Hot Topic Tuesday: Morbid Curiosity and Micol Ostow's FAMILY

Micol Ostow's latest book, Family (out today!), is loosely based on the Manson Family murders of the late 1960s. The official description:

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

Told in episodic verse, family is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

Shall we take a peek at what people are saying about this book? Let's!

♺ "Dark, mesmerizing and hazy." - Publisher's Weekly

♺ "Terrifyingly Good... And incredibly terrifying." - NY Times best-selling author LAUREN MYRACLE

♺ "Ostow's Henry is fascinating, a pied pieper hell-bent on reaching the masses, whether through love or terror. The subject alone should make this popular." -Booklist

♺ "Equal parts haunting and horrifying, FAMILY is overflowing with a sad beauty. Utterly mesmerizing from first page to last." - MICHELLE ZINK, author of the Prophecy of the Sisters Trilogy

Words like "haunting, terrifying, horrifying" go hand in hand, somehow, with "fascinating" and "mesmerizing" for these reviewers. And isn't that how the world views unspeakable events and gruesome crimes? They're so awful that we almost can't look away.

Take a look at that blood-splashed cover, and watch the trailer (below). Why do dark stories have such power to draw us in? 

I'm not sure, and scary movies still leave me sleep-deprived, but I'll be reading Family this weekend, that's for sure.

8 comments:

Jen Bigheart said...

I received this book at TLA and have heard wonderful things about it...I need to read it this week.

Jen

Kierah Jane Reilly said...

Wow. That book trailer was amazing. If my life had a background track, everytime I heard that haunting bit at the end, I would know to run for my life.

Melissa Walker said...

The trailer SERIOUSLY scares me. I watched it this morning while posting this, and have been creeped out all day. In the best way!

Sarah Ockler said...

This book looks so terrifying and awesome. I think we're all fascinated with the darker side of human nature, and I'm sure lots of psychologists can theorize on why, but all I know is that I can't wait to read this!

Michael Northrop said...

I'm so glad this one is finally here! I am really looking forward to delving into all the dark corners. In honor of the Royal Wedding, I think it's safe to say that this one looks "bloody good"!

Micol Ostow said...

Thanks for all of the love, guys - I agree, morbid curiosity was what drew me to this subject in the first place. Not sure why we're attracted to the dark side, but obviously, it's something I can relate to.

Sara said...

Late to the party, but wow, I can't wait to read this!

aisyahputrisetiawan said...

Banned complain !! Complaining only causes life and mind become more severe. Enjoy the rhythm of the problems faced. No matter ga life, not a problem not learn, so enjoy it :)

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