THE TWISTED ONES by T. Kingfisher: Discussion Thread

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

This will be the discussion thread for THE TWISTED ONES by T. Kingfisher. We are only going to open this one thread in January and see how it goes.

Please use spoiler tags (without the spaces between brackets & spoiler) < spoiler > YOUR TEXT HERE < /spoiler > and if possible type the % or page # before your post. Some of us (me) are slow-pokes.

Enjoy, everyone!

[Char]

I'm listening to it now and really enjoying both the story and the narrator. Anyone else start already?

[Kimberly]

I started last month, but had to put it aside. I'll be reading along this month, but am already into the story!!

[Franklinbadger]

I read it last month. It was a lot of fun!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I’m starting it now. The day got away from me:

[Kimberly]

I loved Mouse's sense of humor and this homage to the old speculative fiction framing stories. That being said, this book's imagery unsettled me in a way that rarely happens these days. I was effectively creeped out but I could not stop reading. I have Arthur Machen's "The White People" downloaded so I can get more insight into the mythos here.

[Kimberly]

I love her relationship with her dog. :)

[Angel]

I had no idea this was the BOTM but just so happened to be reading it so figured I'd join in the chat. :) I love love love Bongo

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I was expecting creepy with a title like The Twisted Ones but I wasn’t expecting it to be so humorous. I have a redbone coonhound and I swear he is Bongo’s cousin. The howls, the deflating (ha) sighs, the not-so-bright charm - it’s all accurate. Anyhow, I absolutely love it so far.

[Mel]

I read this in one sitting because I liked it so much. Super well written, creepy, and fun. Loved Bongo too.

[Kimberly]

I'm finding it quite humorous (and enjoyable). The atmosphere is "creepy" though--(view spoiler)[hoarder's house (hide spoiler)].

[Kari]

10% in. Great beginning and narrative voice. I am very glad that Mouse tells us at the end of chapter 1 that (view spoiler)[Bongo lives. It's nice not to have to worry about that the whole book. I'm also finding the descriptions of mice everywhere to be extremely repetitive, and I assume that's probably on purpose considering the narrator's name? Anyone else notice that? Like in every description in the house, there's something about the mice. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Kari wrote: "10% in. Great beginning and narrative voice. I am very glad that Mouse tells us at the end of chapter 1 that [spoilers removed]"

I didn't notice the (view spoiler)[mice comments!!! I think I glossed over them thinking "hoarder equates mice", so just "expected" to read it mentioned, but that's a good catch! I was also quite relieved to read about Bongo early in the book--that can ruin a story for me! (hide spoiler)]

[Regina]

I'm about halfway through and am really enjoying the book. Mouse's tone is relatable, and I am enjoying the references to Machen's white people and to folk and fairy legends. I was also pleasantly surprised by the unsettling imagery. This was a great choice for a January read!

[Char]

I can't tell exactly where I am in the audio book other than on Chapter 6. I love Bongo and the narrator. :)

[Dev]

@Kari and Kimberly I noticed that too although I guess it makes sense that (view spoiler)[an abandoned hoarder's home is going to have a lot of mice. Even without food in the house they are probably going to find a way just for shelter and stuff out in the country. I do agree it's mentioned maybe a few too many times though and unless it somehow ties in more later it's not really THAT clever (hide spoiler)]

[Franklinbadger]

Kari wrote: "10% in. Great beginning and narrative voice. I am very glad that Mouse tells us at the end of chapter 1 that [spoilers removed]"

One thing that I really liked (view spoiler)[ was the fact that the author was clear from the start that there wasn't going to be any cheap suspense based around whether the dog would survive! (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

i'm up through chapter 6 now. can't decide if i find it annoying or charming how many times she's like 'you're probably wondering why i didn't think anything was wrong? well, [logical explanation for what is happening]'. i mean on the one hand it's good for your protag to be genre-savvy but also i feel like it's natural to get freaked out by weird things if you're out alone in the woods. also (view spoiler)[every time she mentions how her phone has a bug and that's why it's not working right and draining battery i'm just like UH HUH. SUUURE. lol it's always something creepy! (hide spoiler)]

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Chapter 5 has thoroughly creeped me out! (view spoiler)[ The fact that Mouse's face contorted like that?! Yikes, I wasn't expecting that. (hide spoiler)]

[Iva]

I'm listening to the audiobook on scribd and I don't really care for the narrator. I'm pushing thru tho, it's not available at my library yet, I have it on hold. So far I really enjoy the book. It's just getting spooky for me.

