moves back to her hometown in Arizona to live with her ailing aunt Nadine, who needs a caretaker. There, the perimenopausal symptoms get even worse, she's haunted by murdered women and her own past.
My reading experience: At one point in the story, Mary says something to her Aunt Nadine's dog, Chipotle (they say it like chip-oh-dull, haha), and the actress, Jennifer Coolidge got in my mind and stayed for the duration of this book, which was genius. This book is a clever balance between horror and comedy. The characters, especially Aunt Nadine, are larger-than-life. The dialogue exchanges between Nadine and Mary are intense. There's an obvious power dynamic between them. Nadine is verbally abusive and mean, but then as soon as Mary is on her own, there's a transformation. It was tough to know how to feel about Mary, she's a complicated narrator.
I think the middle of the book gets bogged down a little and could have used some thinning out somewhere in order to keep the momentum moving at a good pace. I didn't lose interest but I did find myself wanting to read faster or skim unnecessary details a few times. Toward the last third of the book, the plot is BANANAS and it speeds to its climax.
My final recommendation: This is an original, quirky, fun book that no two readers will experience quite the same. The reading discoveries are exciting and thrilling. Cassidy has a skilled storytelling voice capable of intense, graphic imagery and scary scenes as well as laugh-out-loud humor.
Comps: Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey, Carrie by Stephen King, and Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts
Release Date: July 2022
General genre: Adult horror
Subgenre: Murder mystery, small-town, cults, serial killer, psychological
Writing Style: humorous, reads like a thriller, Intricately plotted, suspenseful
What you need to know: Mary's body has been going through some changes, she believes this is due to being perimenopausal. Some of the symptoms are quite severe like delusions, visions, and hearing voices. After being fired from her job at a bookstore in NYC, she moves back to her hometown in Arizona to live with her ailing aunt Nadine, who needs a caretaker. There, the perimenopausal symptoms get even worse, she's haunted by murdered women and her own past.
My reading experience: At one point in the story, Mary says something to her Aunt Nadine's dog, Chipotle (they say it like chip-oh-dull, haha), and the actress, Jennifer Coolidge got in my mind and stayed for the duration of this book, which was genius. This book is a clever balance between horror and comedy. The characters, especially Aunt Nadine, are larger-than-life. The dialogue exchanges between Nadine and Mary are intense. There's an obvious power dynamic between them. Nadine is verbally abusive and mean, but then as soon as Mary is on her own, there's a transformation. It was tough to know how to feel about Mary, she's a complicated narrator.
I think the middle of the book gets bogged down a little and could have used some thinning out somewhere in order to keep the momentum moving at a good pace. I didn't lose interest but I did find myself wanting to read faster or skim unnecessary details a few times. Toward the last third of the book, the plot is BANANAS and it speeds to its climax.
My final recommendation: This is an original, quirky, fun book that no two readers will experience quite the same. The reading discoveries are exciting and thrilling. Cassidy has a skilled storytelling voice capable of intense, graphic imagery and scary scenes as well as laugh-out-loud humor.
Comps: Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey, Carrie by Stephen King, and Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts
June 21, 2023
Mary Mudgett is your typical middle aged woman. Sort of. She's just about to turn 50 and perimenopausal. She's also been experiencing weird hallucinations and a fear of looking in the mirror. Her doctor just brushes her off that everything is normal. All these feelings are typical. It's menopause, now stop talking crazy and move along, I have another patient to see type of attitude.
One word of advice: Do NOT call her crazy
Mary knows what's happening to her isn't normal. Nothing about any of this is normal. When her Aunt Nadine calls her from Arizona, asking for her help due to poor health, Mary makes the move from NYC. Perhaps going home will grant her some much needed clarity. Then again, maybe the chaos of her mind will be unleashed for all of us to bare witness to.
Oh, how I adored Mary and her foul-mouthed and cruel Aunt Nadine. Now that probably sounds CRAZY but these characters just came to life for me. I am a perimenopausal middle aged woman after all so I felt Mary was like a kindred spirit of sorts. Her Aunt Nadine was just downright funny in the most vile of ways. I got such a kick out of her. Now just to be clear this isn't all laughs. Heck no. There is a lot of blood, guts, and gore spraying in every direction you look. 🙈
My one and only complaint is that this story is a little bloated. A story of this kind doesn't really need to be more than 400 pages and while I was never really bored I still felt like this could have been trimmed down quite a bit without losing it's magic. Occasionally I would look down to see how much time I had left to read and would be shocked that I still had so much more to go. It was like how much horror can one woman face and Nat Cassidy said "Hold my beer!" and started clacking away at his keyboard. Truly, though, this is a minor complaint because I really did enjoy this immensely. 4 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
One word of advice: Do NOT call her crazy
Mary knows what's happening to her isn't normal. Nothing about any of this is normal. When her Aunt Nadine calls her from Arizona, asking for her help due to poor health, Mary makes the move from NYC. Perhaps going home will grant her some much needed clarity. Then again, maybe the chaos of her mind will be unleashed for all of us to bare witness to.
