Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Probably the most tense and on edge a book has eve made me feel. The story's a bit of a Mish mash and feels thrown together in places. All together very well done with a good, satisfying ending.
This is a strange book that is long on atmosphere, short on pretty much everything else but still manages to work on a horror level. Ed, our protagonist, has been dumped by his girlfriend Holly and in order to cope with his loss decides to go on a walk. If you guess it was a night in the lonesome October you get extra points. The first night he goes on a walk strange things happen. This is where the book shines. You really get that feeling you get if you go out walking at night and encountering weird people. The plot gets convoluted, Ed isn't really a very good guy and the whole cast of characters is a bit unbelievable yet when you put down the book you feel oddly unsettled. If you are looking for a good guy to root for this is NOT going to be your book but if you want an odd, trippy horror tale this will work. Part of Laymon's horror motif is characters that get more and more horrified about what they are willing to do and this and "In The Dark" explore those ideas.
This is a strange book that is long on atmosphere, short on pretty much everything else but still manages to work on a horror level. Ed, our protagonist, has been dumped by his girlfriend Holly and in order to cope with his loss decides to go on a walk. If you guess it was a night in the lonesome October you get extra points. The first night he goes on a walk strange things happen. This is where the book shines. You really get that feeling you get if you go out walking at night and encountering weird people. The plot gets convoluted, Ed isn't really a very good guy and the whole cast of characters is a bit unbelievable yet when you put down the book you feel oddly unsettled. If you are looking for a good guy to root for this is NOT going to be your book but if you want an odd, trippy horror tale this will work. Part of Laymon's horror motif is characters that get more and more horrified about what they are willing to do and this and "In The Dark" explore those ideas.
Hella adventure at the night. Although it is weird on what is happening in this story but I love the adventures of Ed, Kirkus, Casey, Eileen and Lois.
By the way the character development of Lois makes me speechless and she was amazing. But all of them are amazing.
Then the Bike Hag makes me laugh here also.
By the way the character development of Lois makes me speechless and she was amazing. But all of them are amazing.
Then the Bike Hag makes me laugh here also.
I usually like Richard Laymon's books but I couldn't quite get into this one. For the most part I thought it was kinda 'meh'. Also, all of the characters were kind of predictable which annoyed me because I kind of knew what was going to happen.
I love Laymon's books. They are definitely not for the weak of heart. This book kept me up very late at night. There are so many creepy situations and encounters with people who are not quite right in some way. If you've ever walked a dimly lit street late at night and felt that tingle on the back of your neck that told you that you weren't alone, then you'll get this. I just ordered a bunch more Laymon, so there will be more of his reviews to follow.
This was very interesting. An air of the slightly strange or weird pervades this novel from start to finish. It's about a man who's girlfriend, Holly, has left him, and so he takes to going on long walks at night whence he encounters various weird and wonderful characters and ends up getting himself into all kinds of trouble after his current squeeze, Eileen, gets herself kidnapped by her former boyfriend.
Some very well written characters here too. Casey was a particular favourite. She's a strange one, with an unusual night life and a personality that draws you in and just makes you want to pull her close and keep her safe. I've tried Laymon's novels before and found them a little superficial, the kind of novel you'd read between finishing one serious, engrossing novel and beginning another. Kind of like a little snack in between the main courses.
Anyhow, I enjoyed it very much. It was just strange enough to really keep you interested but not too way out there to annoy. The characters were well defined and interesting and the story was engrossing enough. It does tend to tip along at a relatively slow pace though, although this does feel very much like it was designed in rather than just the way it turned out, and I do think this pacing worked quite well for the type of story that was being told.
Was it horror? Yes, but more on the strange, subtle end of the spectrum. And I liked it.
Some very well written characters here too. Casey was a particular favourite. She's a strange one, with an unusual night life and a personality that draws you in and just makes you want to pull her close and keep her safe. I've tried Laymon's novels before and found them a little superficial, the kind of novel you'd read between finishing one serious, engrossing novel and beginning another. Kind of like a little snack in between the main courses.
Anyhow, I enjoyed it very much. It was just strange enough to really keep you interested but not too way out there to annoy. The characters were well defined and interesting and the story was engrossing enough. It does tend to tip along at a relatively slow pace though, although this does feel very much like it was designed in rather than just the way it turned out, and I do think this pacing worked quite well for the type of story that was being told.
Was it horror? Yes, but more on the strange, subtle end of the spectrum. And I liked it.
Laymon can do no wrong. I've loved every book of his that I've read, and this one is no exception. The story follows Ed Logan as he tries to get over his break up with his girlfriend. Ed takes a late night stroll through town to clear his mind and runs into things both pleasurable and very weird. It's these pleasurable things that make him come back the next night and wander some more but of course he again runs into the weird, even weirder than the previous night. We continue with Ed on his nightly journeys which escalate more and more until the grand finale which fits in with the theme of the rest of the book.
While it might not seem like much of a description and like it would not be a very good story, it really is. The characters are a joy to experience as they run around town doing things that seem both fun and dangerous. I just could not help but devour the book until all hours of the night, thinking the whole time "God, there are some major fucking weirdos in this town." Once again, I can not recommend this Laymon book enough. Definitely pick it up and enjoy.
While it might not seem like much of a description and like it would not be a very good story, it really is. The characters are a joy to experience as they run around town doing things that seem both fun and dangerous. I just could not help but devour the book until all hours of the night, thinking the whole time "God, there are some major fucking weirdos in this town." Once again, I can not recommend this Laymon book enough. Definitely pick it up and enjoy.
On the one hand this is excellently written and the characters are fascinating and well-drawn. On the other hand, it's completely insane, nothing really happens except one idiotic decision after another by a first-person narrator who becomes increasingly more unlikeable by the page. And the end? It's like a teenage boy's idea of utopia that makes no sense at all. I was compelled to keep reading, but just got more and more annoyed as I went along.