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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like I was just clenching my jaw the entire time. A fantastic cold weather read.
Really good. I love the mundane evil, the look into the lives of the Moore’s, the fact that John himself - that all the victims - aren’t necessarily good people, the ending. Wow. Really good.
I thought this book was excellent once it got going.
The character development was fantastic and the brood...of impending doom. Plus, a new Yorker that is a total paper tiger and conman preying on the poor and taking advantage of their goodwill. New one to me!
The character development was fantastic and the brood...of impending doom. Plus, a new Yorker that is a total paper tiger and conman preying on the poor and taking advantage of their goodwill. New one to me!
A good thriller about a small-town nightmare. Enjoyable, although I found the ending to be unsatisfying.
dark
mysterious
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
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pure American Literature. It’s tempting to compare Samson’s novel to supernatural tales such as Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and King’s Needful Things but in truth The Auctioneer shares more in common with Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here and Jackson’s The Lottery. Specific enough you can find terrifying parallels to today’s current events including the 45th president of the United States and his ilk (the author’s widower even makes this comparison in the first paragraph of his afterword in the 2018 Valancourt Books edition). However abstract enough one could easily say the tale is a warning of socialism, bureaucracy, or a metaphor for the genocide and removal of indigenous peoples. Like much great literature, the novel does not offer answers but rather inspires introspection in ourselves. What would we be willing to give the auctioneer? Are we resisting if we’re not fighting? What makes us a man, woman, husband, father, or American?
The prose was sweeping and often I would find my heart racing at the tension and dread throughout the novel. Some may not be satisfied with the ending. It’s not the ending I would have chose but Ma’s final statement is meant not only for her family but the readers as well.
I hope this novel finds new readership and is rediscovered, going on to live a long life in the American Literary Canon and academia. It certainly is deserving of it.
The prose was sweeping and often I would find my heart racing at the tension and dread throughout the novel. Some may not be satisfied with the ending. It’s not the ending I would have chose but Ma’s final statement is meant not only for her family but the readers as well.
I hope this novel finds new readership and is rediscovered, going on to live a long life in the American Literary Canon and academia. It certainly is deserving of it.
What an incredible sense of slow creeping dread. An almost forgotten gem; one whose fire we must never let go out.
I beautifully engineered story that still holds eerily to current events. I won’t sum up what the story is about, you can read that anywhere. Instead, understand that this tale is one that will leave you pondering your, and others, current situation during these trying times.
This was an easy 4 star read for me-I enjoyed this very much and would highly recommend, but be forewarned this is a slow, slow burn of a book and not much happens in the way of action/thriller/suspense and your traditional horror elements. BUT..in my opinion this book embodies the kind of quiet horror that is in the realm of possibility that is way more terrifying than any sort of ghost or monster.
This book left me so angry and frustrated with the central characters while simultaneously wanting to scoop in and save them. Their vulnerability is so relatable, as much as we all like to believe that we are very unlikely to be in a situation that would strip us of everything and render us victims-this book actually had me thinking, “this is something that could happen to me and to people I love”. That’s just a testament of how effective and powerful Samson’s writing is.
Long story short, lol. If one of your fears is the idea of being powerless and falling victim to the “powers that be”and feeling completely helpless to your circumstances, this book is for you.
This book left me so angry and frustrated with the central characters while simultaneously wanting to scoop in and save them. Their vulnerability is so relatable, as much as we all like to believe that we are very unlikely to be in a situation that would strip us of everything and render us victims-this book actually had me thinking, “this is something that could happen to me and to people I love”. That’s just a testament of how effective and powerful Samson’s writing is.
Long story short, lol. If one of your fears is the idea of being powerless and falling victim to the “powers that be”and feeling completely helpless to your circumstances, this book is for you.