Oh, how I adored Mary and her foul-mouthed and cruel Aunt Nadine. Now that probably sounds CRAZY but these characters just came to life for me. I am a perimenopausal middle aged woman after all so I felt Mary was like a kindred spirit of sorts. Her Aunt Nadine was just downright funny in the most vile of ways. I got such a kick out of her. Now just to be clear this isn't all laughs. Heck no. There is a lot of blood, guts, and gore spraying in every direction you look. 🙈
My one and only complaint is that this story is a little bloated. A story of this kind doesn't really need to be more than 400 pages and while I was never really bored I still felt like this could have been trimmed down quite a bit without losing it's magic. Occasionally I would look down to see how much time I had left to read and would be shocked that I still had so much more to go. It was like how much horror can one woman face and Nat Cassidy said "Hold my beer!" and started clacking away at his keyboard. Truly, though, this is a minor complaint because I really did enjoy this immensely. 4 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
July 25, 2022
Mary has been, well, weird and unremarkable her whole life. Just another middle-aged woman trying to get through life without a fuss. Due to financial reasons, she finds herself having to move back home to help take care of her aunt. The home being the site of an infamous serial killer that was gunned down by the police 49 years ago. In fact, he died when Mary drew her first breath in this world. Upon arrival, the murders start up again. This town has deep secrets and its prodigal son has returned, although not in the way you would expect.
August 21, 2023
The final 10% of this book were pretty good, the other 90% was like a party that's not great but not quite bad enough to make me want to leave. That probably sounds worst than it should, I didn't hate my time with the book I was just mildly bored, the writing wasn't bad but I didn't feel engaged or invested in anything happening.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
September 24, 2022
This simply was just not the book for me. I really didn’t like the author's writing style and his characterizing, it just felt very one dimensional (especially the main character). It felt like a parody of a classic horror story.
DNF @ 40%
DNF @ 40%
August 16, 2022
4.5 stars
A snarky and gory peri-menopausal homage to Carrie, Mary: An Awakening of Terror somehow satisfies the craving for 2 styles of horror: brutal violence and provocative commentary. With the titular Mary being an unremarkable woman in her late 40s, there's a constant compare and contrast between society's lack of expectation and desire for unmarried women in that age, and her gradual control and understanding over her supernatural power. I find Nat Cassidy's writing to be extremely engaging, boasting a consistent level of hysterical energy, and at times morbidly sarcastic; which softens the overly generous page count that can probably use some further trimming.
Mary feels 'unhinged' from start to finish, which is meant as a compliment because I appreciate when a story is intentionally straying away from common tropes and formulaic arcs. I did not anticipate the heightened violence (maybe take caution if animal cruelty is a trigger), the fantastical tone of its narrative (the novel starts out ominous and haunting but quickly becomes something more 'lively' and bombastic), and finding a particular antagonistic character ultimately endearing and likable.
Yes, Mary: An Awakening of Terror is a little chaotic, and leans on the side of 'it really doesn't need to be this long', but I thoroughly enjoyed its unique vision and bespoke execution (I'll look at so many inanimate objects differently now) — think Carrie + Hereditary + Silent Hill (primarily the 2006 movie) and you'll get the general vibe of this novel.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A snarky and gory peri-menopausal homage to Carrie, Mary: An Awakening of Terror somehow satisfies the craving for 2 styles of horror: brutal violence and provocative commentary. With the titular Mary being an unremarkable woman in her late 40s, there's a constant compare and contrast between society's lack of expectation and desire for unmarried women in that age, and her gradual control and understanding over her supernatural power. I find Nat Cassidy's writing to be extremely engaging, boasting a consistent level of hysterical energy, and at times morbidly sarcastic; which softens the overly generous page count that can probably use some further trimming.
Mary feels 'unhinged' from start to finish, which is meant as a compliment because I appreciate when a story is intentionally straying away from common tropes and formulaic arcs. I did not anticipate the heightened violence (maybe take caution if animal cruelty is a trigger), the fantastical tone of its narrative (the novel starts out ominous and haunting but quickly becomes something more 'lively' and bombastic), and finding a particular antagonistic character ultimately endearing and likable.
Yes, Mary: An Awakening of Terror is a little chaotic, and leans on the side of 'it really doesn't need to be this long', but I thoroughly enjoyed its unique vision and bespoke execution (I'll look at so many inanimate objects differently now) — think Carrie + Hereditary + Silent Hill (primarily the 2006 movie) and you'll get the general vibe of this novel.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
November 25, 2023
The narrator of this one went way beyond just “good.”
September 6, 2022
My god, I so loved this book! I think I will write a more detailed review later, but I first want the greatness to sink in...
Edit; so here is my long review and I even wrote a longer one on my blog (https://proteandepravity.blogspot.com...), but that one is slightly spoilered, so better leave it there!
Nat Cassidy's Mary: An Awakening of Terror focuses on a woman who hears voices and hallucinates returning to her home town Arroyo, Arizona, where these symptoms worsen; here she also discovers many things about herself, some of them unpleasant, she either didn't know or suppressed the memory of. In Arroyo, not only does she tackle her aunt who does nothing but tantalize her instead of helping but also a desert town full of religious freaks and a mysterious history involving a serial killer. All this background will mix and build up into a progressively intense and hellish fever dream, resulting in a glorious climax in which Mary gains very unexpected allies and starts drawing strength and confidence in herself!
Mary and I, that was love from the very first lines. All the while I was reading this book, I was smitten and couldn't stop thinking about it - I stayed in the subway for a little longer and missed my station in order to read just one more chapter, I was anxious to get home from work so I could continue reading and stayed up late reading myself to sleep. I always wonder and ponder about books which can do that to me and ask "why?", why is it that this book could (in this case, literally) hook its claws on me?
