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badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Every voracious reader has a guilty pleasure reads, admit it, you know you do. Maybe its precocious scared wizard children attending a secret school, or maybe its sparkly vampires, or maybe it’s time traveling nurses who can’t get home because they are too busy rolling in the hay with their “bonnie lad” of a husband. Whatever the case, these are the novels you are slightly embarrassed to admit you own, or feel like you should be checking the books out on your child’s or partner’s library card. Well for me it’s zombie novels, followed only slightly by “splatterpunk” novels.
Splatterpunk is defined by the graphic violence within its pages, and Jack Ketchum has to be one of the masters of this sub-genre. The Woman is in fact the third book in his “Dead River” series. I guess I forgot that when I took the book out of the library. No matter, this is a self-contained story, although I plan to go back and read the first two at some point. The major problem with this story was the lack of character development, but as the main character, known only as “The Woman” is part of a tribe of cannibalistic cave dwellers in Maine featured in the first two novels, I’m sure there was more character development across the arc of the series. Although even as I was typing that line, unbidden came the thought “well maybe not.” Splatterpunk novels are not necessarily known for character development and growth, mostly they are about how far the author can go with the graphic violence and get away with it.
There is lots and lots of violence in this book. It is clearly not for the faint of heart. On the surface this novel appears to be extremely misogynistic. Horrible things are done to the women in this book, all the women. But below the surface, they are strong woman characters, and express this strength by the end of the novel, all be it in some non-traditional ways. And that is one of the grand things about Splatterpunk. In most cases it allows the victims to eventually get in their licks in the end.
3.5 of 5 stars
Splatterpunk is defined by the graphic violence within its pages, and Jack Ketchum has to be one of the masters of this sub-genre. The Woman is in fact the third book in his “Dead River” series. I guess I forgot that when I took the book out of the library. No matter, this is a self-contained story, although I plan to go back and read the first two at some point. The major problem with this story was the lack of character development, but as the main character, known only as “The Woman” is part of a tribe of cannibalistic cave dwellers in Maine featured in the first two novels, I’m sure there was more character development across the arc of the series. Although even as I was typing that line, unbidden came the thought “well maybe not.” Splatterpunk novels are not necessarily known for character development and growth, mostly they are about how far the author can go with the graphic violence and get away with it.
There is lots and lots of violence in this book. It is clearly not for the faint of heart. On the surface this novel appears to be extremely misogynistic. Horrible things are done to the women in this book, all the women. But below the surface, they are strong woman characters, and express this strength by the end of the novel, all be it in some non-traditional ways. And that is one of the grand things about Splatterpunk. In most cases it allows the victims to eventually get in their licks in the end.
3.5 of 5 stars
alexandrabree's review against another edition
3.0
I am in the grey zone on this novel.
There is nothing wrong with this novel, but there is a lot thats just not right about it. It just didn't fit in with the other Ketchum books that I have read. I love the Dead River series so I can't say that I am not disappointed. This book has too much shock factor and not enough of a base. The characters where just not round enough, I couldn't relate, didn't get to know them. Found out mid way through the book that the setting is not Dead River wish there had been more about that...
Overall this feels like a publisher pleaser, written to fill the final spot in the trilogy without being a brain child of the author. Words slapped on paper :(
There is nothing wrong with this novel, but there is a lot thats just not right about it. It just didn't fit in with the other Ketchum books that I have read. I love the Dead River series so I can't say that I am not disappointed. This book has too much shock factor and not enough of a base. The characters where just not round enough, I couldn't relate, didn't get to know them. Found out mid way through the book that the setting is not Dead River wish there had been more about that...
Overall this feels like a publisher pleaser, written to fill the final spot in the trilogy without being a brain child of the author. Words slapped on paper :(
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
Chris is out hunting when he sees the wild, feral woman, nursing an injury. He starts to get an idea of bringing her home and keeping her in his barn, training her to behave and live in a normal human society. He manages to catch her and when she wakes up she is captive in the barn and Chris proudly shows her to his family.
Belle, his wife is horrified and suspicious of what he has in mind for the woman, but is too scared of her husband to stand up to him. She agrees to help feed and clean her, cook for her and make her clothes, trying to keep on the right side of Chris. His son Brian is delighted by his dad's catch and spies on her where possible, having fantasies about raping her, just like his vile dad. Chris has been raping his daughter Peg for years with the full knowledge of his wife, so Peg is the only one with any sympathy for the woman, when Chris starts raping her. She wonders if she can help her escape, but the woman has plans for the whole family if escape happens, and she is watchful for the opportunity.
What a lovely family! Chris is an evil git who needs shooting, so I found I was rooting for the woman to escape and give him what for! I despised Belle for standing by and let her husband rape their daughter, instead of taking the girls and running away, or reporting him. She seems more upset at the idea that her husband is cheating on HER than him being a serial rapist and paedophile! You can fully understand why Peg hates her parents and fears for her younger sister. When you add in a teacher at school who is concerned about Peg and starts sticking her nose into family business, things are getting dangerous at the barn...
You are not meant to like the men in this family, or Belle either, most probably so for once I didn't mind horrible main characters. It gave you something to hope for, that they would get what they deserve eventually. Peg is someone you had great sympathy for, with the terrible situation she was in, and nobody she could trust. She starts to find an affinity with the woman and tries to look out for her the best she can.
In true horror style, the book is leading up to a grand finale that you can see coming a mile off, starting with the teacher deciding to visit Peg's parents despite Peg warning her not to get involved. What happens next is typical Jack Ketchum gore and it was fun to read. I did like the way it ended.
Belle, his wife is horrified and suspicious of what he has in mind for the woman, but is too scared of her husband to stand up to him. She agrees to help feed and clean her, cook for her and make her clothes, trying to keep on the right side of Chris. His son Brian is delighted by his dad's catch and spies on her where possible, having fantasies about raping her, just like his vile dad. Chris has been raping his daughter Peg for years with the full knowledge of his wife, so Peg is the only one with any sympathy for the woman, when Chris starts raping her. She wonders if she can help her escape, but the woman has plans for the whole family if escape happens, and she is watchful for the opportunity.
What a lovely family! Chris is an evil git who needs shooting, so I found I was rooting for the woman to escape and give him what for! I despised Belle for standing by and let her husband rape their daughter, instead of taking the girls and running away, or reporting him. She seems more upset at the idea that her husband is cheating on HER than him being a serial rapist and paedophile! You can fully understand why Peg hates her parents and fears for her younger sister. When you add in a teacher at school who is concerned about Peg and starts sticking her nose into family business, things are getting dangerous at the barn...
You are not meant to like the men in this family, or Belle either, most probably so for once I didn't mind horrible main characters. It gave you something to hope for, that they would get what they deserve eventually. Peg is someone you had great sympathy for, with the terrible situation she was in, and nobody she could trust. She starts to find an affinity with the woman and tries to look out for her the best she can.
In true horror style, the book is leading up to a grand finale that you can see coming a mile off, starting with the teacher deciding to visit Peg's parents despite Peg warning her not to get involved. What happens next is typical Jack Ketchum gore and it was fun to read. I did like the way it ended.
deadlight's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kon713's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
benwoll's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Rape
bmacenlightened's review against another edition
4.0
That got brutal pretty fast. I'd seen the end of the movie and known enough about it to be intrigued, and also give props to the actress but held off on reading the book for long enough. It just became time to do so. Holy hell Ketchum can make stuff move fast, and yet give the rest of the story enough time that it frames the main action in a way that doesn't seem rushed. Also I haven't felt that kind of emotion reading something since I read The Summer I Died. That's pretty high praise for the emotional effect of something.
arandomro's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25