A review by pastelhellion
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Solidly written, but I felt I had no idea where things were going for a good portion. However, Darnielle paints a vivid picture of rural Iowa and creates such a strong nostalgia for the time of VCRs, Oldsmobiles and dial-up internet. 

Presents as a horror novel and it is tense for a while, but then slowly morphs into a story of grief and loss. Not quite sure it hit the mark but I did enjoy watching it unfold.