Reviews
This is one of the best paranormal haunting books every written.
I’ll start by saying that this book dazzled me in its plot, its structure, its character development, its pacing, in every technical category. The story is detailed and intriguing. Straub took characters that I was not expecting to like and made me willing to go with them for the entire book, which is by no means short. Horror rarely scares me, but there are some genuine get-under-your-skin moments here. This book also has a motif throughout the text that is both quite racist, and baffling in its inclusion, considering how little it plays into the actual plot. It is far above my pay grade to attempt to decide where to draw the line on reading dated and problematic books, in this case, even a “product of its time” defense doesn’t account for the fact that this motif also creates the weakest part of book. All the same, Ghost Story is all but canonized within the horror genre, and not without reason. Most of the book is exceptionally good. It feels irresponsible to say “5/5…minus the racism,” and dishonest to say that the book is without redeeming features or even genre significance. Ghost Story is as messily complex as the Chowder Society itself. And like The Chowder Society, it has a story to tell. I’ll leave it to individuals to decide if they want to listen.
Not enough payoff for how long it is and how many characters you have to keep up with. Squandered potential.
While I did enjoy this book but it is a product of its time. It still held my interest and I will be reading more from Peter Straub. I just wish it was a little more scarier for me.
I hated this book. I'm sorry Mr. Straub. I'm sure you're a great guy, and not an untalented writer judging from your many fans and accolades, but this book was not for me. I slogged through it, and should have given up, but was foolish enough to pass the point of no return where I felt like I had to finish it or it would eat away at me. So I hate-read the second half of the book. Why did I hate it? I didn't care at all about anyone. Not a single character. I've always wondered why the publishing powers-that-be caution against third person omniscience, or changing voice altogether within one manuscript. Well, exhibit A. With the ever-shifting perspectives I never got invested in any one particular character. With the jump from third person to first person, I became annoyed. It all felt like device and exposition to get to the second half rather than story unfolding before me. It wasn't mysterious. It wasn't intriguing. I just hated it. I hate it for the books I didn't read while I was slogging through it. I hate it for the way it made me not want to open my Kindle. I hate it for the other horror books I didn't get to during October. The only thing good that came out of it is it made me make a pact with myself to give up by 20% in if I'm not engrossed with a book. Life is too short.
