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oddfigg's review against another edition
5.0
A mix of the thematic hivemind and gothic tones of "The Lottery" with the small town Americana and charismatic villain of Needful Things, this superb book shows that Joan Samson was an amazing talent. We are so lucky to have gotten this book from her before she passed away suddenly from brain cancer soon after its publication in 1976, but I can't help but to wonder what else she might have had in store. Because this book is truly brilliant.
It is hard to just sum this book up as a mix of those two other tales, but it makes for an intriguing tagline. There are definitely traces of both Shirley Jackson and Stephen King in Samson's book. The way she writes about a small farming community and really creates the people who live there reminded me so much of how King is able to craft people (not just characters) within his stories. And the tone of the book, the fairly terse and compact sentences, without much fluff but with intensely clear description and vivid dialogue reminded me fiercely of Jackson and her strange gothic style.
But before you are even five pages in, it is completely clear that Samson created something all her own, completely original, and downright chilling.
I read this book with alternating white-hot rage at Perly, the auctioneer, and intense frustration at the Moores, the main family whose perspective we witness the decay of the town from. The book is engineered to make you feel this way, and also to engender an utter helplessness, because what else are they supposed to do? What other options do they have?
It is timely that this book is coming back into print now, with our social and political situation in its current upheaval. There are plenty of similarities to be seen between Perly's slow and total takeover and our government. The people in charge seem to take and take and take until we have nothing left to give but the unthinkable—to the point that even official channels are either under the spell or simply don't believe that anything like THAT could be happening, not here at least, in the land of the free.
Yes, it is perhaps a little close to home, and the timeless quality of the story definitely resonated with me. But Samson's story is also just powerful on its own literary merit and is a classic in my book.
This edition has a new introduction by Paperbacks from Hell author Grady Hendrix!
It is hard to just sum this book up as a mix of those two other tales, but it makes for an intriguing tagline. There are definitely traces of both Shirley Jackson and Stephen King in Samson's book. The way she writes about a small farming community and really creates the people who live there reminded me so much of how King is able to craft people (not just characters) within his stories. And the tone of the book, the fairly terse and compact sentences, without much fluff but with intensely clear description and vivid dialogue reminded me fiercely of Jackson and her strange gothic style.
But before you are even five pages in, it is completely clear that Samson created something all her own, completely original, and downright chilling.
I read this book with alternating white-hot rage at Perly, the auctioneer, and intense frustration at the Moores, the main family whose perspective we witness the decay of the town from. The book is engineered to make you feel this way, and also to engender an utter helplessness, because what else are they supposed to do? What other options do they have?
It is timely that this book is coming back into print now, with our social and political situation in its current upheaval. There are plenty of similarities to be seen between Perly's slow and total takeover and our government. The people in charge seem to take and take and take until we have nothing left to give but the unthinkable—to the point that even official channels are either under the spell or simply don't believe that anything like THAT could be happening, not here at least, in the land of the free.
Yes, it is perhaps a little close to home, and the timeless quality of the story definitely resonated with me. But Samson's story is also just powerful on its own literary merit and is a classic in my book.
This edition has a new introduction by Paperbacks from Hell author Grady Hendrix!
cookiereadsswiftly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sage_o_402's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thewallflower00's review against another edition
2.0
The writing is as austere as the setting, which fits. This is a stark horror and it builds slowly. There is no monster here (except for the greatest monster of all–man).
Yes, this is one of those psychologically scary horrors like Oldboy or Se7en. Fear is created through a slow burn as the person terrorizing others is just a guy like you or me. And he does it by degrees, not in a single brutal slash. And you are left to wonder what you would do in this situation and finding yourself not liking the answer.
The novel, as written, was more an allegory of city people fleeing into the rural areas, gentrifying them, farmers getting shouldered off their land by weekend warriors and the invasion of suburbia. But you know how I interpreted it? I saw an allegory for how Native Americans were driven off their land. Getting increasingly worse deals for their property, always the threat of violence implied if they didn’t surrender.
The problem is that, like other horror novels I’ve seen, like in The Deep and Touch the Night, they get into a “horror loop”. They remember to include the scares but forget to move the plot along. The scary thing repeats and no one does anything about it. It’s like building a stack of papers one sheet at a time. Which, I guess, is what a book is. But for me, I need more development than that, not just scrapings.
Yes, this is one of those psychologically scary horrors like Oldboy or Se7en. Fear is created through a slow burn as the person terrorizing others is just a guy like you or me. And he does it by degrees, not in a single brutal slash. And you are left to wonder what you would do in this situation and finding yourself not liking the answer.
The novel, as written, was more an allegory of city people fleeing into the rural areas, gentrifying them, farmers getting shouldered off their land by weekend warriors and the invasion of suburbia. But you know how I interpreted it? I saw an allegory for how Native Americans were driven off their land. Getting increasingly worse deals for their property, always the threat of violence implied if they didn’t surrender.
The problem is that, like other horror novels I’ve seen, like in The Deep and Touch the Night, they get into a “horror loop”. They remember to include the scares but forget to move the plot along. The scary thing repeats and no one does anything about it. It’s like building a stack of papers one sheet at a time. Which, I guess, is what a book is. But for me, I need more development than that, not just scrapings.
treedog669's review against another edition
5.0
It's possible I'm just biased because it's in NH.
The introduction says that it's about the idea that when you move to a new place, you don't get to start fresh — rather, you simply get to retell the same story. I didn't pick up on too much of that in the story (perhaps it'll reveal itself when my bookclub discusses it). I mostly picked up on the abuse that happens when someone asks you to "haze yourself", as they say in the military, because you know the consequences will be worse if you don't. When do fight back? How do you fight back? How much do you take? Will it go away on its own?
