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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Finally diving into the "Paperbacks from Hell" reissues, and good lord I hope they're all this fun. Practically rocketed through this thing, even for as ghoulish as it often was. Heavily indebted to Stephen King in a lot of ways (or merely informed by the colloquial literary language of the time), this is an eco-horror thrill ride that's not shy about its influences, but is all the more entertaining for so nakedly indulging them.
Very curious about the film adaptation, but there is literally no way it captures the sheer indefatigable menace of the creatures as presented here.
Very curious about the film adaptation, but there is literally no way it captures the sheer indefatigable menace of the creatures as presented here.
Writing: not great. Editing: not great. Dick: eaten by cockroaches.
She's campy for sure. A lot of really unfortunately funny descriptions of things. "Slipping and sliding like a clown," while being chased by our killer bugs, a death-rattled "mamma mia," and also a boat-themed sex scene. Lots packed into this lil paperback.
Romance subplot was def not my favorite, and there was a few too many anally-inclined roaches for my taste (at least it stopped after the first... seven? ten? kills), but all things considered it was ALMOST a "so-bad-it's-good," and I will say I *am* looking forward to hunting down the movie adaptation the book keeps boasting about.
Definitely something to recommend to friends PURELY as a "you will not believe there's a character who fucks a leaf pile on purpose" type of Experience. Because it really is an experience.
Best of luck to all who dare to ferry out to Yarkie and read The Nest!
She's campy for sure. A lot of really unfortunately funny descriptions of things. "Slipping and sliding like a clown," while being chased by our killer bugs, a death-rattled "mamma mia," and also a boat-themed sex scene. Lots packed into this lil paperback.
Romance subplot was def not my favorite, and there was a few too many anally-inclined roaches for my taste (at least it stopped after the first... seven? ten? kills), but all things considered it was ALMOST a "so-bad-it's-good," and I will say I *am* looking forward to hunting down the movie adaptation the book keeps boasting about.
Definitely something to recommend to friends PURELY as a "you will not believe there's a character who fucks a leaf pile on purpose" type of Experience. Because it really is an experience.
Best of luck to all who dare to ferry out to Yarkie and read The Nest!
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fun read. After hearing about it in Grady Hendrix's "Paperbacks from Hell" I knew I wanted to give this one a shot. It reads like a standard 70s/80s B-movie creature feature. The deaths are outrageous and entertaining. And honestly, they were the best part. I found any of the scenes that didn't feature the bloodthirsty cockroaches just weren't as interesting. I mean, how can the normal characters compete with roaches that go for the eyes first and leave no survivors.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure if I will revisit this one...maybe. The kills in this book are gut-wrenchingly brutal. The science behind cockroach behavior held my interest. I did enjoy how the conflict between the townspeople and the "out of town scientist" was nonexistent. They all cooperated to battle the man-eating cockroaches. Which made me ask, which ones are the nest. Hmmm. I had a few cons. I didn't think this book was having fun, and the language was too floral. Not to say the author isn't a great writer, but its about man-eating cockroaches that invade a town.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
What a gnarly read. It is 1980's, so gender rolls are dated, but it delivers scares and gore and really upsetting things. Solid horror book, a classic. If you like the genre, and if you like creature features, get in here.
fast-paced
2024: A Year in Paperback Hell
March: A good creature feature and nice entry in the Paperbacks from Hell series.
March: A good creature feature and nice entry in the Paperbacks from Hell series.