I expected this to be something completely different than what it was. And I liked it.

The best thing about this book is the mix of eccentric, lovable characters and their interactions with each other. I found myself rooting for them almost instantly and was invested in each of their stories. The second best thing is the exploration of institutionalization and the treatment of mental illness. When LaValle combines the very, very real horror of the institution with his bunch of lovable characters, you can't help but feel for them and with them, and be frightened by the way other people treat them.

LaValle's writing is still great in this book, although I did love it more in The Ballad of Black Tom. I enjoyed the sudden shifts in point of view, it gave the whole story a very movie-like feel. What threw me off were the addresses to the reader and the remarks in brackets, I didn't find them particularly clever, they just disturbed my reading flow.

I will definitely be reading more stories by Victor LaValle, he's becoming one of my favourite horror authors.