[Angel]

Devann wrote: "i'm up through chapter 6 now. can't decide if i find it annoying or charming how many times she's like 'you're probably wondering why i didn't think anything was wrong? well, [logical explanation f..."

I actually really liked this part of it but can see how it might get on some peoples nerves lol.


Bark wrote: "Chapter 5 has thoroughly creeped me out! [spoilers removed]"

This freaked me out too.


I finished this late last night.. looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts! (view spoiler)[While it wasn't quite what I expected (I was expecting it to be much heavier on the horror aspect) it definitely had it's creepy moments. My favorite thing about it was characters (I loved Mouse, Foxy and Bongo) and I enjoyed the humor a lot too. 3.5 stars I'm thinking? Will definitely check out more by the author. (hide spoiler)]

Edit to add: (view spoiler)[The whole thing with Anna being forced to stay there and have babies and them (maybe??) being used for the effigies WTFFF (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Loved this one! It has everything - horror, the creeps, dread, humor.

[Dev]

up through chapter 9 now - gotta say it's finally getting scary to me! i read a lot of horror so i think i'm probably harder to scare than most - especially in book format - but that (view spoiler)[deer thing and how it came up to her house i was like NOOOPE lol. also i know bongo is going to be okay so that's the only reason i'm not stressed but her dog being missing is definitely the only good reason to stick around at this point so i'm glad it's something more believable than just because (hide spoiler)]

[Kerry]

So, I'm a slowpokey reader, as you may have gathered from earlier readalongs, so I'm not reading your possible speedy spoilers, gals. Sorry. hahaah! However, that said, I'm loving the folklore established in this book. How fun! And the inspiration of "The White People" becomes evident almost from the beginning. If you haven't read the short story by Machen, I recommend it. I think there are free copies available, since it should be well out of copyright. (Project Guttenberg might have a copy. :) )

I'm on page 126, and I love the chatty feel of the narrator (although I didn't in the first chapter, until I got to "know" Mouse.) And the relationship she has with Bongo is endearing.

Also, I'm from Pgh, so it excited me when she began in my hometown! :)

Ok, I'm going to read what you had to say after all, but I'll be avoiding all spoilers. hahaha

[Kerry]

Kimberly wrote: "I loved Mouse's sense of humor and this homage to the old speculative fiction framing stories. That being said, this book's imagery unsettled me in a way that rarely happens these days. I was effec..."
From what I've read so far (I'm on page 126), you'll recognize Machen's influence almost immediately. I'm curious to see how Kingfisher molds it from here.

[Kerry]

Bark wrote: "Chapter 5 has thoroughly creeped me out! [spoilers removed]"

That was cool!

[Kerry]

Devann wrote: "i'm up through chapter 6 now. can't decide if i find it annoying or charming how many times she's like 'you're probably wondering why i didn't think anything was wrong? well, [logical explanation f..." hahah! (view spoiler)[ I think both are genre things. The former is used in many Gothic pieces, after which this is heavily patterned, and the latter is a good plot device. (hide spoiler)]

[Kerry]

Regina wrote: "I'm about halfway through and am really enjoying the book. Mouse's tone is relatable, and I am enjoying the references to Machen's white people and to folk and fairy legends. I was also pleasantly ..." I agree

[Kerry]

Angel wrote: "I had no idea this was the BOTM but just so happened to be reading it so figured I'd join in the chat. :) I love love love Bongo"
Glad you joined the fun!

[Char]

Angel wrote: "Devann wrote: "i'm up through chapter 6 now. can't decide if i find it annoying or charming how many times she's like 'you're probably wondering why i didn't think anything was wrong? well, [logica..."

