BOOK BRIEF

Universal Harvester

John Darnielle
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Universal Harvester

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017

Book Brief

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John Darnielle

Universal Harvester

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017
Book Details
Pages

214

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Iowa • 1990s

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

860L

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Super Short Summary

In Universal Harvester, a video store clerk in Iowa discovers unsettling footage spliced into VHS tapes, leading individuals to confront personal and communal fears. As the mystery unfolds, the narrative explores themes of grief, memory, and connection against a backdrop of rural America, intertwining the lives of those affected by the mysterious tapes.

Mysterious

Unnerving

Contemplative

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.4

20,324 ratings

40%

Loved it

36%

Mixed feelings

24%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

John Darnielle's Universal Harvester is praised for its haunting and atmospheric storytelling, weaving mystery with emotional depth. The novel's eerie narrative and compelling exploration of grief and loss captivate readers, though some find its pacing slow and its plot occasionally disorienting. Overall, it's a unique and thought-provoking experience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Universal Harvester?

Readers who relish suspenseful, genre-bending tales like House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski or The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins will be captivated by Universal Harvester. It's ideal for those who appreciate eerie, introspective narratives that blend horror with existential themes.

3.4

20,324 ratings

40%

Loved it

36%

Mixed feelings

24%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

214

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Iowa • 1990s

Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

860L

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