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Don‘t.
Saw this on a list of “best underrated horror novels”. I was duped.
The book is told from 6-year-old Kassandra‘s POV. She‘s abused, has extreme violent tendencies, and is grossly precociously sexual.
Also, because K is so far removed from reality and understanding of what‘s happening around her, the book doesn‘t make any sense. It‘s like watching David Lynch murder a kitten.
⚠️ animal abuse
⚠️ child abuse
⚠️ sexual assault

"Mr. Aris talks so much he's like a book, which is why I always pay attention to him when he comes to the end, and then make up the beginning myself."

"One day, my mother, Kassandra, brought me a lovely doll as a present. She was big, and she had yellow strings instead of hair. I put her to sleep in her box, but first I cut off her legs and arms so she'd fit. Later, I cut her head off too, so she wouldn't be so heavy. Now I love her very much."

One of the most distinctive books I've read. Reminds me of Unica Zürn's Dark Spring. Surreal, poetic, fable-like short chapters told by a child narrator. Nightmarish fairytales that are, to borrow from one of the blurbs, lovely & sinister. The images here will haunt me for a long time. A hard book to recommend because it touches upon sexual abuse, parental neglect, death, suicide, mental illness without quite naming these things for what they are.

Don't even bother.

I haven't started this book yet and book club is tomorrow night.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. 😝

Yet another #TBRTuesday stack to deal with. I'm going to try and pick 12 books for August and see if I can just make it thru the stack. With my ereader as backup/free pick. I am very undisciplined! This stack has a few re-reads I've been jonesing for, too.