I will forever and ever read absolutely anything that Melissa Broder writes. “Death Valley” has cemented its spot as one of my best reads in 2023.

Melissa Broder has a knack for breaking down all the little feelings and odd thoughts when it comes to grief. Told from the perspective of a woman who is stuck between grieving two people in her life… who are still alive… she goes to find herself in the comforting geometric carpets in a Best Western and in a harsh desert for a few (unexpected) days. In her preemptive journey to feel better about suspected impending grief, she seeks out memories of her loved ones in hazy moments spent in the desert. From finding refuge inside a cactus to talking to rocks (that are impressively self aware), she slowly learns to embrace her emotions, stop pushing her loved ones away, and tries to live in the present more often.

The book summed up a lot of feelings that I’d have trouble putting into words, which was such a delight to read. I found myself laughing and pausing to contemplate laugh all within a few sentences. Broder’s eccentric writing style and punchy dialogue kept me entertained. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I already have Milk Fed added to my tbr! Thank you to the author, Scribner, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy so I can provide an honest review.

My reviews are seen at Boston's The Arts Fuse - arts fuse.org

https://artsfuse.org/283481/book-review-you-may-get-lost-in-death-valley/

I do not award stars.

I loved Melissa Broder's previous books and had very high hopes for this one as well but I just wasn't as into it as I expected to be. I felt like despite this book being on the shorter side it would have been even better as a shorter novella or short story as much of it just felt repetitive.

Death Valley follows our main character as she journeys to the desert (with a stopover at Best Western) to process complex feelings and impending grief and loss related to her hospitalized dying father and chronically ill spouse. This was my first Broder and having heard about her previous books I was curious about what to expect. I did anticipate some interesting sexual encounters and she delivered with our main character having a very intimate interaction with a cactus. This story was unique and humorous as I expected but surprised me a bit by ultimately being a very serious exploration of self and how to come to terms with the consequences of opening yourself to connection and love and all of the risks that entails. There was a fever dream quality to the journey that makes sense and is what you would expect from someone seeking answers in the desert. One of the things I appreciated about this novel was that the main character is sober and of course this plays a role in their experience because it needs to, and at the same time it wasn’t the entire focus of the experience. I don’t think we see many depictions of sober people living their lives and having their sobriety and recovery represented as a typical/normal thing that is an important part of a person’s identity but not their entire identity. Overall I did enjoy this book but I wouldn’t say I loved it and I can’t quite pinpoint why or what would have tipped it for me from being enjoyable to great. This book is normally my vibe but there is just something missing for me. I will definitely pick up Broder’s other books and think this is worth the read, especially for people that like explorations of self and navigation of depression and grief. Since I was reading while on the road I had to take a photo of the hotel artwork. I don’t think this art did a great job of representing the place I was staying (the Oregon coast) and I definitely wish I would have been at a Best Western!
Thank you @scribnerbooks @netgalley for providing me an eARC!

Others will like this much more than I did.

Thanks to the good folks at NetGalley for an ARC to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read a fever dream of a book that is basically girl processes grief for her not dead but dying father and husband by way of horny cactus?

If you’re like that’s incoherent, welcome to this novel.

Pre-reading:
I meant to read MILK FED and then never got around to it. Then I got sent this one. Let’s do this. I’m a sucker for a kooky cover.

Thick of it:
No, this is already kooky, and brilliant, and the exact type of lit fic that I like to read.

Leave it to lit fic to always tell you when a character pees.

This bitch can write.

Tell me you’re a neglected child without telling me you’re a neglected child-any attention turns you on.

kinehora

Viscid

One, I would read that book, and it would probably be a lit fic darling. Two, I think that is the plot of Vladimir and I Love You, But I’ve Chosen Darkness.

Assonant

Fingering a cactus gash feels like a euphemism, you know.

Oh man, it’s giving vagina so much.

Man, Girlypop is going through it.

I love the show I Survived. I love it. It’s my PTSD by proxy show.

No, there’s far too much pee in novels.

We’ve gone completely off the rails. I’m no longer into this. Dare I say I’m bored? I still like the narrative voice. I just don’t like the content.

diaphonic

Post-reading:
I wanna like this, but I don’t.

I don’t think it’s as edgy as it thinks it is. I think all the bathroom humor is gross. It felt pretty aimless to me. I liked the meta-ness of the plot, where she’s a writer writing a book but then she lives the essence and purpose of the book. That worked for me.

I found the main character very unlikable. Usually, I love an unlikable main character. There was nothing for me to connect to with her. I think we’re just fundamentally different people.

I really, really dug the kooky, cynical beginning. It just devolved into too much musing about spirituality for me. I’m not religious. I don’t believe in god. I think I’m a bit detached and disconnected from grief.

But then I read books like Shark Heart or anything by Frederick Backman and I’m like wow, I cried for multiple chapters straight. I don’t have any issue feeling my emotions. I just felt nothing for these characters. They’re a bit flat. We don’t really get to see what makes them tick. They don’t really have wants. She’s going on this journey of grief for her father, but there’s nothing to bond the audience to her dad. We’re just supposed to assume he’s loving and worthy of that love? Call me a bitch, but I’m gonna need evidence. I think too many people, especially people who love the lit fic genre, have shit dads, and will not just assume that yeah, he’s alright. I’d be sad if he died, knowing literally nothing about him other than that he listens to music and drinks Dr. Pepper.

I think the husband plotline is kind of wild. I feel very bad for him. I don’t think you should be in a relationship if you’re questioning your love for someone. I think it’s kind of icky that she’s in love with him because he used to be healthy, and it’s what she could’ve had, and she feels like he needs her to survive. Meanwhile, he’s giving her literally everything that he has, and she’s like it’s not enough. That’s sad to me. You’re not a martyr for taking care of your spouse.

