While it was not quite as amazing as Kathe Koja's novel Strange Angels, I think no other book could ever quite match that experience, and the excellence of Koja's craft is still strikingly evident in this book. ( )

THE CIPHER! I don't even know what to say.

I've only recently joined the church of Koja. It may not be as big as some, Stephen King's say, but there are joys to be found in smaller congregations.

This is the story of Nakota and Nicholas who one day found a black hole, named it the funhole, and changed their lives forever. They stuck different things into the hole, (getting uncomfortable yet?), including bugs, a mouse, and then a hand. What happened to these items when they were thrust inside? You'll have to read this to find out!

I absolutely adore Ms. Koja's prose, and Joshua Saxon the narrator brought it home with flare. This must not have been an easy performance due to the style of the aforementioned prose-especially in the second half of the book because it's a stream-of-consciousness narrative. His voicing was phenomenal.

I'm a bit irritated with myself because the few clips I made of the audio that highlighted the prose apparently did not save. There were short, staccato-like descriptions that...stabbed at my heart. Beautiful, honest and evocative words that my brain immediately transferred to a visual-like a direct injection. For instance "...the flat was full of drizzly day." 7 words that draw a perfect scene. Brief, staccato, BAM: there's the picture-full and complete.

I could go on and on about this prose but I'll leave it at what I've written. Kathe Koja's writing probably isn't for everyone; the reviews seem pretty split on Goodreads. For me, however, I feel like I have been missing out out an author that is perfect for my dark and black heart. I'm on a mission to read everything she's written. I'm a Koja missionary, baby!

My highest recommendation!

*I received the audio-book from Audiobook Boom! and the narrator, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!* ( )

SKIN was way out of my comfort zone, but I'm so glad I gave it a shot. It was amazing!

This is the story of two women, Tess and Bibi. Artists. Body Art. Performance Art. Body Horror. Body modifications. Cutting. Lesbians. Bisexuals. Heart. Sculpture. Welding. Feeling. Cult Mentality. Hangers-on. Groupies. Darkness. Death. Wish you were dead. Wish I was dead. And finally? Love.
I love you.

Written in a prose that was sharp, stabbing, and staccato-like, SKIN takes some getting used to. I took a stab at it above, (get it? HA!), and it's much harder than it looks. (Or in this case, harder than it sounds, since I listened to this on audio.) I was amazed at how much the author was able to get across in so few words. Seriously, I was and still am astonished by it all.

I don't want to go into the plot too much, because it should unfold as the author intended. However, I did feel for these characters, I felt their pain and their need to be heard and loved. Though at other times I wanted to punch them both in the face. Either way, this book reached out to me and made me FEEL. Also, I feel like I accomplished something by surviving the experience, because this book was brutal at times.

At first I didn't care for the narration at all, but then I realized it was the prose that bothered me. As I said above, it takes some getting used to. Once I was more familiar with the writing style, the narration settled right into my head and this became more of a visual experience than a literary one. I'm not sure I'm making sense here, but looking at the other reviews, I don't think I'm the only one having trouble describing this book.

It's gory, heartbreaking, thrilling, cringe-inducing stuff. SKIN makes you think, it makes you face your fears, even as the characters attempt to face theirs. This tale isn't going to work for everyone, but it certainly worked for me!

Highly recommended!

*I was provided an Audible Audio code for this book by the narrator, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

( )

Another story of art and obsession. A pretty good read, but it never approaches the psychological darkness of her first two novels. ( )

Im not sure what it was about this novel that made me give it a semi low score. Im just going to put that star directly in the middle.
I got halfway thru, and then reached a limit where I said, I can not continue down this path because of the writing style. I then began skimming thru chapters and thoroughly read the end.
It was way too erratic and DRAGGGGGED. At some points I enjoyed it for being artistic and unique, but I then became irritated and wanted the author to just please, for the love of God, just write the story out plainly so I can read this easily and not stagger in interpretation. If I knew I would have to interpret metaphors and symbolism, I would have been prepared for it and read it at a different time of my life. I jumped in expecting a normal horror story and came out of it feeling full of poetry and raw emotion.
What I did love about the story, was the imagery and the rawness of the characters.

The plot was completely insane so I did enjoy that as well.
It was just the erratic writing style that rubbed me a bit wrong. Is this the signature style of this author? OK Ill admit It is indeed unique and different in a world of plain cement stones...

It was interesting to view this group of starving frugal artists. I know quite a few of them in real life and I do find their lives fascinating. I know quite a few bizarre artists I would reccomend this to. ( )