Have any of you read this one? It’s a short (183 page) little horror novel, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell. I had never heard of it before today, when I grabbed it at my local library because it was on a little display they’d set up of horse-themed novels. “HORSES,” read the little laminated sign, and immediately my inner horse girl was awoken like a sleeper agent, and I made a beeline to the shelf and was tempted to scoop up all six or eight novels there, but I was holding my baby on one arm and a giant sack of kid’s books on the other, and my three little kids were scrambling around making trouble as usual, so I had to just quickly grab the first one that caught my interest. And here it is:

I was really hopeful for this one because in addition to horses, I also love a good psychological horror story — and this one was shortlisted for the Booker prize, so it was sure to be good!

Thing is though, as fun as it was (because yes indeed, I did manage to read it in one day, in stolen moments, and if I hadn’t had work to do, could have read it in a single sitting; it really does go that fast)… I’m a bit disappointed.

First of all, and this is nothing wrong with the story, but rather my library’s fault: it’s kind of a stretch to call this one “horse-themed.” Yes there are horses in it, but they don’t do much. They’re just kind of mentioned a few times.

Second of all, and more importantly: the ending just kinda fell flat for me. It felt pretty anticlimactic. Probably I’m just too dumb for the book. After finishing it, I was like: “that was it? Did I miss something? Where was the big creepy reveal?” So I looked up some reviews and discussions online, and apparently I didn’t miss anything, it’s just a very straightforward little story.

There’s nothing even slightly supernatural — and I don’t even need supernatural elements tbh, like for me most mainstream supernatural horror is way over the top; but when I’m promised a “ghost story,” I do hope to have at least something unexplainable or spooky or left up to the imagination! This story was entirely natural and explainable (well, to be fair, I guess it’s left up to us to wonder whether what the green house lady did was real or if it was just the lasting effects of the boy’s illness).

The only thing that made this feel like a “ghost story” was the hallucinatory, fever dream style of the narration. Which was very effective. But I dunno, I kept hoping for something that would make me gasp and go “Oh, shit! It all makes sense now!” but that just never came. The story just kind of rolled along until it stopped.

But like I said, I’m probably just too dumb for it.

Or too sad. Another discussion pointed out that the book is actually more sad than scary. And I have to agree. It’s called a “horror,” but it’s really more of a tragedy. And a tragedy was the last thing I needed in my life today. So, yeah, a bit disappointed.

I mean, climate fiction… that’s the big surprise? Reminds me a lot of the “twist” in M. Knight Shyamalan’s The Happening, which was simiarly unsatisfying for me. It’s disappointingly, upsettingly realistic, I guess. I was hoping for something a little more escapist. Shoulda known escapism wouldn’t be shortlisted for a Booker prize. You’ve got to be socially aware to make that list.

Don’t get me wrong though, Fever Dream is an amazing little book and really holds your interest. And it is creepy. There were parts that were so suspenseful I almost couldn’t stand it, like where David is going this is it, this is the important part, and you’re just watching and waiting for something climactic to happen. His rushed, italicized interrogation really did add to the suspense.

And a lot of the discussions and reviews online are talking about how relatable it is for moms: this idea of a “rescue distance” (which, if I’m not mistaken, is the original title in Spanish; I kinda wish they’d kept this title in translation!): the constant awareness that we moms have of how far away your kid is, where they are, what they are doing, how long it’d take you to get to them in an emergency… like an invisible rope from your stomach connecting you to them (an umbilical cord, one might say). The way it pulls taut and shortens or ties in knots when something scary happens or you don’t know where they are. Those moments are indeed extremely relatable and well-written. And in the end make the story that much sadder.

Overall, I do recommend this book if you are someone who’s smart and socially aware — but I do not recommend this book if you’re looking for a satisfying, mysterious ghost story, or if you’re someone who doesn’t like being made to feel sad.