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Review: I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid



Blurb from Goodreads:
I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.”

And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here. 

In this deeply suspenseful and irresistibly unnerving debut novel, a man and his girlfriend are on their way to a secluded farm. When the two take an unexpected detour, she is left stranded in a deserted high school, wondering if there is any escape at all. What follows is a twisted unraveling that will haunt you long after the last page is turned. 

In this smart, suspenseful, and intense literary thriller, debut novelist Iain Reid explores the depths of the human psyche, questioning consciousness, free will, the value of relationships, fear, and the limitations of solitude. Reminiscent of Jose Saramago’s early work, Michel Faber’s cult classic Under the Skin, and Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is an edgy, haunting debut. Tense, gripping, and atmospheric, this novel pulls you in from the very first page. 
My Review:
I think a lot of people read/will read this book and think WOW when they finish it.  That wasn't me.  This is a book where as soon as I finished it, I wasn't that impressed but the more time I took away from it, the better the book became to me.  It wasn't necessarily that I couldn't stop thinking about the book but more that I needed the time to process its complexity and simplicity at the same time -- it's so brilliant but also fairly straight-forward. You will need time to process this one and you will not be disappointed. You may even be freaked out a little . . . or a lot.  It's hard to even describe this book except to say that it is fairly miraculous in its details, in its writing, in the way it will make you think and question everything you thought while you were reading it.  I will say that, yes, I figured out what was going on pretty quickly and that's why I felt like I wasn't impressed but I was wrong. This is a stunning thriller!

I'm Thinking of Ending Things came out last week on June 14, 2016, you can purchase HERE, and I wholeheartedly recommend this one to fans of psychological thrillers.  
We can't and don't know what others are thinking.  We can't and don't know what motivations people have for doing the things they do.  Ever.  Not entirely.  This was my terrifying, youthful epiphany.  We just never really know anyone.  I don't.  Neither do you.   
It's amazing that relationships can form and last under the constraints of never fully knowing. Never knowing for sure what the other person is thinking.  Never knowing for sure who a person is.  We can't do whatever we want.  There are ways we have to act.  There are things we have to say.   
But we can think whatever we want. Anyone can think anything.   
Thoughts are the only reality.  It's true. I'm sure of it now.

Comments

  1. Yeah this isn't the best book out there, but it's certainly one that made me reflect on the tiny details that I missed. I'm glad you liked it more when you thought about it, Eva! :)
    Great review!

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  2. Great review - I felt the same way! It took me awhile afterwards to fully appreciate this one.

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  3. I saw a review for this the other day and it was good as well. I might have to consider adding this to the mountain. ;)

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  4. Totally intrigued by that review!! I saw my library just got this in so I will have to put in on my holds list!! Great review!

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  5. Great review! You have made me even more intrigued about this one. I really want to read it!

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  6. This is one of my favorites of the year, not because of the boredom but because of the way it sneaks upon you. You are so right that the complexities of it keep coming back and making you think. What a great review!

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  7. Its always good to read a book that takes some time to process...glad you liked it. the cover is COOL!! :)

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  8. You're so right! It's simple and complex at the same time. I can't wait to go back and reread so that I can see all the foreshadowing that I missed. I really liked all the themes of solitude versus being in community with people. The writing is so great!

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  9. Ooh I like books like that! I've read so many like that before too! The ones where you thought meh after just reading and then after some time to process and really think about it, it actually blew you away! I'm so glad you ended up enjoying this one Eva!

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  10. I've seen this one around, but this is the first review of it I've read. I don't know if it is for me, but I have to admit, you've got me curious, especially as it's one that needs to be digested, so to speak.

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  11. Okay I'm more inclined to read this one now. I just don't like slow books and I've heard this one is a slow story, but I may have to keep this book in mind and read it later on.

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  12. Sometimes stepping away from a book after you're done and thinking about it can change how you feel. This one sure sounds interesting but I don't know. Thanks for this review!

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