Review : I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
Pages : 224
Genre : Thriller
Stand alone
My Rating : 3.5/5
About the Book :
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.
My Thoughts :
I’m thinking of Ending Things was a very interesting book. I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but mostly I found it captivating.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that had me so confused yet perfectly hooked to the writing. Somewhere between thriller and literary fiction, this novel is slow in pace and action. We follow the woman’s observations as the couple drives dark and empty roads, as she narrates between past and present. The atmosphere is eerie, unsettling. For the most part, I had no idea where this was going and what was happening. Even when I had my suspicions, I was still confused by the events and the characters.
The ending in itself was confusing! While it sort of lead where I thought it would, the way there was uncertain, and I had to reread a couple passages to make sense of it. I mostly enjoyed it, but I did think didn’t need to obfuscate the facts this much once it arrived at destination, you know? And I believe that this, combined with the slow pace and weird atmosphere, might actually turn off some readers. It’s really not a “recommend it to all your friends” kind of thriller, if you follow my thoughts!
All in all, I’m Thinking of Ending Things had both an intriguing title and story, and it was a short and unique read. I like stories or writing that stand out, and I certainly felt that Iain Reid gave me that. I’m not surprised by how polarized the reviews I’ve read have been, but for me, it worked well enough to count it as a positive experience – though I’ll admit, I didn’t find the revelations as original as I would have hoped.
The slow pace and confusing aspects might not work for me.