I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Ratings349
Average rating3.7
I'm glad it was relatively short. It did have me wondering different scenarios of what could be happening but in the end I was not surprised and was not very clever IMO.
This author is a fantastic writer and I was completely hooked by this book. About halfway through I started to get vibes that this book was going to either be really fantastic or disappointing depending on the ending. I didn't care for the ending. If you want a different sort of mystery and are curious, pick this one up. It isn't a long book.
Creepy, atmospheric read, with an ending twist that I'm not sure if I like.
I'll keep this as spoiler-free as I can at this point. This thing is 200 pages, and man, does it do a lot in those pages. In a good way. As the story unfolds, there are more and more events that are simply....off-putting. It does a very good job with keeping tension and creating atmosphere. I read along with the audiobook at about 1.5 (for some reason, these audiobooks are always slow). However, about 80 pages out, I slowed down and really took in those pages. It was great. And the last few lines of the novel seem to be instructions to the reader, to read it again, with all of this newfound information regarding life, love, philosophy, psychology, etc. And I love that. There are a lot of things this book has going for it. I had a dream about it last night, and I don't generally dream of books or movies, etc., so it definitely stayed with me.
The twist, I'm just not sure that I like it, to be honest. I'm mulling it over.
3,5 ⭐️
Exactly the feelings of unease I'm looking for and I liked the ending as well
The beginning was a bit slow though and after the first 40% of the book I had to check if it's actually a thriller
Liked it overall, now wanna check the movie
As someone with severe social anxiety, agoraphobia and trichotillomania this book creeped me out in a different way to others perhaps. I used to feel so anxious that there was someone hiding in my cellar or in rooms in the house no one went in, so the stalking of the strange man also got to me.
I enjoyed some of the philosophical aspects of this book but some conversations and scenes just seemed to drone on for too long. I really struggled with the school chapters as it felt quite repetitive when it should have been the most tense past of the book... I was bored.
The ending was meh, I thought throughout that it was odd the only name we had was Jake and that the woman was the stalker because it made sense we didn't know either of their names.
My favourite part was at the parents farm but there's no explanation for the whole basement section or her overhearing the parents, except to creep out and give some exposition to the reader...
Another thing I didn't like about this book, as someone with the issues stated above, was that the commentary on solitude and loneliness means why not rush to the end of living? This left a really sour taste in my mouth (bit ironic) as I've had thoughts of “If I suddenly died by accident, people probably wouldn't notice for weeks” that thought scares me, but if we're going off this book and my interpretation of it, this character could possibly see that as an out, which then leads me to question why he died in a school? Where children could find him????
Yeah, maybe I'm not the target audience for this, maybe it's aimed at people who's biggest fear is being alone and the message is to cherish the people around them, otherwise they might aswell not exist
I'm going to watch the adaptation and see if my opinion changes, but I somehow doubt it
okay so the film was sooo much better, but I did also like Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind so that makes sense, still has the dreary mind numbing scenes which i still didn't like, but it was still much better
I really enjoyed this, even after watching the film adaptation. I knew where it was going but I still enjoyed the telling.
“But it's the reading just for the sake of it that I find irritating. Jake will read anything - a newspaper, a magazine, a cereal box, a crappy flyer, a take-out menu, anything.”
A strange little novel that got under my skin and creeped me out. I worked out where we were going towards the end but that didn't matter, I couldn't stop it and I couldn't put it down.
This was interesting read for me. This was a fast book to read, but there were times while I was reading that I was wondering where are you going with this. Which if it would have been longer, I think a lot of people would’ve gave up on it. There were a few spots in the book where I felt the creepy vibes. As you read it you see the big event coming but you don’t know how it’s coming. Which leads to it being a more satisfying read. I had idea that this was a movie, until after I read it. So now I can’t wait to see how the film brings the story to screen.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid is a thrilling psychological horror that feels tailor-made for those who love road trips filled with deep pondering and snowy nightscapes. The story kicks off with a couple, Jake and his girlfriend, on a road trip to visit Jake's parents at their remote farm. The journey is perfect for wandering thoughts and introspection. As the protagonist delves into her thoughts, the narrative skillfully shifts, blurring the lines between reality and the psychological realm, creating an eerie sense of suspense.
For fans of horror films and detective dramas, this book offers a gripping blend of both. The tension builds masterfully, especially during the dinner scene at Jake's parents' house, transforming a simple meal into a chilling, almost “dinner from Hell” experience. Every detail serves as a crucial clue in this mind-bending mystery, making it a detective-like experience. I'm Thinking of Ending Things is an unforgettable journey, combining contemplation and horror in a way that lingers long after the last page is turned.
I couldn't finished it because I was so disturbed and frustrated but damn... this is so fucking genius of iain reid
this book is made for you to reread after first finishing it and THEN you'll understand this piece of art
idk if it's because I read majority of this in the middle of the night but I was genuinely creeped out reading this. I really enjoyed it, but I wish there was more to the conclusion.
this book is quietly unnerving and sticks with you after finishing, I had to sit with my thoughts after reading.
I can't even give this book a rating. It was so bad, everything about it.
None of the characters were likable and I felt like I had to force myself to read this.
I'm shocked by all the 5 star reviews.
I was so very bored with this one I'm not sure why I even finished it (probably because it was so short even though it felt absolutely endless). I really need to learn to stay away from anything “atmospheric” because 9/10 times I end up feeling like it's tedious and pretentious more than anything else.
Not going to rate this one because I'm obviously not the right audience for it.
3/4 of this book was odd and then it got really freaking weird. I did not understand it at all, atleast, I don't think I did. Maybe I did but it didn't make sense atleast to me.
I am not sure how to rate this book or how to even categorize it. Overall, it was not bad. I feel as though it is average/a little above average. I'm Thinking of Ending Things is confusing and you are left with “What did read”.
As of right now, I need more time to sit on this.
Let me just say, 3 to 3.5 stars.