Well, for once, I realized that although I don't yet face the same crises Mary has to weather in her life, I am surrounded by many Mary's - women who are forgotten, overlooked, ignored, belittled as they get older. There are some doctor scenes in this book in which Mary’s problems get repeatedly dismissed as menopause and these scenes are especially significant, many women of any age will recognize this kind of dismissal of symptoms as either period or eating problems. It is very commendable that Cassidy highlights this bias to show that what’s going on here is that Mary, as an aging woman who wants nothing more than to be noticed, to be taken seriously, is not being given any worth.
There is one reference in Mary which is hard to miss; Stephen King's debut novel Carrie (1974), in which an oppressed and bullied young girl gains unexpected powers once her menstruation kicks in. In his foreword to Mary, Nat Cassidy credits and makes a point in noting the strong mark King's titular figure left on him - up to the point where he, as a young boy, elevated her to a kind of matron saint due to her suffering, after seeing and being left shocked and awed by the sight of a bloodied, iconic Sissy Spacek playing Carrie White in the 1976 movie. In his appropriately entitled afterword "What's This Asshole Doing Writing a Book About Menopause?", he adds that he aimed at closing a certain circle - Carrie being on the opening side of reproductive/cycle horror, while Mary representing the middle age/closure. He also emphasizes the responsibility of men in fighting patriarchy.
Bottom line is, Cassidy's debut horror novel absolutely struck a chord with me and is definitely worth your time; lots of patriarchal anxiety smashed, tons of gore and blood, epic confrontations and ants! My god, ants everywhere, and also claws...
Edit; so here is my long review and I even wrote a longer one on my blog (https://proteandepravity.blogspot.com...), but that one is slightly spoilered, so better leave it there!
Nat Cassidy's Mary: An Awakening of Terror focuses on a woman who hears voices and hallucinates returning to her home town Arroyo, Arizona, where these symptoms worsen; here she also discovers many things about herself, some of them unpleasant, she either didn't know or suppressed the memory of. In Arroyo, not only does she tackle her aunt who does nothing but tantalize her instead of helping but also a desert town full of religious freaks and a mysterious history involving a serial killer. All this background will mix and build up into a progressively intense and hellish fever dream, resulting in a glorious climax in which Mary gains very unexpected allies and starts drawing strength and confidence in herself!
Mary and I, that was love from the very first lines. All the while I was reading this book, I was smitten and couldn't stop thinking about it - I stayed in the subway for a little longer and missed my station in order to read just one more chapter, I was anxious to get home from work so I could continue reading and stayed up late reading myself to sleep. I always wonder and ponder about books which can do that to me and ask "why?", why is it that this book could (in this case, literally) hook its claws on me?
Well, for once, I realized that although I don't yet face the same crises Mary has to weather in her life, I am surrounded by many Mary's - women who are forgotten, overlooked, ignored, belittled as they get older. There are some doctor scenes in this book in which Mary’s problems get repeatedly dismissed as menopause and these scenes are especially significant, many women of any age will recognize this kind of dismissal of symptoms as either period or eating problems. It is very commendable that Cassidy highlights this bias to show that what’s going on here is that Mary, as an aging woman who wants nothing more than to be noticed, to be taken seriously, is not being given any worth.
There is one reference in Mary which is hard to miss; Stephen King's debut novel Carrie (1974), in which an oppressed and bullied young girl gains unexpected powers once her menstruation kicks in. In his foreword to Mary, Nat Cassidy credits and makes a point in noting the strong mark King's titular figure left on him - up to the point where he, as a young boy, elevated her to a kind of matron saint due to her suffering, after seeing and being left shocked and awed by the sight of a bloodied, iconic Sissy Spacek playing Carrie White in the 1976 movie. In his appropriately entitled afterword "What's This Asshole Doing Writing a Book About Menopause?", he adds that he aimed at closing a certain circle - Carrie being on the opening side of reproductive/cycle horror, while Mary representing the middle age/closure. He also emphasizes the responsibility of men in fighting patriarchy.
Bottom line is, Cassidy's debut horror novel absolutely struck a chord with me and is definitely worth your time; lots of patriarchal anxiety smashed, tons of gore and blood, epic confrontations and ants! My god, ants everywhere, and also claws...
June 8, 2022
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
FYI, this book has a very long trigger warning, and I suggest that you read it and decide if you want to read this book or skip it.
Initial thoughts: Not a lot to say except this book dragged on forever. I don’t know where the author was going with things and I just gave up after a while. There’s some interesting ideas here and there, but the full execution was too much. The book is stuffed with ghosts, reincarnation, murder, etc. and this is supposed to be a homage of sorts to Carrie which I still don’t get.
"Mary" follows almost 50 year old Mary who is called home by her aunt from New York. It's a good time for Mary to leave New York since she just got fired, and found out her rent is going to be so high she won't be able to afford it. But her returning to the small desert town of Arroyo feels Mary with dread. Mary doesn't have a lot of memories after her parents died in a fire, but she knows she was bullied and unhappy. Packing her "Loved Ones" (I hope you like seeing those words) which are porcelain dolls with her, Mary returns to her Aunt Nadine. But being back home brings something ugly and angry back to life in Mary, and she slowly starts to try to investigate the town's history and her connection to a serial killer who was shot dead by the police almost 50 years ago.