The prose is mid-century, with its paragraphs slowly describing settings and its sentences shorter than the ambling prose of yesteryear but longer, more relaxed than what you might find today. But I'm basing this on feeling — nothing concrete.
I was prepared to be unsatisfied with the ending, but it ultimately came together pretty nicely. I think the dialogue could've been done a little differently, maybe the ending scenes could've been paced a little slower, but I'm overall happy with it.
The book is centered on justice: what happens when you endure something that you deem to be unfair, what happens when you see other people enduring unfairness, and how do you change it.
The epilogue by the author's husband (since the author died 5 months after publishing) highlights parallels to Trump. I don't personally see them, but I can understand the linking of the the two with the threads of injustice and unfairness.
The introduction says that it's about the idea that when you move to a new place, you don't get to start fresh — rather, you simply get to retell the same story. I didn't pick up on too much of that in the story (perhaps it'll reveal itself when my bookclub discusses it). I mostly picked up on the abuse that happens when someone asks you to "haze yourself", as they say in the military, because you know the consequences will be worse if you don't. When do fight back? How do you fight back? How much do you take? Will it go away on its own?
The prose is mid-century, with its paragraphs slowly describing settings and its sentences shorter than the ambling prose of yesteryear but longer, more relaxed than what you might find today. But I'm basing this on feeling — nothing concrete.
I was prepared to be unsatisfied with the ending, but it ultimately came together pretty nicely. I think the dialogue could've been done a little differently, maybe the ending scenes could've been paced a little slower, but I'm overall happy with it.
The book is centered on justice: what happens when you endure something that you deem to be unfair, what happens when you see other people enduring unfairness, and how do you change it.
The epilogue by the author's husband (since the author died 5 months after publishing) highlights parallels to Trump. I don't personally see them, but I can understand the linking of the the two with the threads of injustice and unfairness.
splatterjunk's review against another edition
4.0
For a first (and unfortunately, only) book, this blew my socks clean off my body. A vision of the possible drawbacks of small town, rural life, The Auctioneer presents the reader with a dilemma: how far would you let someone push you before you push back? When someone gets hurt? When someone dies? The sinister figure of Perly Dunesmore, a perfectly normal human being, strikes more fear than any number of heinous slavering beasts simply because he could, and probably does, in some form, exist. Combine this plausibility with some of the bleakest atmosphere this side of Cormac McCcarthy and you have a stone cold classic on your hands.
Well written and brilliantly paced, this is a classic that is, deservedly, becoming more known and appreciated as time goes by.
4/5 iron grey skies looking down on us poor sinners, read in the sunshine if at all possible
Well written and brilliantly paced, this is a classic that is, deservedly, becoming more known and appreciated as time goes by.
4/5 iron grey skies looking down on us poor sinners, read in the sunshine if at all possible
mbrutzman's review against another edition
4.0
Gonna go with a 3.8, it was a good read but felt like stories I've heard before, some of those being a bit better
ccfrostybits's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Honestly just what the doctor ordered after reading Absalom, Absalom!. Just a short, tense read that's plot really sneaks up on you. I'm really into watching a small town turn on itself so this was definitely right up my alley. I feel like it could have done for having some more compelling characters, but their actions do make it authentic and interesting none the less. Would definitely recommend. The most western book ever set in New Hampshire.
joshjorgz's review against another edition
5.0
A new Barnes and Noble opened up in my neighborhood and while making the appropriate pilgrimage, I stumbled upon this novel. It had been on my radar before--the Paperbacks from Hell, Grady Hendrix, and the re-issues of particular titles are all extremely exciting to me--and it was the right time to pick it up.
The Auctioneer is the only novel written by Joan Samson--she died a few months after it was published. Blurbs compare it favorably to Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," and it is celebrated as one of the few 70s horror novels to sell 1 million copies.
I think it is a slow-burning masterpiece. The story centers on John, Mim, their daughter Hildie, and John's mother, Ma. They are farmers in Harlowe, New Hampshire, and they live off the land and their humble community resources (neighbors, shops, exchanges, etc.).
When a man named Perly Dunsmore--the Auctioneer--infiltrates their community, things seem to be both harmless and exciting. The items that he sells during his Auctions are funneled into the community--more police (because crimes are rising) and other necessary resources. But when the Auctions refuse to stop--John and Mim are thrust into a situation that is more than they, and the Harlowe community, bargained for.
This is definitely a pot-will-boil novel. I found the details and the set-up fascinating. It is like a time-capsule from the 1970s in rural America. The character development is gradual yet stark. As you go along, things become more and more unsettling.
The ending is fierce, bleak, and ultimately deflating--not because it is a let-down, but because there is no mistaking how easily a community can come to ruin.
The Auctioneer is the only novel written by Joan Samson--she died a few months after it was published. Blurbs compare it favorably to Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," and it is celebrated as one of the few 70s horror novels to sell 1 million copies.
I think it is a slow-burning masterpiece. The story centers on John, Mim, their daughter Hildie, and John's mother, Ma. They are farmers in Harlowe, New Hampshire, and they live off the land and their humble community resources (neighbors, shops, exchanges, etc.).
When a man named Perly Dunsmore--the Auctioneer--infiltrates their community, things seem to be both harmless and exciting. The items that he sells during his Auctions are funneled into the community--more police (because crimes are rising) and other necessary resources. But when the Auctions refuse to stop--John and Mim are thrust into a situation that is more than they, and the Harlowe community, bargained for.
This is definitely a pot-will-boil novel. I found the details and the set-up fascinating. It is like a time-capsule from the 1970s in rural America. The character development is gradual yet stark. As you go along, things become more and more unsettling.
The ending is fierce, bleak, and ultimately deflating--not because it is a let-down, but because there is no mistaking how easily a community can come to ruin.