3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
‘Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality,’ said Edgar Allan Poe. I thought you could shut the book closed amidst a nerve-wrecking page and come back to it at your convenience. This is not the case with this book, though. I stuck through its horrendous journeys, clueless to what would come next. You, The People by Pablo Digenio compiles six horrific short stories which keep you at your tiptoes till the last moment.
The protagonists are nothing but human. From their dark sides stem the demons. The cruelty and gore would make maintaining one’s calm a miracle. Neither fairy tales nor happy endings have a place in this book.
The title of the book mocked me into thinking it might be political. But the author was referring to the people whose stories he had brought to life. These are ordinary people on the outside but indulgent in their twisted dark realities to the core. The characters, the setting, the feel, and the psychological atmosphere were diverse and variable among the stories.
I liked the fleshed-out characters and the realistic dialogue. Several moments were humane and authentic. The stories were woven in a way I could see them turned into a motion picture. I was rather living the stories than reading them. The writing was so brilliant I was often incapable of contemplating the turn of events. The illustrations at the beginning of each story were beautiful.
That being said, the book is not for the faint-hearted. I did not like the inconsolable cruelty and gore. In one story, the hideous details were so overpowering that I had to halt and catch my breath.
The sentences sounded awkward at times although not faulty. They needed rearrangement to become more readable. I also encountered some grammatical and typographical errors. A round of editing would make it top-notch. Until then, I am giving it 3 out of 4 stars.
This read has been neither tedious nor ordinary. I had to give myself a few days between consummating the book and starting the review, to regain my composure. I would recommend this book to readers seeking a unique and creepy experience long as they do not mind the gore and blood. People offended by the gruesome details and fellows younger than 18 years should give it a second thought before approaching this book. Fasten your seat belts fellow readers, for you are embarking on a racy ride culminating with the protagonists’ sinister fate.
******
You, The People
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Ruba Abu Ali's review? Post a comment saying so!
Thank you.
