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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
After the death of her nine year old daughter, Julia leaves her husband, buying an old house which she is soon to call home. Little does she know that within the shadowy confines of her new abode, chilling secrets await, and she is soon immersed deeper into its darkness...
This book blurs the line between reality and the paranormal, prompting you to ponder if the peculiar occurrences stem from Julia's mental state, her allegedly deranged husband, or sinister forces that may truly be at play.
I definitely think this book is of its time, and there's probably a reason it's not as well loved as many other work by Straub. I hated most of the characters, and, well, let's just say that this isn't Straub's finest work at representing women in a positive way.
I enjoyed parts of this book, struggled through others. If you're a fan of classic ghost stories that build suspense with a hauntingly atmospheric pace, then I think this one is for you. However, as much as I enjoyed it, having delved into numerous other ghost tales that have truly left me spooked, I find it hard to rate this one any higher than 2.5 stars.
This book blurs the line between reality and the paranormal, prompting you to ponder if the peculiar occurrences stem from Julia's mental state, her allegedly deranged husband, or sinister forces that may truly be at play.
I definitely think this book is of its time, and there's probably a reason it's not as well loved as many other work by Straub. I hated most of the characters, and, well, let's just say that this isn't Straub's finest work at representing women in a positive way.
I enjoyed parts of this book, struggled through others. If you're a fan of classic ghost stories that build suspense with a hauntingly atmospheric pace, then I think this one is for you. However, as much as I enjoyed it, having delved into numerous other ghost tales that have truly left me spooked, I find it hard to rate this one any higher than 2.5 stars.
Disappointing
The characters were so unlivable, it made it impossible to wish any of them a happy ending. I’ve read and enjoyed Straub’s works before, but this was poorly written and poorly paced.
The characters were so unlivable, it made it impossible to wish any of them a happy ending. I’ve read and enjoyed Straub’s works before, but this was poorly written and poorly paced.
Liquidé en 3 jours !!
troublant, presque frustrant si on veut un dénouement clair et rationnel, car là, c’est au choix, on interprète la fin (voire toute l’histoire) comme on veut !
J’ai adoré !
à la manière du génial Tour d’écrou d’Henry James…
troublant, presque frustrant si on veut un dénouement clair et rationnel, car là, c’est au choix, on interprète la fin (voire toute l’histoire) comme on veut !
J’ai adoré !
à la manière du génial Tour d’écrou d’Henry James…
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's a frustrating narrative, with shallow characters but with a good plot.
It's my first Peter Straub's book. It wasn't good, but I'll try another one to see if he's writing style grows on me.
It's my first Peter Straub's book. It wasn't good, but I'll try another one to see if he's writing style grows on me.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pretty good "first" outing for Straub, whose agent suggested he try his hand at genre fiction after his first book bombed.
Julia's a pretty great character. Compelling throughout, although it doesn't quite stick the landing.
Julia's a pretty great character. Compelling throughout, although it doesn't quite stick the landing.
Disappointing
The characters were so unlivable, it made it impossible to wish any of them a happy ending. I’ve read and enjoyed Straub’s works before, but this was poorly written and poorly paced.
The characters were so unlivable, it made it impossible to wish any of them a happy ending. I’ve read and enjoyed Straub’s works before, but this was poorly written and poorly paced.
I didn't like this one nearly so well as Straub's other novels. The beginning was promising, and the tension builds nicely through the first 3/4 of the book, but the ending seemed really abrupt and overly vague to me. I kept reading because I thought there was going to be a pay-off, and I was going to find out something really creepy and interesting, but instead things just stayed obscure and I was left confused by the ending.
Somewhat intriguing storyline that just... fizzled and lost my interest about halfway through. I gave up with maybe 1/4 left, cuz I couldn't bring myself to care how it ended.