Hi all!

Welcome to the second discussion post for The You’ll Read Too Bookclub! In November, we read Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis. Spoilers ahead!

Quick Reminder: This month we are reading Clown In A Cornfield by Adam Cesare. 

Today I’m going to discuss the book by giving a quick plot summary, plus my overall star/scare-factor ratings. Then I will share the discussion topics and trivia questions. Please, include all of your answers and opinions down below. I want to know exactly what you thought. I’ll also leave the answers to the trivia questions at the very bottom of the post. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

HARROW LAKE by KAT ELLIS – NOVEMBER 2020 

PLOT SUMMARY 

This story follows Lola, a teenager with a famous horror-movie director for a father. When he is brutally attacked in their apartment, Lola is sent to stay with her grandmother in Harrow Lake; where his most renowned cult flick, Nightjar, was filmed. When she arrives, Lola notices the locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map. There are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away. Furthermore, there is someone stalking her every move. Could it be the legendary monster, Mr. Jitters, or something much worse?

OVERALL STAR RATING

I gave this book 4/5 stars. The reading experience itself was an enjoyable, wild ride and the atmosphere – EXCELLENT! The entire town of Harrow Lake creeped me out. The author did an amazing job painting a picture of a place, I would  never set foot in. The final reveal had me reeling. I did not see it coming, but that’s what made it such a satisfying ending. Trigger warnings: trauma, sexual assault, child molestation and physical abuse. It definitely gave me The Babadook vibes, thanks to the shadowy, terrifying monster: Mr. Jitters. The reason I couldn’t give it a full 5 stars, was it confused me at times, leaving some things unexplained. It was very difficult to tell what was real and what wasn’t. I also wasn’t overly invested in the love interest. To me, Lola was a stand-out character; causing the other characters to fall short in comparison.

OVERALL SCARE-FACTOR RATING

I’ve read a few reviews of this book, that claim it isn’t a horror. I don’t agree in the slightest. From the stalking of Mr. Jitters, to the creepy doll, to locations like The Bone Tree, to the disturbing reveal; this novel is bound to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. I gave it 4/5 for the overall scare-factor. The part that creeped me out the most was when Lola discovered the film playing in the museum. Even the jitterbugs made me shudder!

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1.) Do you believe Mr. Jitters was real or just a manifestation of trauma?

At the end of the book, we discover that Lola’s mother, Lorelai, was repeatedly molested by her father. He used the legend of Mr. Jitters as a threat to keep her quiet – but that still didn’t completely prove the creepy puppet wasn’t real. Despite Lola’s trauma, she continues to witness his shadowy presence. Even the townspeople are fearful of him. I feel like the author left his existence open to interpretation. What do you think?

2.) How would you describe the atmosphere in Harrow Lake?

The best way I can describe the atmosphere was like a fever dream. You know when you’re sick and all your dreams are fuzzy and disjointed? That is what the reading experience was like for me. When we discover that Lola is crippled with trauma and dissociation, things begin to make perfect sense. I would love to re-read it with that lens. The town itself is creepy, strange and chilling. You can never truly relax, nor rely on Lola’s perspective. In my opinion, the atmosphere was the best part of the book.

3.) Did you guess what happened to Lorelai? What theories did you have? 

My theory was she had been imprisoned by her mother, or the townspeople, for all those years. I was actually surprised to discover she was dead; her corpse still in Harrow Lake. What about you?

4.) What do you believe happened to the girls who played Lorelai? 

This is the part of the book that wasn’t fully explained. When Lola discovers one of the girls screaming and running in the woods, it isn’t completely clear what she was afraid of. This is why I wasn’t convinced Mr. Jitters was just a myth. Did Lola even see her, or was it a manifestation of trauma? The only other explanation is they died by stumbling into one of the many sinkholes. Also, what happened to Mrs. Carver? 

5.) In what ways was Lola similar to her mother? 

By the end of the book, we realise Lola is very similar to her mother, Lorelai, and not just in appearance. They are no strangers to abusive, manipulative fathers. Furthermore, they are charming, enigmatic women, that draw in the attention of people around them. Lola adopts the habit of writing down secrets on paper, just like her mother did as a child, as as well using objects for comfort, ie. her doll versus Lorelai’s jitterbugs. What similarities did you notice?

TRIVIA QUESTIONS 

Easy: What is Lorelai’s character’s name in Nightjar? 

Medium: Name a famous Nightjar location in Harrow Lake.

Hard: How many jitterbugs are in Lorelai’s room? 

I hope you enjoyed the book club discussion. As mentioned above, share all your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any feedback/suggestions to improve the bookclub, please let me know. I look forward to talking to you all next month! Thanks for reading! 

Peace & Love xoxo 

TRIVIA ANSWERS: Easy: ‘Little Bird.’ Medium: The Bone Tree, The Sunken Graveyard, The Church or The Caves. Hard: 72.