All the Colors of the Dark - Chris Whitaker
I didn't expect to vibe this much with this read. Full disclaimer, I had to take a few breathers from reading this novel throughout the week so I was fully prepared for it to be a mediocre read but I just think it got better and better the more I read.
It's a huge read, there's no way around this fact. However, the chapter structure kept me interested the whole way through, and although I kept thinking "how long am I going to suspend my disbelief" or "how much of this is just trauma porn that is resonating with my moody brain today", I think the overall novel was a spectacular story that I really, really enjoyed to the fullest.
I'm a big fan of the writing style and the fact the plot spanned many decades. The characterization was sublime IMO; I just really fell in love with Saint and Patch and Charlotte and Sammy. This was definitely not a thriller/mystery for me, rather a really lovely portrayal of life and odds and trauma and how it can consume your life. Some of the twists felt cheesy and misplaced at the times, as if the author had so many chapters that he needed a suspenseful revelation or cliffhanger at the end of every 2 pages. However, I had so much fun reading this and became thoroughly invested - and I think that's ultimately what counts a the end of a nearly 600 page read. This became an instant favorite for me.I really needed that happy ending at the end too.
