I really enjoyed this book, it was eerie and suspenseful and mysterious and beautifully written, and I will absolutely read it again, but I won't discuss this book with anyone who hasn't read it. It's best to not know what it's about in my opinion, and I don't want to inadvertently spill its secrets.
But, wow. What a ride! I was on the edge of my seat (figuratively; I was physically kinda squished up on my couch, but mentally I was on the edge of my seat) the entire time I was reading. This book sucked me in fast and kept me up late, or early, depending on your point of view - it's about 4:30 a.m. as I type this. The tension is stretched tight and clues teased out like breadcrumbs, and I'm babbling, but at least I'm not giving out spoilers lol!

#ComfortMeWithApples #NetGalley

4.5 ⭐️!

WHAT A PLOT TWIST!

I am so impressed with how this book went down. I had no idea where it was going but truly loved the entire experience and also the fact that it was done in such a short amount of time!

The lyrical descriptions were great! Usually I am not a big fan of lyrical writing, but I really enjoyed it in this book because it gave me such a clear picture of the setting and world. I found myself catching on to the plot just a little bit before the end, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment at all!!

I loved this retelling and how Valente crafted a fresh, new view on one of the oldest stories of all time. I'm also a huge fan of the ending. We know what happens once this book is finished, but getting to see an inside scoop and backstory of "the before"?? Priceless.

Overall very impressed and loved the nods to the original tale. Highly recommend for those readers who want a thought provoking read and some of the best plot twists I've read. I had such a good time.

xx
-Christine

First off, I am happy this was far less scary than I was expecting, and it helped that Dwayne Johnson would be cast as the husband in the film version.
The layers of cultural myth should have overlapped well, but somehow the convergence felt a little awkward. That may also be due to the fact that this story is still repeating itself throughout time immemorial, but as a fan of Valente, I've come to expect a little more. This is probably in my bottom 1/3 of her short fiction, but that still puts it high above most published fiction these days.
I'd recommend to feminists who are unruly, fans of myth and noir, or established fans

I almost feel bad rating this book 2/5 because the writing is phenomenal and the beginning of the story had me hopeful. The setting, characters and details gave me an eerie feeling and I thought I was going to be completely mind blown but the ending was a huge disappointment. I wish the author went a different route with this one because it could have easily been one of my favorite books of the year. If you’re religious, specifically Christian, you’ll enjoy this novella a lot more than I did. I could not get over the cheesy, ridiculous ending shrouded in support for the patriarchy🙄 A hard pass for me.

Full review to be posted soonish. I'll update review with links to socials.
I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Catherynne M. Valente’s novella Comfort Me With Apples was a bit of an interesting reading experience — different from the expectations I had. I went into this book excited to try something from Valente that was not middle grade fantasy. Also, glad that I only had to commit to a novella. I ended up reading this strange, little story in one single setting. My mind is also still spinning a little bit from it — but in a good way.

Comfort Me With Apples follows a woman named Sophia. She believes that she was made for her husband who is just perfect for her. Sophia lives in a gated community with a whole lot of rules called Arcadia Gardens. However, one day she wakes up and feels that something is a little bit off. When people ask her if she’s happy, she doesn’t quite know what to say. As she’s cooking she finds these strange remains — a fingernail, part of a bone. Sophia begins questioning. What results is a bit of a journey to reveal the truth about her husband and the life that she is currently living.

I really got a strong Bluebeard vibe from this novella. Throughout the story, Sophia is told she can’t go in the basement. There’s renovations. Soon the basement will be ready for her to go into. And so, there’s this whole curiosity about what is in the basement and this undercurrent of danger.

Then we get into this whole biblical vibe. Valente’s novella is weird and wonderful. I mean, did I like the ending? Not so much, but that’s because of the attachment I formed to Sophia. This was a really well contained novella that I felt had a clear resolution and did not leave me feeling as though it needed to be a full length book. This is exactly the kind of thing I like to experience when I pick a novella up. Plus, I now feel more inclined after reading Comfort Me With Apples to pick up a full length adult book from Valente.

DESCRIPTION: (from publisher): Sophia was made for him. Her perfect husband. She can feel it in her bones. He is perfect. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Everything is perfect.

It's just that he's away so much. So often. He works so hard. She misses him. And he misses her. He says he does, so it must be true. He is the perfect husband and everything is perfect.

But sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Strange things. Dark things. The look on her husband's face when he comes back from a long business trip. The questions he will not answer. The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can't quite meet her gaze...

But everything is perfect. Isn't it?

MY RATING: 5 of 5 stars

MY THOUGHTS: This is one of those reviews where I’m at a loss for exactly how much to say. Yes, I know the book has been out almost three months as of this writing and some folks reading this have probably already read reviews that have spoilery details. On the off chance you have not, though – I’m not going to reveal the big twists.

So what can I say?

Any fan of Cat Valente’s beautiful use of language to propel story should love this for the words alone. The structure of sentences, paragraphs, and chapters, the repetition of words and phrases – it’s all crafted with care towards keeping the reader invested in the story, and I loved every moment of it.

