Disquiet

This review can also be found on my blog.
cw domestic abuse; stillbirth

I found this novella in a local thrift shop and picked it up on a whim. I thought the cover was nice and the story sounded interesting – and told myself that even if I didn't like it, I'd only be working through 120 or so pages. I'm glad I went for it because this is one of those hidden gems that I probably never would have found otherwise. It's simply written, but hauntingly beautiful. It's a little odd in a way I can't put my finger on, but also in a way that really piqued my interest. I definitely recommend it and know I'll be picking it up again sometime.

This novella recently got a bit of press and it sounded intriguing so I checked it out. It's a brief story about a family arriving at a large chateau in France. It's written in spare language but manages to set an enveloping gothic mood. The various characters in this extended family have some serious issues that they are dealing with. The central character, a woman, arrives with a broken arm and covered in yellowing bruises. Her sister-in-law arrives with her stillborn baby cradled in her arms. The whole effect is creepy and bizarre in a good way. It's a dark, poetic story. I'd be interested to see what this author does next.