Save yourself

I'm torn on this one, because the writing was great - sharp, provocative, and emotional - and I loved the atmosphere, which perfectly captured impoverished smalltown sadness where every day blends into the other. The characters were also solid, and you want them to overcome the odds and make better decisions and break out of their self-destruction. All good things, but the plot took what I considered a kind of eye-rolling turn toward the end . . . it didn't gel with me, as I felt it didn't match the nuance of the rest of the book. It didn't ruin the book for me, but it did make me want to bump my 3.5 stars down to 3 instead of up to 4.

As you read this review, keep in mind that I am probably not the intended audience for Save Yourself. This is one of those Suspenseful-Thriller-thingies. I am not a reader of thrillers. But in my old age, I'm trying to be open-minded, so I gave it a go. And you know what's most shocking is that I sort of liked it.

Now, let me say straight out that what I didn't like about the novel was the thriller element, but that has to do with personal taste. I like what I like and mysteries and thrillers just don't appeal to me. Toward the end, as the novel was getting to its climax, my interest began to seriously wane. The “thrilling conclusion” was anything but thrilling to me. So clearly this book didn't change my mind about the genre; nevertheless, I enjoyed it.

Prior to the book getting all dark in a Psycho-way, it was dark in a more Lars von Trier sort of way. Are you following me? Anyway, Braffet does a wonderful job creating characters whose lives are interesting. The ways in which they're put on display, and the ways these characters interact with one another, gave me a deep empathy for several characters; I truly wanted the best for them. It was all very harsh and believable, which made the less-believable conclusion tolerable.

Braffet is a great writer, with a masterful sense of plotting and language. It's just that her interests are obviously different than mine. When our interests intersect, however, I totally get her. She's good, and I expect she'll go far.

Ok, so if you read the jacket blurb on this book it sounds like nothing much happens. I will try to sum it up without giving too much away.

Patrick turns his alcoholic father in to the police after he is involved in a hit and run, killing a young child. A few months on Patrick is still living in his father's house with his brother, Mike, and Mike's girlfriend Caro. He is by all accounts a loser and the town pariah due to his unfortunate family connection.

Then we meet Vera, a sheltered and naïve schoolgirl who is horribly bullied due to the sins of her family too (notice a pattern here?). She finds solace and comfort in a group of strange outcasts.

What connects them is Layla, Vera's Goth sister who takes an unhealthy interest in Patrick and basically stalks him.

The lives of all these characters start to intertwine dangerously and it all leads up to a very dark and thrilling climax.

The problem is that the book takes a little too long to get there. I was half way through and was still asking, “ok, so where is this going?” I think author may lose a few readers because of this. There seems to lack direction until the end. Having said that, the characters do pull you in and you want to find out what happens to them.

I don't think the title of the book does it justice either. After reading it I am still trying to figure out how ‘save yourself' comes into the plot. None of the characters ‘save themselves'; in the end they are all rather selfless and sacrificial.

A large focus in the book is bullying and the affects of trying to fit into a group. It made me really grateful that I was not in high school during the camera phone and social media era. I shudder to think that what happens in the book actually takes place in reality.

Another factor I found interesting was the cult-like mentality of the ‘Goth group'. Kelly Braffet offers us some fascinating and chilling insights into the nature of group peer pressure and abuse.

Though the beginning is slow paced, the last 100 pages had me hooked so I'd say it's worth a read.