So here's the thing, this is gory, but that didn't put me off. What put me off was how boring and fragmented this entire book was. It goes on forever and at times I just gave up trying to work out what was happening to whom and why. I think there was some interesting parts of it (the linkage between Greek mythology and all of that) but it gets buried in this book. Mary is honestly not an interesting character, and I think we were supposed to root for her, similar to Carrie, but the whole book had me going what is going on now. I don't know. I just wish more parts had been explained. Instead there felt like there was a lot of hand waving and plot holes here and there.
I did like that Mary who is going through peri-menopausal incidents right now is dealing with trying to tamper he rage down. So kind of a reverse Carrie. For people who read that book, we all know that Carrie came into her own after she got her period. But that really was the only similarities I saw. Especially since we had a ton of reveals that showed us who Mary really was as a kid before she got "sent away." Another reviewer mentioned being in Mary's mind for over 400 pages was a lot, and honestly it was. I think it would have been better to break up the book a bit to just give us another POV besides the sheriff at the very beginning of the book.
The ending was a letdown. There's a twist (that I saw coming) and then we just have more of the same apparently.
FYI, this book has a very long trigger warning, and I suggest that you read it and decide if you want to read this book or skip it.
Initial thoughts: Not a lot to say except this book dragged on forever. I don’t know where the author was going with things and I just gave up after a while. There’s some interesting ideas here and there, but the full execution was too much. The book is stuffed with ghosts, reincarnation, murder, etc. and this is supposed to be a homage of sorts to Carrie which I still don’t get.
"Mary" follows almost 50 year old Mary who is called home by her aunt from New York. It's a good time for Mary to leave New York since she just got fired, and found out her rent is going to be so high she won't be able to afford it. But her returning to the small desert town of Arroyo feels Mary with dread. Mary doesn't have a lot of memories after her parents died in a fire, but she knows she was bullied and unhappy. Packing her "Loved Ones" (I hope you like seeing those words) which are porcelain dolls with her, Mary returns to her Aunt Nadine. But being back home brings something ugly and angry back to life in Mary, and she slowly starts to try to investigate the town's history and her connection to a serial killer who was shot dead by the police almost 50 years ago.
So here's the thing, this is gory, but that didn't put me off. What put me off was how boring and fragmented this entire book was. It goes on forever and at times I just gave up trying to work out what was happening to whom and why. I think there was some interesting parts of it (the linkage between Greek mythology and all of that) but it gets buried in this book. Mary is honestly not an interesting character, and I think we were supposed to root for her, similar to Carrie, but the whole book had me going what is going on now. I don't know. I just wish more parts had been explained. Instead there felt like there was a lot of hand waving and plot holes here and there.
I did like that Mary who is going through peri-menopausal incidents right now is dealing with trying to tamper he rage down. So kind of a reverse Carrie. For people who read that book, we all know that Carrie came into her own after she got her period. But that really was the only similarities I saw. Especially since we had a ton of reveals that showed us who Mary really was as a kid before she got "sent away." Another reviewer mentioned being in Mary's mind for over 400 pages was a lot, and honestly it was. I think it would have been better to break up the book a bit to just give us another POV besides the sheriff at the very beginning of the book.
The ending was a letdown. There's a twist (that I saw coming) and then we just have more of the same apparently.
July 24, 2023
Memory is a mansion with rooms upon rooms.
This novel was a fucking sojourn! It's about female rage, and claiming your corporeal and spectral being. It's about taking up space, and the power each of us has to influence the world around us whether we see it or not.
It's hard to believe a man wrote this. Not because its about a woman going through peri-menopause, but because of its insight in to the female condition. The writing is witty, thoughtful, and atmospheric, reminiscent of T. Kingfisher. The rich desert setting with an odd community of inhabitants reminded me of Sundial by Catriona Ward. I would also compare his writing to Sara Gran based solely on a vibe that I can't for the life of me put into earthly words.
The audiobook, narrated by Susan Bennett, was fantastic! Without giving spoilers, this novel has some elements that would be challenging to pull off for many narrators, and Susan Bennett reads it beautifully. She really personifies Mary's character in an endearing, vulnerable, and powerful way. This is one audiobook that enhances the storytelling in a beautiful way. Brava!
This is a bit of a slow burn, so go into it with that expectation. And, though each chapter in Mary's journey is wild, riveting, and chaotic, this isn't one to read for the twists. Rather, it is an exploration of human nature and finding oneself. My favorite horror novels use monsters or ghosts etc. as a metaphor for the things that haunt us in life. This story does just that, and so well!
Highly recommend!
This novel was a fucking sojourn! It's about female rage, and claiming your corporeal and spectral being. It's about taking up space, and the power each of us has to influence the world around us whether we see it or not.
It's hard to believe a man wrote this. Not because its about a woman going through peri-menopause, but because of its insight in to the female condition. The writing is witty, thoughtful, and atmospheric, reminiscent of T. Kingfisher. The rich desert setting with an odd community of inhabitants reminded me of Sundial by Catriona Ward. I would also compare his writing to Sara Gran based solely on a vibe that I can't for the life of me put into earthly words.
The audiobook, narrated by Susan Bennett, was fantastic! Without giving spoilers, this novel has some elements that would be challenging to pull off for many narrators, and Susan Bennett reads it beautifully. She really personifies Mary's character in an endearing, vulnerable, and powerful way. This is one audiobook that enhances the storytelling in a beautiful way. Brava!
This is a bit of a slow burn, so go into it with that expectation. And, though each chapter in Mary's journey is wild, riveting, and chaotic, this isn't one to read for the twists. Rather, it is an exploration of human nature and finding oneself. My favorite horror novels use monsters or ghosts etc. as a metaphor for the things that haunt us in life. This story does just that, and so well!