Angel, Yassssssssssss-regarding your last spoiler.

I finished it up today. (view spoiler)[ I ended up enjoying it quite a bit, but I did find it to be repetitive. However, I liked Mouse, Foxy and Bongo so much, that I had to stick with it and find out what happened to everyone. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Just started this and I LOVE IT

[Kimberly]

I just finished this last night. (view spoiler)[I'll admit that it was a bit repetitive for my tastes, overall, and I wasn't thrilled with Mouse's excuses; however, the last quarter added a full star to my review, and made it well worth the read! (hide spoiler)]

[Franklinbadger]

I agree with Kimberly and Char that the likeable characters were the book's biggest strength.

[Kimberly]

I wrote on the Discord about why this was unsettling. (view spoiler)[Everything Mouse saw up until the voor dome were plausible things you might encounter in the middle of no where. She repeats herself, yes, but I took it to be a way of coping with what she saw to make it more real. I was kinda hoping for an alien with her intro. There is one theory that the Tuatha de Danan were aliens, so maybe they are related to our Holler Folk? (hide spoiler)]

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Please remember to use spoiler tags. We haven't all finished the book yet. Thanks, everyone!

[Kelly]

Just as a heads up, if you are listening to the audiobook, change the speed to 1.2 or 1.5. Imo, it helps. Especially chapter 6.

Back to your original programming :)

[Iva]

I just want to cuddle Bongo. 7.5 chapters in! it's finally going somewhere I think!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I just finished. What did you all think of Foxy? She was so funny (view spoiler)[ and brave - running through the woods in heels! I love that it turned into an all women adventure +dog towards the end! (hide spoiler)]

It was such a great read. I hope she writes more horror in the future.

[Alison]

I am currently 40% of the way through the book. Actually pausing here so I can read it this weekend in a proper setting, curled up under a blanket in the dark, instead of over audio at work. The creepiness is starting to ramp up for me. What just happened: (view spoiler)[The face JUST appeared at the window. I'm in the middle of that scene. It's hard to really creep me out, but that's done it. (hide spoiler)]

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Alison wrote: "I am currently 40% of the way through the book. Actually pausing here so I can read it this weekend in a proper setting, curled up under a blanket in the dark, instead of over audio at work. The cr..."

The end of that chapter freaked me out! It was so unexpected.

[Kimberly]

The ending really (view spoiler)[ ramped things up for me. I couldn't put it down during that part. Foxy had to be my favorite character--next to Bongo! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

I just finished it!! Wow!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Such a great read. Thank you everyone for choosing it and making me reading sooner rather than way later!

[Tracy]

Jumping in just to say my library hold came in! Hope to discuss soon!

[Latasha]

i'm glad to see everyone is enjoying this one.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Latasha wrote: "i'm glad to see everyone is enjoying this one."

Me too! It was so much creepy fun :)

[Alex]

This is my first read along, and DANG! I just finished last night... whew. Talk about trippy!

[Kari]

60% in (view spoiler)[Holy shit the effigy banging on the door. And when she looked through the peep hole I so badly wanted it to be Bongo I literally jumped when she saw it grinning back at her. Since I’m stupidly reading this in bed way too late I’ve decided this effigy looks like the Pokémon Cubone so I don’t have nightmares.

Also that journal was just so horribly boring, I hated it. Otherwise I’m enjoying Mouse’a narrative. (hide spoiler)]

[Kerry]

(view spoiler)[ Ok, here's the thing. I liked Mouse, but when she interacted with that police officer and assumed that because he was from a small town in North Carolina he must need a dictionary to understand what she meant by "effigy," I was insulted. That's not cool, Mouse. Not cool at all. (hide spoiler)]

[Kerry]

There were some really cool quotes in this book. (view spoiler)[ Some of my favorites include: "Maybe it was just perfectly innocent devil worship...", "Families run on optimistic lies sometimes...", and "Monsters are stressful..." > (hide spoiler)]