Books matching: bleak prose
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- #1
An Italian general arrives in Albania to retrieve the dead bodies of Italian soldiers that were killed and buried during WW2. The novel portrays the struggles and complexities of this task, set against a backdrop of a bleak and grey landscape. The story delves into themes of personal histories, the repercussions of war, and the emotional toll it takes on individuals involved.
RAIN AND FLAKES OF SNOW were falling simultaneously on the foreign soil. The concrete runway, the airport buildings, the soldiers guarding them were all soaking wet. The plain and the surrounding hill... Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy is a brutal and violent tale set in the American Southwest and Mexico during the 19th century. The story follows a young man known as The Kid who joins a group of scalp hunters led by the enigmatic and ruthless Judge Holden. The book delves into themes of violence, survival, and the darkness of human nature, all portrayed through McCarthy's haunting and vivid prose. The narrative is bleak and unrelenting, showcasing the harsh realities of life on the border between Mexico and America, where evil takes on human form in the physical world.
The book is described as a western where the Wild West is stripped of any heroic illusions, focusing instead on a group of merciless scalp hunters collecting bounties along the US-Mexico borderlands. McCarthy's writing style is elegant, detached, and breath-catching, rendering the beauty of the desert landscapes, the brutality of survival, and the emotional bankruptcy of the characters with exquisite detail. The characters, especially the enigmatic Judge Holden, provide a glimpse into mankind's addiction to violence, making the novel a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of morality and human nature.
See the child. He is pale and thin, he wears a thin and ragged linen shirt. He stokes the scullery fire. Outside lie dark turned fields with rags of snow and darker woods beyond that harbor yet a few ...- #3The Wounded LandBook 1 in the series:The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
The Wounded Land is the second trilogy in the Thomas Covenant series by Stephen R. Donaldson. The story follows Covenant's return to The Land after many years, only to find it drastically changed and corrupted. Alongside Linden Avery, Covenant embarks on a treacherous journey to save The Land from the malevolent forces that seek to destroy it. The book explores themes of struggle, sacrifice, redemption, and the complexities of good and evil, all set in a dark and bleak fantasy world.
The writing style in The Wounded Land is described as well-written, with intricate world-building and character development. The narrative is tense and engaging, filled with dark and challenging situations that keep the reader invested in Covenant and Linden's quest to heal The Land and battle against the forces of evil.
WHEN Linden Avery heard the knock at her door, she groaned aloud. She was in a black mood, and did not want visitors. She wanted a cold shower and privacy- a chance to accustom herself to the delibera... - #4
'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood is a chilling dystopian novel that paints a vivid picture of a society where women are oppressed and used for reproduction. The story follows Offred, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, as she navigates her confined life under an oppressive regime. Through flashbacks, readers witness the downfall of society into a theocratic military dictatorship and the struggles of women who are reduced to mere objects for men's use. Atwood's writing style is starkly elegant, conveying the stultifying life of the central character and offering glimpses of her past existence before the world was turned upside down.
The narrative explores themes of totalitarianism, religious fundamentalism, and the exploitation of women, all set in a world where traditional values have been taken to terrifying extremes. Atwood's brilliant storytelling weaves together a thought-provoking commentary on morality, societal laws, and the consequences of a society built on repression and control. The non-linear storytelling, coupled with the first-person perspective, provides a compelling and disturbing insight into a dystopian future that feels eerily plausible.
We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. The floor was of varnished wood, with stripes and circles painted on it, for the games that were formerly played there; the hoops for the basketball nets ... - #5
Child of God by Cormac McCarthy is a chilling and disturbing exploration of the descent of Lester Ballard, a man isolated from society who spirals into murder and necrophilia. McCarthy's writing style is sparse yet powerful, capturing the bleak setting and the dark depths of human behavior with precision. The book delves into themes of evil, loneliness, and the fragility of humanity, painting a haunting portrait of a man's degradation.
THEY CAME LIKE A CARAVAN of carnival folk up through the swales of broomstraw and across the hill in the morning sun, the truck rocking and pitching in the ruts and the musicians on chairs in the truc... - #6
In a near future where it has stopped raining, water has become a luxury. The book portrays a world where civilization has collapsed, and the population is struggling to survive in a desert of despair. The writing style is described as bleak, with some interesting ideas but not gripping enough for some readers. The plot follows characters facing surreal and dystopian situations as they navigate through a world on the brink of destruction due to environmental degradation.
AT NOON, when Dr. Charles Ransom moored his houseboat in the entrance to the river, he saw Quilter, the idiot son of the old woman who lived in the ramshackle barge outside the yacht basin, standing o... - #7
'I'm the King of the Castle' by Susan Hill is a dark and chilling tale that delves into the poisonous relationship between two boys, Charles Kingshaw and Edmund Hooper, who are forced together when their widowed parents come together. The story explores themes of bullying, cruelty, isolation, and the impact of neglectful parenting on children. The narrative style is described as engaging and riveting, with a focus on the psychological aspects of the characters and their interactions. The setting in a small English village adds to the atmosphere of claustrophobia and menace that permeates the story.
- #8
'A Black and Endless Sky' by Matthew Lyons is a dark and disturbing novel that follows the journey of siblings Jonah and Nell Talbot on a road trip filled with cosmic horror. The plot revolves around their tumultuous relationship, encounters with unwelcome passengers and menacing pursuers, and a descent into a world of nihilism and hopelessness reminiscent of Lovecraft's storytelling. The writing style of the book is described as bleak, with a focus on visceral reactions, violent confrontations, and a sense of despair that permeates the narrative.
The story delves into themes of despair, violence, and existential dread as Jonah and Nell navigate through remote desert towns, encounters with demonic entities, and a relentless pursuit by a determined exorcist. The characters, particularly Jonah and Nell, are portrayed as unlikeable and flawed, adding layers of complexity to their interactions and decisions as they grapple with their dark pasts and uncertain futures.
- #9
"The Cipher" by Kathe Koja is a horror novel that revolves around the discovery of a mysterious, pulsating hole in a storage room by Nicholas and his girlfriend Nakota. As they become obsessed with the hole, experimenting and exploring its depths, their lives and mental states deteriorate. The book delves into themes of nihilism, obsession, and the unknown, with a writing style that is described as visceral, bleak, and sometimes challenging to follow due to its stream of consciousness narrative.
Nakota, who saw it first: long spider legs drawn up beneath her ugly skirt, wise mouth pursed into nothing like a smile. Sitting in my dreary third-floor flat, on a dreary thrift shop chair, the windo... - #10
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is a dark and disturbing psychological thriller that follows reporter Camille Preaker as she reluctantly returns to her hometown in Wind Gap, Missouri to investigate the murders of two young girls. The book delves into the small town's secrets, the complexities of family relationships, and Camille's own troubled past, including her struggles with self-harm. The narrative is intense, gripping, and filled with unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The writing style in Sharp Objects is described as atmospheric, bleak, and engrossing, with excellent characterization that brings the dark and twisted psyches of the characters to life. Gillian Flynn's debut novel skillfully weaves together elements of mystery, family drama, and psychological suspense, creating a chilling story that explores the depths of human darkness and the impact of past traumas on present actions.
My sweater was new, stinging red and ugly. It was May 12 but the temperature had dipped to the forties, and after four days shivering in my shirtsleeves, I grabbed cover at a tag sale rather than dig ...