Skip to main content

The Children of Red Peak by DiLouie

"Dark and disturbing, in true Dilouie fashion, he deals with death, pain, guilt and survival in a gritty and horrifying way. He has a great gift for blending the paranormal with the normal, so much so that everything seems plausible when you're immersed in the story. This one will stick with me for awhile. "

3 Stars

Pros: It was definitely an interesting idea and Dilouie did a great job at making all the MCs frail and broken by what happened to them and completely human as to how some deal with the trauma and others don't. Everyone has a different coping mechanism. 

Cons: At the same time that the ending didn't really give anything away, it also didn't really answer. or solve anything, though, in a way did it did. It's all a matter of perspective. I think Dilouie did the best he could with what he was working with. Which when you're dealing with a religious cult and mass suicide, the answers at the end of that riddle might not be ones you actually want to hear. 

Full Review: 

Beth, Deacon, David and Angela are the last surviving members of The Family of the Living Spirit, a religious cult that committed mass suicide on the slopes of Red Peak in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the Summer of 2005. Brought together again after 15 years apart, David, Deacon and Beth attend the funeral of one of the other survivors, Emily. She sent them all a note that said, "She couldn't fight it anymore" and committed suicide. 

Understandably, Beth, Deacon and David are all shocked and horrified at Emily's death. What happened at Red Peak was horrible and it's affected them all in so many different ways but they've all seemingly found a way to cope, or to at least pretend like they're functioning human beings. But the truth is, what happened during that last month before the "ascension" has scarred them forever.  

Some hurts go too deep to heal and such is the case with Red Peak. But still, thrust back into that nightmare life by the death of Emily, they each decide that it's time they go back to Red Peak and see if they can't figure out what really happened that night. In order to find answers, they're willing to walk the same blood stained path they did that night 15 years ago. 

Though the book took a good 120 pages to hit its stride, once it did, I was both horrified and amazed, I had to know how it ended. And since he's dealing with God, death, mortality and the meaning of life, Dilouie did it in a realistic, logical way that really sat heavy in my chest and made me think. This book was not for the faint of heart and in true Dilouie form, this one will stick with me for awhile. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov

"When a scientist, Benes, who has integral and world changing information attempts to defect and join our Side, he's injured. A blood  clot forms in his brain and the only way to save his life is to miniaturize the crew of the Proteus and inject them into Benes' body, so they can break up the blood clot from the inside. Of course, one thing after another goes wrong and every chapter is a new catastrophe but it was definitely a fantastic voyage.   2 Stars Pros:  Grant is one dry character but he's a welcome bit of amusement in an otherwise serious and scientific novel.  Cons:  Grant is also SUCH a man that he spends most of the mission staring at saving the one woman board, Cora./Definitely ripe with anatomical lessons and what part of the body they were in. Since I've never been great at anatomy, a lot of it was lost on me and became burdensome near the end.  Full Review: As in all things, there is a good side and a bad side. This book is very vague as...

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars.  Pros:  Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place.  Cons:  The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact.  Full Review:  When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

"Arnold Spirit, Jr, or "Junior" as he's known on the Rez, does something no Spokane Indian has ever done. He enrolls in Reardon High School and begins the long and often painful process off navigating not only high school and adolescence but also being an outsider. Alexie handles it all with grace, humor and honesty. This was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone."  5 Stars Pros: Alexie handles the ups and downs of not only adolescence, but tragedy and loss in a stark, honest but gut wrenchingly relatable way.  Cons:  Some of Junior's all-consuming guilt, though understandable was a little repetitive but it's all part of being a teenager.  Full Review:  It all starts when Arnold Spirit Jr, or Junior, throws a textbook across the classroom. When he opened the book he saw his mother's name, her maiden name and it enrages him. He's furious that the reservation is so poor that they're learning from thirty-year old textbooks. He doesn't...