I'm Thinking of Ending Things

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) Someone recommended this book to me awhile back, and while reading it I found out that a movie by Charlie Kaufman was going to be based on it. That doesn't happen too often, the timing. A brief description of the book mentions that it's a “thriller”—and I normally stay away from that kind of stuff—thrillers, horror, etc. (though I do love The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson). Oddly, I recently watched The Birds (1963) for the nth time, and I still don't know if I love or hate that movie, but maybe that's its strength. Around the same time, I happened to hear the author, Iain Reid, on a podcast, and I really liked him. Also, there's a snowy picture on the cover, and a lot of snow in the story. I'm a simple person. I want snow, pizza, a fireplace. I also like really commonplace things and conversation, even what most people find “boring.” I loved these characters driving in a car talking, and a lot of the interesting side subjects. However, there are elements that instantly unnerve you, keep you unbalanced, and don't allow you to get footing in reality. That is to some degree the point, and I'm not going to reveal anything further, but I'm not sure I even understand how it all falls together—and that's okay with me—in fact, I like that, usually—but only if there is something underneath it all, like the feeling you get when the weather changes. I heard a good argument recently (in regard to movies based on books) that you should see the movie first. I always felt the other way around—but in this case, you might take in these two forms simultaneously. That might be fun, but more fun with a friend, I suppose, because neither one of these works is going to hold your hand. Ultimately, I'm not going to come around to thrillers, psychological or otherwise, but it's good to get out of your usual habits once in awhile.