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deathbear's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
If you read one Lee Thomas book, read The German.
This one was just... not as good. The writing was repetitive. The story was eh. I really wanted to like it too.
This one was just... not as good. The writing was repetitive. The story was eh. I really wanted to like it too.
swmppsm's review
5.0
(If at all possible, don't read the descriptive blurb to this book!)
I found this book on a list of essential queer horror novels.
I had never heard of Lee Thomas before. My search for a copy of this book led me to weightless books.com and an entire trove of lgbt (mostly gay, white) novels, especially those of Lethe Press. After an hour of looking through titles I ended up purchasing the Dust of Wonderland, Lee Thomas's other novel The German, and about 8 more ebooks. I highly suggest those interested in queer and small press books check this site out.
I've never been to New Orleans, but the descriptive prose of Lee Thomas made me feel as if i could smell the air. His descriptions of the city were accessible, unlike New York or L.A. novels where street names and locales are thrown about as if we all are supposed to know every part of those cities.
This book introduced me to storylines about gay men i usually don't see in more recent books. It may be due to Lee Thomas being of an older generation of gay men, those who lived through AIDS and a pre internet homophobia. Either way it was illuminating to read about the struggles of a gay man who has children from a previous marriage.
Overall I found this book to be haunting, poignant, and mysterious. I didn't want it to be over as much as I wanted to get to the end to figure out all it had to offer. Decent psychological horror dealing with gay men is hard to find, especially those that don't bend to the cliche of homophobia or self hate.
I highly suggest this book to anyone seeking queer horror or for fans of novels such as Plain Bad Heroines, Summer Sons, and the Picture of Dorian Gray.
I found this book on a list of essential queer horror novels.
I had never heard of Lee Thomas before. My search for a copy of this book led me to weightless books.com and an entire trove of lgbt (mostly gay, white) novels, especially those of Lethe Press. After an hour of looking through titles I ended up purchasing the Dust of Wonderland, Lee Thomas's other novel The German, and about 8 more ebooks. I highly suggest those interested in queer and small press books check this site out.
I've never been to New Orleans, but the descriptive prose of Lee Thomas made me feel as if i could smell the air. His descriptions of the city were accessible, unlike New York or L.A. novels where street names and locales are thrown about as if we all are supposed to know every part of those cities.
This book introduced me to storylines about gay men i usually don't see in more recent books. It may be due to Lee Thomas being of an older generation of gay men, those who lived through AIDS and a pre internet homophobia. Either way it was illuminating to read about the struggles of a gay man who has children from a previous marriage.
Overall I found this book to be haunting, poignant, and mysterious. I didn't want it to be over as much as I wanted to get to the end to figure out all it had to offer. Decent psychological horror dealing with gay men is hard to find, especially those that don't bend to the cliche of homophobia or self hate.
I highly suggest this book to anyone seeking queer horror or for fans of novels such as Plain Bad Heroines, Summer Sons, and the Picture of Dorian Gray.
ephemerawoman's review
2.0
This was an incredibly frustrating read. Poorly written at the start, not particularly likeable main character, the horror element kicks in halfway through the book. Until that point it was nearly a DNF for me & I pretty much hate-read it until the end.
Am I glad I finished it? Meh. Do I think you should? Possibly, your mileage may vary. Not for me though, not at all.
Am I glad I finished it? Meh. Do I think you should? Possibly, your mileage may vary. Not for me though, not at all.
kelliowen's review
4.0
While a bit slow out of the gate, this tale seeps into your skin and festers as you read. When you're done, it sits, quietly stewing in the back of your mind. A week later, I'm still debating some of the conflict resolutions, still pondering the abilities of Travis, and have put the book on the re-read shelf. Yes, that's a good sign.
The story was a new twist on an old stand by—nothing in it has been overused, abused, or done to the point that you want to throw it. It's almost a ghost story that isn't, a serial killer tale that isn't, and most definitely a revenge tale in which who is getting revenge on whom is the question rather than the result. The dynamics of the characters are fresh—using angles and conflicts that are intriguing, passionately personal no matter who you are, and will divide you as much as it does the characters. Themes of redemption run rampant, but the real question is the same as it was when Ken started on this journey twenty years ago... When you don't know if you can save yourself, do you rescue your past or your future?
Even though New Orleans has been used enough in literature and film to have built a ready-made preconceived atmosphere with people, if you let Thomas paint the picture for you, it’s a whole new atmosphere in the Garden District. The mystery is intertwining, the people are urban exotic, and their surroundings are suggested secrets, subtly whispered by memories, that pull you along—like a tour guide in Lafayette No. 1.
As I mentioned above, the pace is a little slow at the beginning, as he takes his time giving you enough details about the characters to care whether they live or die. But give him your patience, because you will care who lives and dies—and may hunt him down at a convention to tell him how wrong he was! Thomas' style is, as always, graceful. He is a well-rounded storyteller that draws you in and makes you believe—and yes, he would make an incredible refrigerator salesman in Alaska.
But what did I really think? The story was interesting, the characters were sufficient, and the atmosphere was natural. But like all good things, it's not the ingredients that make the mouth water, it's the final dish. In lesser hands this may have been under cooked, in better hands the spices would have been changed and the subtle burn in the back of your throat may have been absent. As it is, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this [other than that pokey beginning] and will definitely re-read it at some point. Thus, it gets more than 3 stars… how about 4-1/2? Pretty-version hard covers should be available, ohhhhhhhh about now—go, get one.
.......................
Originally posted at Horror-Web
The story was a new twist on an old stand by—nothing in it has been overused, abused, or done to the point that you want to throw it. It's almost a ghost story that isn't, a serial killer tale that isn't, and most definitely a revenge tale in which who is getting revenge on whom is the question rather than the result. The dynamics of the characters are fresh—using angles and conflicts that are intriguing, passionately personal no matter who you are, and will divide you as much as it does the characters. Themes of redemption run rampant, but the real question is the same as it was when Ken started on this journey twenty years ago... When you don't know if you can save yourself, do you rescue your past or your future?
Even though New Orleans has been used enough in literature and film to have built a ready-made preconceived atmosphere with people, if you let Thomas paint the picture for you, it’s a whole new atmosphere in the Garden District. The mystery is intertwining, the people are urban exotic, and their surroundings are suggested secrets, subtly whispered by memories, that pull you along—like a tour guide in Lafayette No. 1.
As I mentioned above, the pace is a little slow at the beginning, as he takes his time giving you enough details about the characters to care whether they live or die. But give him your patience, because you will care who lives and dies—and may hunt him down at a convention to tell him how wrong he was! Thomas' style is, as always, graceful. He is a well-rounded storyteller that draws you in and makes you believe—and yes, he would make an incredible refrigerator salesman in Alaska.
But what did I really think? The story was interesting, the characters were sufficient, and the atmosphere was natural. But like all good things, it's not the ingredients that make the mouth water, it's the final dish. In lesser hands this may have been under cooked, in better hands the spices would have been changed and the subtle burn in the back of your throat may have been absent. As it is, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this [other than that pokey beginning] and will definitely re-read it at some point. Thus, it gets more than 3 stars… how about 4-1/2? Pretty-version hard covers should be available, ohhhhhhhh about now—go, get one.
.......................
Originally posted at Horror-Web
gerhard's review
1.0
I struggled to enjoy, let alone finish, this supernatural mystery novel with gay elements. Some plot points strain incredulity and the characterisation is perfunctory, while the horror is tired and has been done much better in novels such as Coldheart Canyon. Disappointing. However, the writing shows promise, and I will look out for the award-winning The German after this.
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