I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into when I picked up Death Valley by Mellissa Broder. I’ve never read any of her books, and I’m used to fantasy novels. You know – the ones that involve faeries, dragons and hobbits.
Well, different is exactly what I got from this book. A fever dream journey that mixes grief, self-discovery, and a gigantic cactus all wrapped up into 232 pages.
If you want a short, otherworldly book, then this is definitely the read for you.
Instagram | @bookishmadeleine
Summary
The Goodreads summary reads as follows:
A woman arrives alone at a Best Western seeking respite from an emptiness that plagues her. She has fled to the California high desert to escape a cloud of sorrow—for both her father in the ICU and her husband whose illness is worsening. What the motel provides, however, is not peace but a path, thanks to a receptionist who recommends a nearby hike.
Out on the sun-scorched trail, the woman encounters a towering cactus whose size and shape mean it should not exist in California. Yet the cactus is there, with a gash through its side that beckons like a familiar door. So she enters it. What awaits her inside this mystical succulent sets her on a journey at once desolate and rich, hilarious and poignant.”
Instagram | @bernie.lombardi
My thoughts
Death Valley covers a lot of heavy messaging, but not in a high-brow inaccessible way. Broder masterfully blends in dark humour, which I’ve come to learn is a core part of most of her novels, with a story that makes the reader feel seen and understood.
I have never come across a piece of literature that describes emotions and the feeling of never being able to outrun sorrow like Death Valley. And, to me, what really sells that sense of relatability is that you don’t know the protagonist’s name!
While this might seem like a clever way to insert “your name” fan fiction into a novel, this allows readers to insert themselves into the narrator’s shoes truly.
Speaking of our narrator, her inner monologue is at times funny and sharp, placing a cynical lens on grief and challenging situations. Other times though, that sharpness cuts deep during some truly heart-wrenching scenes.
Yes, Death Valley was an entertaining read, but Broder’s writing style took a lot of getting used to. It’s an unconventional story that might not be for everyone. The narrator comes across as unlikeable at times and the first half is slow and a little boring. And Broder’s pros can come across as too vivid and eclectic.
However, if you want a book that will transport you, and unabashedly discuss the complexities of love and loss, along with splashes of dark humour and vivid pros, Death Valley is the book for you. It’s trippy and unique, and once you get past the slow pacing, its messaging draws you in and lingers, well beyond the time that it took you to read the novel.
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Featured Image: Instagram | @scribnerbooks