Highly recommend!
July 21, 2022
The cover and the description really sucked me in, and will likely do the same to other women of a certain age (yes that is me!)
How clever, (I thought) to take what is already a difficult transition in a woman's life and turn it into a horror novel. I thought this was a novel about a woman who had suffered some trauma or breakdown in her life, now trying to cope with menopause and further emotional and physical upset. Mary is about to have her 50th birthday, and she is going through some normal and not-so-normal experiences. Unfortunately, Mary is also an unreliable narrator and this book is full of unlikable characters.
At first, I could somewhat relate to her, the feeling invisible, the avoidance of mirrors. The story has a really strong beginning with creepy scenes and some humor too. Then it sort of peters out and turns into a draggy slow paced festival of weirdness that is too out there even for me. And that is really saying something. I'm not that bothered that a male author attempted to write from the viewpoint of a menopausal woman, in fact, kudos for even trying to understand. I have no problem with male authors writing female characters or vice versa. It just didn't really work for me. It tried to combine too many elements into one plot that stretched on for too long. You may enjoy it more than I did.
My thanks to Tor Nightfire
How clever, (I thought) to take what is already a difficult transition in a woman's life and turn it into a horror novel. I thought this was a novel about a woman who had suffered some trauma or breakdown in her life, now trying to cope with menopause and further emotional and physical upset. Mary is about to have her 50th birthday, and she is going through some normal and not-so-normal experiences. Unfortunately, Mary is also an unreliable narrator and this book is full of unlikable characters.
At first, I could somewhat relate to her, the feeling invisible, the avoidance of mirrors. The story has a really strong beginning with creepy scenes and some humor too. Then it sort of peters out and turns into a draggy slow paced festival of weirdness that is too out there even for me. And that is really saying something. I'm not that bothered that a male author attempted to write from the viewpoint of a menopausal woman, in fact, kudos for even trying to understand. I have no problem with male authors writing female characters or vice versa. It just didn't really work for me. It tried to combine too many elements into one plot that stretched on for too long. You may enjoy it more than I did.
My thanks to Tor Nightfire
July 21, 2024
Mary wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Nat Cassidy's writing is excellent--nice flow, easy to consume, but the first half of this book was a challenge for me. It was slow and a bit repetitive. I didn't like the main character and I didn't like that I knew where the book was going long before she did, forcing me to wait for her to catch up.
I could have been a Stalin but I was born with Nadia’s body
That being said, the second half of the book was phenomenal. I grew to appreciate Mary, to understand and root her her. The pace picked up, as did the action. The townspeople showed their ugliness and horror started coming together.
There were a few fantastic scenes of true darkness and body horror. A few that made me cringe away as a woman, which is always impressive. The themes, despite being a tale of cults and serial killing, really boiled down to the indignities of being a woman and growing older. It was quite tragic, really.
3 stars for the first half and 5 stars for the second half.
I could have been a Stalin but I was born with Nadia’s body
That being said, the second half of the book was phenomenal. I grew to appreciate Mary, to understand and root her her. The pace picked up, as did the action. The townspeople showed their ugliness and horror started coming together.
There were a few fantastic scenes of true darkness and body horror. A few that made me cringe away as a woman, which is always impressive. The themes, despite being a tale of cults and serial killing, really boiled down to the indignities of being a woman and growing older. It was quite tragic, really.
3 stars for the first half and 5 stars for the second half.
July 22, 2022
This book has been on my TBR for months—c’mon, once you see this cover, it’s impossible to not be intrigued, right?! The ominous cover only alludes to what may be one of the most bizarre and creepy reads I’ve read this year.
The story focuses mainly on the lead protagonist, Mary. She’s turning 50 and has always felt invisible. She’s ignored at work, she’s single and has no prospects, and people tend treat her like she’s invisible. That being said, after she gets a call from her eccentric and cruel aunt, Mary returns to the quiet rural town she had grown up. Mary realizes this is the perfect time to escape New York after being fired from her job, but quickly notices that she has bigger issues at hand. Mary starts to see entities around her—mutilated and graphic, these entities are trying to speak to her. However, Mary has no idea what or who they want.
I read this book in one sitting on my 9 hour flight back to NYC and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a bit longer than I expected, but the story never really has any lull periods. This book kept my attention 100% during full blown jet lag and that’s saying something. I can totally see this book being optioned into film and I’m sure it’ll be utterly terrifying. This book also dives into social topics that aren’t really discussed to much—perimenopause and the treatment of women once they reach a certain age. This book is provocative and intense, so expect a lot of graphic depictions of violence. I can’t wait to read what Nat Cassidy has up his sleeve next.
The story focuses mainly on the lead protagonist, Mary. She’s turning 50 and has always felt invisible. She’s ignored at work, she’s single and has no prospects, and people tend treat her like she’s invisible. That being said, after she gets a call from her eccentric and cruel aunt, Mary returns to the quiet rural town she had grown up. Mary realizes this is the perfect time to escape New York after being fired from her job, but quickly notices that she has bigger issues at hand. Mary starts to see entities around her—mutilated and graphic, these entities are trying to speak to her. However, Mary has no idea what or who they want.
