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kernanbk's review against another edition
3.0
very interesting concept and premise, kept me interested the whole time. mister b was quite a compelling narrator. I haven’t found any Clive Barker I didn’t enjoy so far. he has a way of telling a story that’s not like many other authors.
alwaysshana's review against another edition
2.0
Entertaining but not scary, gorey, or anything along those lines. The books is told from the perspective of a demon trapped within the pages but it's pretty much a bio.
g_na's review against another edition
1.0
Clive Barker is the best horror author I've ever read. His short stories are novel and twisted, and I've found myself reading them over and over. During the past decade or so Barker has moved out of horror short stories and on to fantasy novels; they ranged from okay to good, but I missed his old style. Needless to say, when I picked up his most recent book and the jacket advertised a "return to the classic horror story," I was thrilled! But sadly, this book didn't do it for me. Maybe it was the style in which it was told (part first person narrative, part speaking directly to the reader), or maybe my expectations were too high, but it left me disappointed.
author_missyjane's review against another edition
1.0
Clive Barker has been one of my favorite authors since I picked up his Books of Blood series as a teenager. I purchased this book shortly after it came out and have been trying to read it ever since. I kept starting and then putting it down, then trying again because I can't stand to NOT finish a book. I'm officially throwing the towel on this one and am seriously disappointed.
Another reviewer mentioned the juvenile repetition by the demon narrator and I thought "Yeah! That's what was bothering me." It's so unlike CB's previous work and not in a good way. I even skipped to the last few pages but those couldn't hold my interest either. I finally decided I just don't care enough about the character, despite his weak attempts at shocking the reader.
Another reviewer mentioned the juvenile repetition by the demon narrator and I thought "Yeah! That's what was bothering me." It's so unlike CB's previous work and not in a good way. I even skipped to the last few pages but those couldn't hold my interest either. I finally decided I just don't care enough about the character, despite his weak attempts at shocking the reader.
mrwilliams's review against another edition
1.0
A short story turned into a novella. It seems. This is too long before one is even too far into the story. I think it is supposed to be funny. Not what I come to Barker for exactly.
astormisborn's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 53% through.
Not finishing a book is rare for me, so is not enjoying a Clive Barker book.
It was the tone and the way this was written. I don't know how someone makes a book about demons and blood and murder sound like a book written for 8th graders, but that was what was accomplished here.
Not finishing a book is rare for me, so is not enjoying a Clive Barker book.
It was the tone and the way this was written. I don't know how someone makes a book about demons and blood and murder sound like a book written for 8th graders, but that was what was accomplished here.
amandamlyons's review against another edition
3.0
While it was an easy read and there were certainly aspects of the description I liked I still have to say this book is probably Barker's worst book. This is largely because Mr. B drives you nuts repetitively asking you to burn the book. After awhile it's a nuisance and you want to get back to the story rather than deal with his complaints and threats.
This is one of the few time I've seen Barker use first person and wonder if that may also have played a part. My fiance pointed out Mr. B as narrator may have been intended to be an inexpert writer but I still came away from reading this with a sense of being let down by an author I admire for his skill at writing.
This is one of the few time I've seen Barker use first person and wonder if that may also have played a part. My fiance pointed out Mr. B as narrator may have been intended to be an inexpert writer but I still came away from reading this with a sense of being let down by an author I admire for his skill at writing.
caffeineauthor's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Has some strong moments, but it’s repetitive.
tiepig's review against another edition
5.0
Really strange, really enjoyable book. I've never read a book written in that style, and found it really comfortable to read. I grew pretty attached to the main character by the end of it, and was very satisfied by how it all ended.
I wouldn't call it a horror. It's certainly a horror-ish setting, but it reads more like a dark comedy than a horror. At least to me it did, anyway.
I wouldn't call it a horror. It's certainly a horror-ish setting, but it reads more like a dark comedy than a horror. At least to me it did, anyway.
consumerismdemon's review against another edition
2.0
For all the years it took Barker to release a new novel, he should've waited a few more until he had a better idea. The concept of a demon trapped in a book is an interesting one, but the devices Barker uses to break the fourth wall are clunking and awkward:
1. Mister B. demands the reader burn the book, threatening violence.
2. Mister B. appeals to the reader's compassion and begs him/her to burn the book.
3. Mister B. tells a story from his life to somehow earn the reader's sympathy, and thereby get him/her to burn the book.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 unceasingly for 248 pages.
It's TIRESOME. After a while, I was simply annoyed with these appeals and wanted Barker to just tell the damn story, which wasn't particularly compelling or exciting in any way. I wouldn't really consider this a true Clive Barker novel.
1. Mister B. demands the reader burn the book, threatening violence.
2. Mister B. appeals to the reader's compassion and begs him/her to burn the book.
3. Mister B. tells a story from his life to somehow earn the reader's sympathy, and thereby get him/her to burn the book.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 unceasingly for 248 pages.
It's TIRESOME. After a while, I was simply annoyed with these appeals and wanted Barker to just tell the damn story, which wasn't particularly compelling or exciting in any way. I wouldn't really consider this a true Clive Barker novel.