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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
When I started this I didn't know it was a series but I'm definitely interested (and bit worried) to buy and read the next book. It took sometime to really get going but when it did it definitely was gory and weird. Don't think I've ever read from this author before but do think I want to read more.
Pretty fun, but it's obviously a first novel. Still looking forward to getting to Ketchum's other works.
3.5 rounded up
A gruesome slice of hillbilly horror.
A gruesome slice of hillbilly horror.
This is an amazing bloodthirsty (da dum tss) book! It is full with pure violence and survival instincts. I actually took my pressure because my heart was racing. Cannot recommend it enough!
Disclaimer: I read the author’s uncut and uncensored edition. And after reading Ketchum’s notes on all the edits he had to make for the original publication, I actually think I would have liked that version better.
This was absolutely one of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read. And I wouldn’t have a problem with that if the characters were more fleshed out. But it was all gore and no emotion. If there were less perspectives rather than every character getting a POV, I would have had a chance to care about them. But the perspective switched so often, multiple times a page, sometimes in the middle of a paragraph, it was very confusing and all the characters blended together.
It was obviously written by a man in the 80s and it reads as such, especially in the depiction of women and fat people. Irksome, but not surprising. I will say it was fast paced, scary, and the plot itself is very good. I just wish there was more emotion and more distinction between the characters’ personalities and voice.
This was absolutely one of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read. And I wouldn’t have a problem with that if the characters were more fleshed out. But it was all gore and no emotion. If there were less perspectives rather than every character getting a POV, I would have had a chance to care about them. But the perspective switched so often, multiple times a page, sometimes in the middle of a paragraph, it was very confusing and all the characters blended together.
It was obviously written by a man in the 80s and it reads as such, especially in the depiction of women and fat people. Irksome, but not surprising. I will say it was fast paced, scary, and the plot itself is very good. I just wish there was more emotion and more distinction between the characters’ personalities and voice.
Yeah this book will stay with me for a while. Cannibals in the wild. Blood, gore, utter terror. The feeling of helplessness and no hope. Really good!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Absoluut vreselijk kutboek, hier heb je wat quotes die mijn punt bewijzen.
‘Beneath the faded grey pants he carried a razor-sharp fold-out knife, strapped next to his penis. He liked the way it felt there.’ – De kanibaal dames en heren
‘’Come over here and twirl on my cock,’’ he said. ‘’That’ll warm you.’’ – Dan
‘Within moments he came. Beside him, the man in the red shirt smiled as he saw the sperm slide down the white housepaint and fall to the ground’ – Het zijn tweelingbroers
’Her small breasts quivered’ Mannen die over vrouwen schrijven
‘He opened his knife and sliced of the penis and testicles and handed the penis to the girl and the testicles to the toothless woman. The girl ate with quick, birdlike movements, her head darting forward to her fingers like a bird pecking seeds on the ground.’ IEUW
‘At the same time her buttocks came down with a shuddering force-‘ – Marije pov.
‘Beneath the faded grey pants he carried a razor-sharp fold-out knife, strapped next to his penis. He liked the way it felt there.’ – De kanibaal dames en heren
‘’Come over here and twirl on my cock,’’ he said. ‘’That’ll warm you.’’ – Dan
‘Within moments he came. Beside him, the man in the red shirt smiled as he saw the sperm slide down the white housepaint and fall to the ground’ – Het zijn tweelingbroers
’Her small breasts quivered’ Mannen die over vrouwen schrijven
‘He opened his knife and sliced of the penis and testicles and handed the penis to the girl and the testicles to the toothless woman. The girl ate with quick, birdlike movements, her head darting forward to her fingers like a bird pecking seeds on the ground.’ IEUW
‘At the same time her buttocks came down with a shuddering force-‘ – Marije pov.
I am so very conflicted. I would describe Off Season as a more extreme "The Shuddering," by Ania Ahlborn, if you took away the winter setting, and added a pack of in-bred, absolutely terrifying cannibals. The entirety of the novel takes place within a 24 hour window, and whilst the pacing initially threw me off, Ketchum serves up what eventually becomes a blood-soaked, stomach-turning and action-packed fight for survival.
Off Season follows a group of friends vacationing in Maine. Already, tensions are running high, and relationships are becoming more and more strained- but these differences are quickly put aside. In the surrounding woods, lurk a pack of vicious and HUNGRY cannibals. The feral family of meat-eaters may be thirsting for blood, but our vacationers won't go down without a fight.. resulting in an utterly depraved battle between the two groups.
This book is insane, but also incredibly interesting. Ketchum explores one of the scariest monsters in fiction, humans.. in this case, at their most primitive. Aside from the literal family of cannibalistic primates, Off Season is an exploration of the lengths "ordinary," people are willing to go to for survival. Based off of that description, I'm sure you can imagine that I was uncomfy throughout. Ketchum's brand of violence is so GRAPHIC it borders on the offensive- Off Season is the type of book that could finish someone's Grandma off if she read the last chapter.. I rather liked it.
That being said, this is by no means perfect. My primary issue was the volume of characters (I found it difficult to keep up with both the names and relationships) which also meant that none of them were particularly well-developed or three-dimensional. Secondly, the pacing. Whilst toward the end I was on the edge of my seat, the first two parts are incredibly dull to read- verging on unnecessary.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this sick and twisted little book, and I think it was a great pick for our bookclub! I definitely needed someone to virtually hold my hand throughout. To conclude.. yikes.
Off Season follows a group of friends vacationing in Maine. Already, tensions are running high, and relationships are becoming more and more strained- but these differences are quickly put aside. In the surrounding woods, lurk a pack of vicious and HUNGRY cannibals. The feral family of meat-eaters may be thirsting for blood, but our vacationers won't go down without a fight.. resulting in an utterly depraved battle between the two groups.
This book is insane, but also incredibly interesting. Ketchum explores one of the scariest monsters in fiction, humans.. in this case, at their most primitive. Aside from the literal family of cannibalistic primates, Off Season is an exploration of the lengths "ordinary," people are willing to go to for survival. Based off of that description, I'm sure you can imagine that I was uncomfy throughout. Ketchum's brand of violence is so GRAPHIC it borders on the offensive- Off Season is the type of book that could finish someone's Grandma off if she read the last chapter.. I rather liked it.
That being said, this is by no means perfect. My primary issue was the volume of characters (I found it difficult to keep up with both the names and relationships) which also meant that none of them were particularly well-developed or three-dimensional. Secondly, the pacing. Whilst toward the end I was on the edge of my seat, the first two parts are incredibly dull to read- verging on unnecessary.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this sick and twisted little book, and I think it was a great pick for our bookclub! I definitely needed someone to virtually hold my hand throughout. To conclude.. yikes.
"3.5 stars
Sometimes a little bit too into detail about sex and genitals but besides that, nice and vile"
Sometimes a little bit too into detail about sex and genitals but besides that, nice and vile"