Review: The Murmurings

The Murmurings by Carly Anne West
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If this book was not a book, but rather a thick cut pork chop, I would be basking in the after effects of Trichinosis. For anyone that doesn’t understand my ingenious and incredibly fitting reference, Trichinosis is the unforgiving illness caused by consuming undercooked pork.

Consumption of this YA novel is similar in the way that the entire premise and plot line, and all of the characters - even the murmuring “Takers” as we discover them to be called - are so underdeveloped and raw, it makes me slightly sick that I’d wanted to read this for years, yes, sadly years. Despite the author’s other novel, The Bargaining, also being quite the let down, I had high hopes for this one. Why? Who knows why I am the way that I am or why I do the things that I do. That’s the understatement of the year. And yes, I’m willing to commit to that even though it’s only January 5th.

I suppose if someone held a gun to my head and demanded I say something nice about this book (don’t worry - I’m not currently being held at gunpoint by a weirdo out to avenge the criticism of YA fiction... but if it was.... wouldn’t this be what they would force me to type....?), I would say, with some hesitancy, that this could be made into a decent Hulu original movie. It’s sort of perfect for their subpar, but also stupidly addicting, “Into The Dark” series. It’s got teenagers in love and crisis, implausible schemes and antics, stereotypical adult / parental figures that are cold, out of touch with reality, battling their own issues or all of the above, and a lame copout ending - all served with a splash of creepiness. And, if I am being honest, the “Takers” would probably work well in film format - but only if directed by the person who’s dream job would have been to work on the set of The Ring or The Grudge. In a more advanced novel / movie, these chatty little demon half souls could be fleshed out into a decently scary and unique horror concept.

Would ya look at that - I actually believe I pointed out multiple positive aspects pertaining to this otherwise unredeemable book. So I will say it again - who knows why I do the things I do.

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