The pacing of Comfort Me with Apples is about as perfect as one can get in a story of this style. No time is wasted trying to lull the reader into thinking everything is fine before the big twist. From the beginning, there is no doubt that something is very wrong in Arcadia Gardens; if the language of the opening paragraphs of the residents’ agreement doesn’t tip you off, Sophia’s first thought (I was made for him) should. The question of course is: just what is wrong with Arcadia Gardens? Is this a Stepford Wives situation? Has Sophia been brainwashed and stuck in a village where no one is who they seem, ala The Prisoner? Is Sophia even a reliable focal character, or is she imagining much of what she sees? The story could plausibly go in any direction, but readers who are paying attention will figure out where it’s going around the time I did if not earlier. (And for me, it was only a few pages before what’s happening is made explicit.)

The in-story action is broken up occasionally with quotes from the Arcadia Gardens Housing Association’s Rules. They give the reader a moment to breath, to think, and they are highly effective. They’re also increasingly controlling and creepy as they continue, and really make me glad I don’t live in a gated community.

One more recommendation: if at all possible, read Comfort Me with Apples in one sitting. It’s only 103 pages in hardcover. Carve out the time. It’s worth it.

I received an electronic advance reading copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Where do I even begin?! I have so many thoughts and feelings about this one and I’ll start by saying this is definitely a read to go into completely blind with no expectations.
The overall vibe is a hint of Virginia Woolf with the grim foreboding of Wuthering Heights. Tension is present from the very first page and builds throughout the story. The author makes liberal use of the power of suggestion and intimation to create a mysteriously ominous atmosphere where everything looks perfect at first glance but a terrible secret waits to be discovered underneath the surface.
The prose is lush and elegant, bordering on flowery, but it seems fitting for the story being told and lends an air of the dramatic.
Don’t be fooled by the brevity, this is a deeper story than you may anticipate and it will leave you pondering what it all means long after you finish reading.
Read this if you loved how unsettled The Lottery made you feel, the tale of Bluebird was a childhood favorite or you enjoy books that unfold like dreams.

A very unique take on a very old tale. Even though it was a quick read it held my attention from the beginning. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would.

Please note that this review contains spoilers.

So this book was not for me, clearly. I went into it know that it was going to be a mind-bending story that was also set to be some kind of retelling, though the source material for said retelling was kept hush hush. Of course all of these things intrigued me, but by the time I was 80% of the way through this short book, I still had no idea what was going on.

The reveal finally came, and it took the literally spelling out of what was happening for me to understand. Which made me feel so stupid.

Why?

Because I am not religious.

Had I known that this was an attempt at a horror-leaning retelling of the story of Adam and Eve, I would not have requested the ARC. Me and organized religion don't get along so when the reveal came it absolutely rubbed me the wrong way.

I will repeat myself again, this was not a story for me. That being said, the writing was very well done and I would consider reading Valente's work in the future, though I might do a little more digging first.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2022 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2022/01/readers-advisory-announce-2022-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Short and mysterious, I enjoyed it for what it was though I wish it was creepier and darker. Th mystery wasn’t built up enough to create a sense of fear or suspense. It was clearly inspired by the old testament which was interesting.

This a sharp little novella, with gorgeous prose and the kind of buzzing tension that hooks me every time. I enjoyed it more when I stopped trying to "figure it out" and just enjoyed the story being told. The vibe is Bluebeard with a Margaret Atwood flair.

What an interesting and glorious reimagining! This is The Stepford Wives meets the Bible and it’s version of our universe’s beginning.

This was creepy, strange, and incredibly riveting. I am not usually a fan of reimagined stories, but this one is very well done and puts quite a fascinating spin on one of the world’s oldest stories.

Very short, sharp, and fast paced. Easy read. Would definitely recommend.

This was the creepy allegorical novella that I was looking for when I picked it up. The symbolism was heavy-handed in places but overall I loved the writing style and the turns the story took.

There is just something so beautiful about Valentes writing. This book was absolutely poetic. It’s a short novella leaving you guessing as to the true meaning of the book but it blew me away. Dark and twisty.

A thriller from Catherynne Valente? Say less. The prose is on brand and flawless. The pacing is perfect in this little novella. One of my top 5 reads of 2021!

Thanks to NetGalley and TDA for the arc; thank you Catherynne M. Valente for the strange story.

Review:
Overall story: 6/10 stars.
Prose: 10/10
Plot: 8/10

Let me start with praising Velente's prose. She wrote this book lyrically and vividly, so much that at certain points in the book I wanted to gag from a really descriptive *gore*.

Plotwise, there was nothing much going on especially if you have seen the film counterparts of the same story pipeline. I roughly knew what was going on early in the book and instead of being immensely surprised by the turn of events, I was honestly just pleased at myself for figuring it out early.