I read this book in one sitting on my 9 hour flight back to NYC and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a bit longer than I expected, but the story never really has any lull periods. This book kept my attention 100% during full blown jet lag and that’s saying something. I can totally see this book being optioned into film and I’m sure it’ll be utterly terrifying. This book also dives into social topics that aren’t really discussed to much—perimenopause and the treatment of women once they reach a certain age. This book is provocative and intense, so expect a lot of graphic depictions of violence. I can’t wait to read what Nat Cassidy has up his sleeve next.
July 31, 2022
What nonsense. The premise had so much potential: what happened if Stephen King’s Carrie was a middle aged woman and had a chance to confront her bullies? The in the prologue the author gives a “promise” that the misogyny and violence will be worth it. Spoiler: it’s not. This is a bad attempt to be the next Stephen King, the gratuitous violence is pointless, women enact more violence against each other than the men who have power, and the plot holes are as numerous as the specters. I suffered so you don’t have to; skip this one.
September 8, 2023
This book had a lot going on.
August 6, 2024
i support women's wrongs
summerween vlog: https://youtu.be/QZs7fkGeMu0
summerween vlog: https://youtu.be/QZs7fkGeMu0
September 25, 2023
Behold, the perimenopausal woman has awakened!
In Mary: An Awakening of Terror, Nat Cassidy explores what happens when a serial killer is reincarnated as a perimenopausal woman. Originally inspired by Steven King’s Carrie, the author began writing this horror novel when he was just thirteen years old. He questions why our society does not celebrate menopause. In his view, women need to be seen, not dismissed. The plot revolves around a cult’s misogynistic views, which live long past their leader’s demise.
Mary Mudgett is a lonely perimenopausal woman living in New York City. When she receives a phone call from her Aunt Nadine in Arroyo, Arizona, she returns to the town that ousted her as a child in order to take care of her. However, despite menopause, Mary has been experiencing disturbing feelings and visions. What is wrong with Mary? By returning to her hometown, will she find the answers she seeks?
This book has been on my TBR for a long time. So when the audiobook became available on Libby, I jumped at the chance to listen to it. Susan Bennett and Nat Cassidy’s narrations are 5 star academy award worthy performances! I highly recommend listening to this book!
I absolutely adore Aunt Nadine’s darkly sarcastic and humorous character. Susan Bennet perfectly captures her wit and personality. I could listen to an entire book about Aunt Nadine!
The quotes from Kate Chopin’s The Awakening before each section of the book are very clever. It is one of my favorite novels to read and teach, and their meanings connect to this plot as well.
There is just one caveat…this book is too long and confusing. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that all of my questions were answered in the end.
Final note: I will forever be afraid of Lladros!
Trigger warnings: cults, animal cruelty
3.5/5 stars rounded up due to 5 star narration
In Mary: An Awakening of Terror, Nat Cassidy explores what happens when a serial killer is reincarnated as a perimenopausal woman. Originally inspired by Steven King’s Carrie, the author began writing this horror novel when he was just thirteen years old. He questions why our society does not celebrate menopause. In his view, women need to be seen, not dismissed. The plot revolves around a cult’s misogynistic views, which live long past their leader’s demise.
Mary Mudgett is a lonely perimenopausal woman living in New York City. When she receives a phone call from her Aunt Nadine in Arroyo, Arizona, she returns to the town that ousted her as a child in order to take care of her. However, despite menopause, Mary has been experiencing disturbing feelings and visions. What is wrong with Mary? By returning to her hometown, will she find the answers she seeks?
This book has been on my TBR for a long time. So when the audiobook became available on Libby, I jumped at the chance to listen to it. Susan Bennett and Nat Cassidy’s narrations are 5 star academy award worthy performances! I highly recommend listening to this book!
I absolutely adore Aunt Nadine’s darkly sarcastic and humorous character. Susan Bennet perfectly captures her wit and personality. I could listen to an entire book about Aunt Nadine!
The quotes from Kate Chopin’s The Awakening before each section of the book are very clever. It is one of my favorite novels to read and teach, and their meanings connect to this plot as well.
There is just one caveat…this book is too long and confusing. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that all of my questions were answered in the end.
Final note: I will forever be afraid of Lladros!
Trigger warnings: cults, animal cruelty
3.5/5 stars rounded up due to 5 star narration
October 3, 2023
If there’s any time to say this, it’s now….. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK? The horror genre has gotten wild ya’ll! I mean… I grew up to King and John Saul. This stuff now has gotten gory gory gory. Wow. Did I like it? Absolutely yes! I enjoyed everything up until the last 100 pages. Then it was kinda all over the place. Lost its way. What went from a five ⭐️book turned into 4 ⭐️.
However, Nat Cassidy is an extremely talented writer. I was surprised this was his first work. It reminded me of The Last House on Needless Street. Quirky and fucked all to hell. And I LOVED The Last House on Needless Street! It was my favorite read of 2021. He sprinkles some humor in that is outright HILARIOUS! I found myself laughing out loud many times.
The story follows Mary. Mary is going through the “change”. She’s having a miserable existence with menopause. Mary lives in New York and works in the basement of a bookstore. As Mary loses her job, she is asked to head back home and take care of her ill aunt, Nadine. Nadine is hilarious AF. This lady’s character is what makes this book so golden. But as Mary arrives to Nadine’s, it just gets wild! Weird stuff isn’t even close to describing the malarkey in this thing. Just be prepared that ANYTHING GOES!
I was this close to making this one of my favorite books ever, however the last 100 pages just faded. I will definitely read his next one, Nestlings coming out at the end of the month.
If you like weird ass stuff with phenomenal writing skills…. This is your jam! Trust me 😜
Trigger warnings- an animal scene…. You already know.