Look a lot of way smarter people than me are reading this and loving it. They’re finding the author’s thoughts on grief moving and insightful. Maybe I’m a dummy, but I didn’t see her come to any conclusion. I was waiting for some big enlightenment and for me it felt like the book never got there.

The Best Western part of this book worked so well for me that I want to pick up another book by this author. I think she could be an author that I’ll love. I think this book may have just been a fluke.

(Her essay on her open marriage is so much more successful for me than this book.)

Who should read this:
Lit fic girlies
Fever dream novel enthusiasts
No plot, just vibes fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* I Love You, But I’ve Chosen Darkness-Claire Vaye Watkins-self-discovery in the desert, but the self-discovery is that she hates her family
* Rouge by Mona Awad-unsatisfying fever dream of a novel, mommy issues
* Masters of Death by Olivie Blake-hear me out-it’s basically magical realism to realize that daddy loves you- which is also this book
* Shark Heart by Emily Habeck-much more successful use of magical realism to deal with grief. Emotionally eviscerating.
* The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang-magical realism, mommy issues, basically nothing happens.
* Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth-campy, femme, surrealist horror
* The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab-musey, magical realism romance
* Bad Thoughts by Nada Alic-depressed lady short stories
* Big Swiss by Jen Beagin-kooky, femme surrealist romance

I love Melissa Broder and her work and this book was just what you would come to expect from her. Dealing with finding oneself in a surreal way, I loved it.

A fever dream of a book, what a wild ride! Mental health, love, grief, and depression were themes explored in this novel paired with stunning prose and dark humor. A flawed main character that you can’t help but root for are some of my favorite types of books!

This was a weird and wonderful fever dream of a novel that made me laugh out loud and also hit me in the feels. Melissa Broder's writing is stunning and I was so invested in the unnamed narrator's journey. Definitely a favorite of the year.

Thanks to Scribner for the copy to review.

What did I just read?

Death Valley by Melissa Broder felt like a trip or a fever dream. It was weird and amusing in a way that I think a lot of people would like. Broder's writing was stream-of-thought and odd in a very like-able way. I feel like Broder could write about anything and it would be enjoyable- such as a woman stepping into a cactus and speaking to her father through a variety of ages while he lays dying at a hospital, conversing with inanimate objects, and flying on birds.

I enjoyed reading Death Valley, although I feel that it was a pretty forgettable read. None of the metaphors particularly hit me in a lasting way. That begin said, I would recommend Death Valley for those dealing with grief who may take more away from the novel than I did. Packed with metaphors regarding death and dying, Death Valley may be a very poignant read for those who have dealt or are dealing with grief. You may also enjoy Death Valley if you are a fan of magical realism and books that are very oddball.

3/5 stars. Thank you to Melissa Broder, Scribner, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another unique, compelling read by Melissa Broder. Her individualistic voice and writing style wrings true in this novel about grief, depression, illness, adult/child relationships, told in a one-of-its-kind journey as she stumbles across a cactus on a desert trail that turns into a 'portal' for exploration. Highly recommended!

So I am less of a sci-fi reader and am trying to expand my reading. I read Pisces by Broder and thought she was a good writer but the story wasn't ideally my thing. This book is more my thing and Broder is an even better writer. A tale involving a writer trying to finish writing where she goes to stay at a Best Western in the desert. Her father is in the hospital and her husband is chronically ill. This plays into the visions she has while hiking. Her take on the god of her understanding and love as a verb drew me in. I was still a little lost mid through but it all seemed to make some sense in the end.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I was blown away by this book. Something about Broder’s voice made me feel like she was talking directly to me. I felt like I was her protagonist, despite having little to nothing in common with the character. This story got more and more trippy, and I was happy to go along for the ride. I was left wanting a little bit at the end with some of the reunions between characters. But I am so happy I requested this book and need to read more of Broder’s work!

An excellent study in grief and longing. I love Melissa Broder's writing and I highly recommend this.

(2.75 rounded up) Overall, I feel like this book wasn't really for me. The first half was probably more of a 3.5, but the second half dragged for me, and I was just over it by the end. I think if this book was condensed into a short story, I would have liked it all the way through, but I didn't connect with the character, the atmosphere, or I guess the plot? There were some interesting survival themes (both physically and emotionally/mentally) which I would say was my favorite part.

I really loved this short little book. The writing was quirky in the best way. The character was off the wall and yet totally relatable. Her inner dialogue propelled the narrative in a pleasing fashion. The story was sad and hopeful and funny all at the same time. The cover art is stunning. Read it.

I was new to this author and I tried to keep an open mind while reading this but it's truly not for me. I felt like for moved slow at certain points and I don't know, it's just not for me

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I made it to about 50% on this one before deciding "life's too short to read books you don't like." Unfortunately, I really, really didn't like this one.

It's a little too "out there" for my taste. Just as unfortunate? This was my first Broder. I've heard Milk Fed's basically gospel, so I hope my issue is with this book specifically and not her style, in general.

While I appreciated the commentary here about grief, it was layered beneath a lot of nonsense that I just couldn't buy into. Everything felt very stream-of-consciousness and scattered. Not sure what would have made it more appealing, but I'm sad that I was unable to keep trudging through it.

It’s not the worst but it wasn't for me. All the characters were flat and the writing felt monotone throughout. Even though I know it’s purposely weird and the potential is there but it struggled to hold my attention.


Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for providing a copy for an honest review.