I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel
NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM DIRECTED BY CHARLIE KAUFMAN
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. Iain Reid has crafted a tight, ferocious little book, with a persistent tenor of suspense that tightens and mounts toward its visionary, harrowing final pages” (Scott Heim, award-winning author of Mysterious Skin and We Disappear).
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 “dark and compelling…unputdownable” (Booklist, starred review) 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 “packs a big psychological punch with a twisty story line and an ending that will leave readers breathless” (Library Journal, starred review).
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. Iain Reid has crafted a tight, ferocious little book, with a persistent tenor of suspense that tightens and mounts toward its visionary, harrowing final pages” (Scott Heim, award-winning author of Mysterious Skin and We Disappear).
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 “dark and compelling…unputdownable” (Booklist, starred review) 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 “packs a big psychological punch with a twisty story line and an ending that will leave readers breathless” (Library Journal, starred review).
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Community Reviews
3.5 stars (generous)
This took everything in me to finish, but the payoff was sort of worth it. Half-expected it to be more terrifying than bleak, but I guess the horror existed in the mundane, introspective dialogue that polluted the first half of the book. Regardless, I appreciate the concept and its novelty, and I have to admit, the twist made my jaw hammer through the ground. I'm quite disappointed that I didn't connect with this book the way I wanted to, it's just very difficult to forgive tedious reading in a novella like this, at least to me.
edit: turns out I cant stand postmodernist texts LOL
This took everything in me to finish, but the payoff was sort of worth it. Half-expected it to be more terrifying than bleak, but I guess the horror existed in the mundane, introspective dialogue that polluted the first half of the book. Regardless, I appreciate the concept and its novelty, and I have to admit, the twist made my jaw hammer through the ground. I'm quite disappointed that I didn't connect with this book the way I wanted to, it's just very difficult to forgive tedious reading in a novella like this, at least to me.
edit: turns out I cant stand postmodernist texts LOL
Certain portions felt a bit slow and other portions too quick, overall was definitely worth reading.
This was such an incredibly emotional book. The beginning may seem a little slow, but it’s important to take in the content because it all starts making sense.
The storyline was so well written.
The movie is really great too, although it portrays it in a different matter.
I highly recommend reading and watching it.
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