However, Nat Cassidy is an extremely talented writer. I was surprised this was his first work. It reminded me of The Last House on Needless Street. Quirky and fucked all to hell. And I LOVED The Last House on Needless Street! It was my favorite read of 2021. He sprinkles some humor in that is outright HILARIOUS! I found myself laughing out loud many times.
The story follows Mary. Mary is going through the “change”. She’s having a miserable existence with menopause. Mary lives in New York and works in the basement of a bookstore. As Mary loses her job, she is asked to head back home and take care of her ill aunt, Nadine. Nadine is hilarious AF. This lady’s character is what makes this book so golden. But as Mary arrives to Nadine’s, it just gets wild! Weird stuff isn’t even close to describing the malarkey in this thing. Just be prepared that ANYTHING GOES!
I was this close to making this one of my favorite books ever, however the last 100 pages just faded. I will definitely read his next one, Nestlings coming out at the end of the month.
If you like weird ass stuff with phenomenal writing skills…. This is your jam! Trust me 😜
Trigger warnings- an animal scene…. You already know.
December 4, 2024
Mary, you are my hero! I declare this so on behalf of all middle-aged, perimenopausal women living under a careless patriarchy. Nat Cassidy, your momma raised you right! Aside from your author's note, where your devotion to your mom was evident, I can only conclude she taught you well based on how you wrote Mary's transformation.
If I could, I would teach this book as part of a college-level women's studies or feminism class. There is so much symbolism all over the book, including the obvious, like the mirrors, the furies, the ants, the hot flashes, her Loved Ones, etc. I gave Mary and Nat an imaginary chest-bump every time she seethed against being called crazy. And I enjoyed rooting for and watching Mary transform from a nobody (not even she gave herself any consideration) to someone who is on the cusp of extraordinary. Her rage is what drives her, and she didn't even know she had any until she had to use it. I have so much optimism for Mary's future.
The afterword was worth sticking around for. I can't believe Cassidy started this book at age 13. Brilliant. Thank you for speaking on behalf of every woman who has ever been medically gaslit and/or subjected to male doctors who were dismissive of our pain. Thank you for celebrating all the invisible and overlooked women who were put out to pasture. Thank you for being a wonderful ally against the ageism women face, should we be lucky enough to live long enough to have to deal with it.
This was my first Cassidy book. I really look forward to getting to know more of this writer's works.
If I could, I would teach this book as part of a college-level women's studies or feminism class. There is so much symbolism all over the book, including the obvious, like the mirrors, the furies, the ants, the hot flashes, her Loved Ones, etc. I gave Mary and Nat an imaginary chest-bump every time she seethed against being called crazy. And I enjoyed rooting for and watching Mary transform from a nobody (not even she gave herself any consideration) to someone who is on the cusp of extraordinary. Her rage is what drives her, and she didn't even know she had any until she had to use it. I have so much optimism for Mary's future.
The afterword was worth sticking around for. I can't believe Cassidy started this book at age 13. Brilliant. Thank you for speaking on behalf of every woman who has ever been medically gaslit and/or subjected to male doctors who were dismissive of our pain. Thank you for celebrating all the invisible and overlooked women who were put out to pasture. Thank you for being a wonderful ally against the ageism women face, should we be lucky enough to live long enough to have to deal with it.
This was my first Cassidy book. I really look forward to getting to know more of this writer's works.
November 25, 2022
Meh, this book had such potential but I think just got in it's own way trying to figure out what story it wanted to tell. It was like there were two stories struggling to be told. Both could be really cool if either were fleshed out some, but this felt like a bit of a mess when all put together.
Also, if you're going to write a book from the other gender's perspective, don't Mansplain at the end AND the beginning of why you're an enlightened dude so it's okay that you wrote in a womans voice.
Also, if you're going to write a book from the other gender's perspective, don't Mansplain at the end AND the beginning of why you're an enlightened dude so it's okay that you wrote in a womans voice.
November 25, 2023
Why do certain books grab my attention right away and keep me loyally in their hold until their endings? Thanks to my good friend's excellent review of this book (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I asked myself this very same question. In my case, I get a feeling that I am going to appreciate a book once I begin relating to the characters and to the writing style. Everything clicks. Not just the M.C., but others that I particularly like as well, written in a style that delights my brain. Are these people good or evil? Does it really matter? Maybe they are both. Not that I really believe in solid good or evil; they are simply two symbolic extremes, and I dig a little evil in my literature. Sometimes a lot! Mary is a very psychological and detailed thriller that focuses on alienation, the possibilities of the supernatural, and tweaks of the mind and of physicality in order to weave together a fine and intelligent thriller. This is a first novel. I can only imagine how deftly the author penned his sophomore effort. I can't wait to read it.
August 18, 2023
A really well written, thought provoking, gripping and most of all FUN horror novel that throws a bunch of different ideas into the mix and manages to juggle them very successfully
March 15, 2024
An overly-long, sleep-inducing mess. Mary was one of my least favorite characters in recent memory, and to be stuck inside her head for 400 pages was an awakening of terror in and of itself.
