Mar 7
Sofia Ajram, 2010
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Sofia Ajram, 2010
Midnight Pals: Musk Deer
M. Lopes da Silva: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the glitter deer da Silva: what if elon musk got killed by a deer da Silva: but not just any deer da Silva: a gray goo glitter deer
da Silva: what if elon musk got killed by a deer Stephen King: god we should be so lucky King: i'm sorry i shouldn't have said that out loud King: he's just been really frustrating lately
Elon Musk: [rising from bushes] eyyyy Stephano king, itsa me elon musk! Musk: your besta friend! King: oh elon yeah we were just talking about you Musk: oh? why? King: King: no reason Barker: we were talking about you getting killed by a deer King: CLIVE
Musk: eyyy you thinka you so smart you writa about me da Silva: i don't usually write about you Musk: people cannta stop talking abouta elon! Musk: its because ima SO COOL da Silva: da Silva: right da Silva: mostly i write about thwarted trans masc love and weird brain bugs
da Silva: like, what if they put a worm in your head that ate all your gay thoughts? Barker: that would have to be one HUNGRY worm Barker: ha ha Barker: like, SO hungry
da Silva: have you ever been in love with a tree tho? Barker: well, i think everyone's fucked a tree at some point da Silva: no da Silva: have you been IN LOVE with a tree? Barker: Sofia Ajram: YEAH CLIVE Ajram: IN LOVE WITH da Silva: but also yeah fucking the tree
da Silva: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the pumpjack king da Silva: it's about a desert cult around a pumpjack da Silva: but also da Silva: get it? da Silva: eh? eh? King: i get it! King: ha ha i get it!
Musk: eyyy Stephano king whats so funny King: never mind elon you wouldn't understand King: it's kind of a pun Musk: i know da puns!! Barker: sure thing, Freddy krugerrand King: oh!! there's another one!!!!
Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram Rating: 5/5
Vicken was on his way to kill himself when he got stuck in the subway. Well, he thinks it's a subway. It's certainly brutalist and labyrinthine and sterile enough to be one. But he has to get out. By any means necessary.
This was absolutely beautiful. I'm not the kind of reader who usually notices prose but the writing in this book was just exquisite. I especially loved when it got a little experimental towards the end, that was structured so cleverly.
And it was the most beautiful, heartbreaking treatise on depression and suicidal ideation and self-harm I've ever read. It felt true -- so many books that tackle those topics don't, so I appreciated the care Ajram put into it.
If you ever wanted an antithesis to Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - as in, a story with weird architecture and queer characters with beautiful writing but a completely opposite vibe - then give Coup de Grâce a chance. Just please heed the content warnings.
bro decided to cruise one last time before the Suicide, but then the guy gave him his number, and now we’re rethinking the beauty and horrors of the world
“I think there are moments in life that are so memorable to me because of their impact, only to find later that they were forgotten by others almost immediately.” - Sofia Ajram, Coup de Grâce
Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram
This was such an interesting ride from start to finish. It was a very quick read, but if you love a good horror book, this is definitely for you. I am not normally super squeamish, but this was definitely something that made me squeamish. Beware the trigger warnings at the beginning, as they are definitely needed in this book. However, it was so well written and creepy/crawly I would highly recommend it if you want something to creep you out. The parallels being drawn between this book and House of Leaves is apt, but different. House of Leaves was a slog, and this is much more approachable and definitely easier to follow. I would recommend this book if you're looking for something to start the spooky season early!
This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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“I have been in the dark; I have been hidden.”
— Virginia Woolf, The Waves
~ Photograph by Sofia Ajram