Length of the book would make this e-book worthy but for anyone who enjoys throwing the physical copy out of spite with the allegorical elements and the debates sparked by the contents, then go ahead and buy yourself one.

#ComfortMeWithApples #NetGalley

I recommend this one. It's a good book and everyone should read. Of course I would love to have this book in my bookstore.

Book Review
Title: Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
Genre: Contemporary, Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
The opening to Comfort Me With Apples was strange as we are introduced to Sophia, who lives in Arcadia Gardens with her husband. The first things that made me questions what was going on is Sophia constantly repeats that she was made for her husband and that they are perfect for each other although we haven’t met him yet. What we learn about Arcadia Gardens is also strange as there are a lot of rules for those that live there and it seems very much like Big Brother is watching them at all times.
Things get even more strange when Sophia mentions she isn’t allowed in the basement due to it being renovated but it gave me vibes similar to The Bloody Chamber. Sophia’s descriptions of her environment are also strange as she makes everything in the house out to be much larger than her. She talks about having a staircase to get out of bed and the actual staircase is so large she has to dangle down each step making it seem like she is living with a giant, giving her this small and fragile appearance. Things get weirder again when Sophia encounters a locked drawer in their home, but rather than speaking to her husband about it or ignoring it she breaks the drawer open and find a hairbrush and a lock of hair inside. While she doesn’t believe that the hair came from a person, she does contemplate and gossips with the neighbours about her husband cheating on her but she is regular made out to be the most beautiful person in Arcadia Gardens and it wouldn’t make sense. We also know that Sophia is breaking some of the rules as she makes her own soap which is against the rules but I need to meet the husband and figure out what is going on.
Suring tea with her neighbours, Sophia ends up meeting the musician/policeman called Mr. Semengelof and at first Sophia hates him because he sparks something in her that she hasn’t felt with even her husband. Mr. S is beautiful in Sophia’s eyes and when he plays for them she enters a kind of trance where we get some dark and disturbing imagery. During this conversation, Mr. S also asks a lot of questions about whether Sophia is happy and whether there is anything is wants changed or removed from her home and Sophia lies to him and I have a feeling that Mr. S knows she is lying. From what I can gather about the rules and the residents is a lot of them are breaking the rules but these are overlooked, maybe because they have money or maybe because they go after the more serious rulebreakers like the one Mr. S mentions.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel we see Sophia finding more odd things around her home, not just the hair and hairbrush but she finds a bone in the knife block which she knows is human, specifically a human fingertip and she knows only her husband could have put it there. After having a strange dream, her husband returns home and Sophia’s worries are put to the back of her mind although she is actively fighting not to ask him about the things she has found. She does questions him on what he does while he is away and he appeases her, although it seems he is very much in control of every aspect of Sophia’s life which isn’t life the other women who have more equal relationships with their husbands and this might be the reason he chose Sophia as his wife because of her docile nature. However, she is constantly being asked by a lot of people if she is happy and it makes her question things. She claims she is happy but her actions say otherwise and I can’t wait to see what happens.
With her husband home, he and Sophia attend a pantomime, but she lets it slip that she knows about the criminal that he was hunting as he mentions that he and Mr. S work together. This scares her husband and he does get a little physical with Sophia before leaving for work again. That night Sophia tears her home apart looking for more signs of another person and she finds a lot including bones, organ and blood and she realises that the house wasn’t built for her, it was built for whoever came before her although she doesn’t know who this is and the pantomime showcased this as it featured what Sophia thought was her story but it was story belonging to another woman that was being communicated to her by her friends. After finding this information out, Sophia is obviously crushed but I am eager to see what she does with this information now she has it or is she going to bury it and ignore it as she has done in the past.
After fleeing from the house, Sophia ends up meeting Cascavel who claims to know both her husband and Mr. S but not because they worked together. As they talk Cascavel reveals the information Sophia has been seeking to her but only when she is ready to accept the answers whether they are good or bad. The whole novel seems to be a retelling of Adam, Eve and The Garden of Eden and that makes Cascavel the serpent but there are also some fantasy, sci-fi elements sprinkled in there which make it quite interesting to read. One of the final questions Cascavel asks Sophia is what her husband’s name is and she seems to struggle like she doesn’t know the name of the man she married. Cascavel makes her offer of giving her what she seeks even though it won’t help her or make her happy but it might provide her with hope, hope to be different from the numerous wives who came before her who all ended up dead presumably at the hands of her husband and I think she is going to accept.
In the final section of the novel Sophia learns her husband’s name is Adam and he has been creating wives with his father but none of them were like the first wife. He claims the last wife before Sophia who ran away was Lilith and Sophia was supposed to be perfect but she isn’t after meeting Cascavel. Adam kills Sophia and in the final sentences we meet Eve as she is born in Sophia’s place. Overall, the novel is a dramatic and lyrical retelling of Adam and Eve or what happened before Eve was created by God. While I don’t usually like novels that are religious in tone I did apricate the beautiful writing style and the dark imagery really appealed to me as a horror fan.