Reincarnation, serial killer worshipping cults, ghost gardeners, wiped memories, copycat killers, mystical mirrors. If you’re into unnecessarily bonkers plot turns, superfluous, skimmable details and aggravating characters, I’ve got just the book for you
Reincarnation, serial killer worshipping cults, ghost gardeners, wiped memories, copycat killers, mystical mirrors. If you’re into unnecessarily bonkers plot turns, superfluous, skimmable details and aggravating characters, I’ve got just the book for you
April 27, 2023
This novel had a solid start, with a bloody and intriguing premise that hooked me in immediately. And there's no argument here that Nat Cassidy can write. He really knows his characters. I totally understand why some reviewers have a problem with a man writing an older female protagonist trying to navigate a sexist world, but I think he treats it with care and empathy. (*For the MOST part.) Especially early on, when Mary is treated like a nuisance at a doctor's office and this represents the standard experience for most women in real-life America. Cassidy includes a thoughtful afterword addressing this topic, as well.
I didn't mind the casual tone of the book overall. It felt intimate, and while much of the humor came across as "quirky" it wasn't too tryhard like a lot of things I've read. (With a few mild exceptions near the end.) The narration was conversational and really gave you a window into Mary’s mind.
But there were problems.
The story had a few too many things going on, like the author was juggling numerous concepts and couldn't keep them all in the air so one or two had to be dropped for the sake of keeping the rest moving. Sometimes I don't like keeping my reviews spoiler-free, because I'm unable to rant properly. But I don't want to ruin books for anyone who may want to read them. I’ll just say that there would be long chunks of story where I’d think, “But hey, what about _____ or _____?” It’s a bit convenient that the seemingly biggest threat to Mary's ability to do a bunch of things just disappears for a huge portion of the book without any explanation.
The tone switched a lot. It happens in horror, but for some reason in this book it didn't work for me. The visceral horror was good, but the other supernatural stuff came across as too cutesy to fit in here. It lessened the impact of the core story. One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Frighteners” but that movie wouldn’t combine well with “Carrie” or “Midsommar.” They are three very distinct flavors.
A personal gripe: I was so relieved to have one specific character out of the picture only for them to show back up and be twice as obnoxious, which I didn't even think was possible.
*This story made use of that old chestnut, the classic trope of making someone who's suffered from mental illness turn out to be scary/dangerous/unhinged. Don't you just LOVE to see it?
And are we supposed to root for Mary or against her? Is it a personal choice? After finishing the book I'm still not entirely sure how I felt. I don't dislike her, necessarily, but gee whiz did I keep expecting her to demonstrate enough of a character arc to CHANGE and directly affect her surroundings and she kept disappointing me for a good 75% of the book. It was clear that the story was building to something huge and dramatic but it ended up DRAGGING and I just wanted to finish it and move on to something else. This novel felt like when you're watching a movie and you keep pausing it to see how much is left and you go, "OMG, I'm not even halfway done?!" There were several chapters, especially in the last 1/3, that could've easily been cut.
The ending "twist" was both not surprising and kind of a letdown. There's a major horror franchise I love that did something very similar in one of its installments and I didn’t care for it either time. But that’s just my personal taste.
Overall, this novel was alright but too long. I would definitely read this author again, but “Mary” seemed like it would benefit from a bit of editing.
TW: Animal harm/death, suicidal ideations, abuse, implied sexual assault, scary religious cults
I didn't mind the casual tone of the book overall. It felt intimate, and while much of the humor came across as "quirky" it wasn't too tryhard like a lot of things I've read. (With a few mild exceptions near the end.) The narration was conversational and really gave you a window into Mary’s mind.
But there were problems.
The story had a few too many things going on, like the author was juggling numerous concepts and couldn't keep them all in the air so one or two had to be dropped for the sake of keeping the rest moving. Sometimes I don't like keeping my reviews spoiler-free, because I'm unable to rant properly. But I don't want to ruin books for anyone who may want to read them. I’ll just say that there would be long chunks of story where I’d think, “But hey, what about _____ or _____?” It’s a bit convenient that the seemingly biggest threat to Mary's ability to do a bunch of things just disappears for a huge portion of the book without any explanation.
The tone switched a lot. It happens in horror, but for some reason in this book it didn't work for me. The visceral horror was good, but the other supernatural stuff came across as too cutesy to fit in here. It lessened the impact of the core story. One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Frighteners” but that movie wouldn’t combine well with “Carrie” or “Midsommar.” They are three very distinct flavors.
A personal gripe: I was so relieved to have one specific character out of the picture only for them to show back up and be twice as obnoxious, which I didn't even think was possible.
*This story made use of that old chestnut, the classic trope of making someone who's suffered from mental illness turn out to be scary/dangerous/unhinged. Don't you just LOVE to see it?
And are we supposed to root for Mary or against her? Is it a personal choice? After finishing the book I'm still not entirely sure how I felt. I don't dislike her, necessarily, but gee whiz did I keep expecting her to demonstrate enough of a character arc to CHANGE and directly affect her surroundings and she kept disappointing me for a good 75% of the book. It was clear that the story was building to something huge and dramatic but it ended up DRAGGING and I just wanted to finish it and move on to something else. This novel felt like when you're watching a movie and you keep pausing it to see how much is left and you go, "OMG, I'm not even halfway done?!" There were several chapters, especially in the last 1/3, that could've easily been cut.
The ending "twist" was both not surprising and kind of a letdown. There's a major horror franchise I love that did something very similar in one of its installments and I didn’t care for it either time. But that’s just my personal taste.
Overall, this novel was alright but too long. I would definitely read this author again, but “Mary” seemed like it would benefit from a bit of editing.
TW: Animal harm/death, suicidal ideations, abuse, implied sexual assault, scary religious cults
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