Comfort Me with Apples is a claustrophobic domestic thriller with a science fiction twist. I have read one of Valente's books before and didn't connect with her writing style, however I absolutely loved her writing in this novella. A short and tightly-written story, this is a perfect example of a great novella. Taking place almost exclusively inside the main character's home, Valente does a fantastic job of creating a tense atmosphere and showing the main character's mental state.

My only issue with the book is where the story went -- it followed a theme that I just don't happen to have any interest in! That's obviously not on the author, but it kept this book from being a new favourite.

I'd recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible -- the reveal is well worth it!

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.