Book Review: “Starving Ghosts in Every Thread” by Eric LaRocca
This book is both strange and beautiful, the kind that will linger in your mind after you’ve set it down. The kind which you can’t quite make sense of, not completely, but with words so elegantly written you’re absorbed into the story, connecting with characters that aren’t quite human, but embody the emotions and spirit of humanity so well you’re guaranteed to see something of yourself in them.
Teddy is stuck in her hometown, after a mistake cost her everything. Her guilt causes her skin to unravel, unless she feeds off the emotions of others. Starving Ghosts in Every Thread is a novella, so going into too much detail risks spoiling elements of the story. For such a short book, however, it packs a lot into the pages, including Teddy’s strange and wonderful ability to handle venomous scorpions, her rocky relationship with her mother, and a love interest in the shape of Kiiara, who carries a secret of her own.
The writing feels almost like a dance, the characters feel (in a good way) almost choreographed, with the prose and dialogue providing the melody. Most people Teddy interacts with are those she has a pre-existing relationship with, however strained, and there’s a real sense of difference when she encounters Kiiara. There’s a love story element here, but it doesn’t override the horror, instead allowing it to progress as Teddy tries to get a handle on what’s happening to her.
Considering the main threat of this story, LaRocca avoids the body horror becoming too grotesque. Designed to make us squirm just a little, perhaps, but definitely not over the top. And as her skin unravels from her and threads drift away, we feel Teddy’s inner turmoil as deeply as she does, wondering what is going to end up happening to her. We see events unfold through Teddy’s eyes, understanding what’s happening to her even though others can’t see it. And we want her new friend to be good for her, to help her, as much as Teddy does.
LaRocca has created something truly fascinating here, with imagery that’ll remain with the reader. After all, it’s not easy to forget the image of a girl so physically coming apart. We become immersed in her story, in her life, enough to leave us really wanting more.
There were some moments where things were, perhaps, a touch confusing, and ramifications could have been explored a little more or even clarified, but overall, for a debut novella, this is a powerful one.
Grade: B
Review by Elle Turpitt
@elleturpitt
I received a paperback from the author for review consideration.