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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5 stars
A lifeless cautionary tale against urbanization, The Auctioneer has a very straightforward set up: a mysterious auctioneer showed up to the small town of Harlowe, New Hampshire, as he continuously sells off town people's asset in the name of 'catching up to the time', the residents realize perhaps they have misjudged his intention.
A lot of simmering that ultimately doesn't pay off with a satisfying finale, The Auctioneer should've been an even shorter novella; even though the vicious cycle of selling away bigger and more life-dependent goods does escalate, the victimized characters' general lack of urgency deflate most of its threatening thrill. The novel is also a little too on the nose for my taste in term of its underlining message: the fear of gentrification, the gradual loss of cultural identity and human history through capitalism. While within its publishing context I can understand the importance of plainly delivering this relatively new outlook (being first published in 1975), the absence of a gripping narrative and dimensional character results in The Auctioneer feeling very much like a product of its time.
I was quite excited getting into The Auctioneer, not only for its badass cover art, but also I've been having a really good streak reading vintage horrors (The Elementals by Michael McDowell, Maynard's House by Herman Raucher, etc.), but this one left me feeling indifferent — I understand it's conceptual significance, but it isn't compelling as a story.
A lifeless cautionary tale against urbanization, The Auctioneer has a very straightforward set up: a mysterious auctioneer showed up to the small town of Harlowe, New Hampshire, as he continuously sells off town people's asset in the name of 'catching up to the time', the residents realize perhaps they have misjudged his intention.
A lot of simmering that ultimately doesn't pay off with a satisfying finale, The Auctioneer should've been an even shorter novella; even though the vicious cycle of selling away bigger and more life-dependent goods does escalate, the victimized characters' general lack of urgency deflate most of its threatening thrill. The novel is also a little too on the nose for my taste in term of its underlining message: the fear of gentrification, the gradual loss of cultural identity and human history through capitalism. While within its publishing context I can understand the importance of plainly delivering this relatively new outlook (being first published in 1975), the absence of a gripping narrative and dimensional character results in The Auctioneer feeling very much like a product of its time.
I was quite excited getting into The Auctioneer, not only for its badass cover art, but also I've been having a really good streak reading vintage horrors (The Elementals by Michael McDowell, Maynard's House by Herman Raucher, etc.), but this one left me feeling indifferent — I understand it's conceptual significance, but it isn't compelling as a story.
Dreadful in the best sense of the word
Not often has a novel invoked in me such a sense of dread and suspense, requiring frequent breaks in order to get myself back to sorts. Beautiful in its simplicity but powerful in its modern relevance, I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a story built on human emotion and experience.
Not often has a novel invoked in me such a sense of dread and suspense, requiring frequent breaks in order to get myself back to sorts. Beautiful in its simplicity but powerful in its modern relevance, I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a story built on human emotion and experience.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
100% recommend for anyone who is a fan of Shirley Jackson or super slow-burn horror. Samson builds a wonderfully vague sense of unease throughout the book that culminates in an ending that just guts you. Things feel predictable at times, but even if you can see exactly where you're going, that doesn't keep the destination from making you feel horrible. At multiple points I think I actually said "oh my god," out loud. There is no higher praise.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
purely okay. Really put the "slow" in slow-burn (and, quite literally, "burn").
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an older book (originally published in 1975), but it's one of those slow burning thrillers with a shocking ending.
At first, it's just a story about a small New Hampshire town. But one family - John Moore, his wife Mim, their daughter Hildie, and his crippled mother - dares to take a stand
But newcomer Perly Dunsmore, a charismatic auctioneer, arrives. With the help of his deputized goon squad, Dunsmore slowly terrorizes the town.
At 260-ish pages, it's a quick read
At first, it's just a story about a small New Hampshire town. But one family - John Moore, his wife Mim, their daughter Hildie, and his crippled mother - dares to take a stand
But newcomer Perly Dunsmore, a charismatic auctioneer, arrives. With the help of his deputized goon squad, Dunsmore slowly terrorizes the town.
At 260-ish pages, it's a quick read