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drakaina16's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I'm going to start with saying that I rate this book at 2. In my world, that means I finished the book, but I really kind of wish I hadn't. I was really engrossed by the book for quite some time, but around 4/5ths of the way through, I should have just given up. I love character studies and slow burns, but damn what a slog the last bit of the book was! In my opinion, the payoff wasn't worth it at all. My quibble isn't with the quality of the writing at all - that is excellent. I was let down by the end of the book.
languagehacker's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure I'm even going to be able to finish this one. Zero likable characters, navel-gazing literary references that burrow too deep into a small handful of 19th century authors, excessive rambling, disjointed narrative devices that nest narratives within narratives as though people retell stories verbatim. This book has it all.
Huge bummer because I loved The Fisherman.
Huge bummer because I loved The Fisherman.
psychborg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
joelmessedup's review against another edition
5.0
I first encountered John Langan while reading his book [b:The Fisherman|29901930|The Fisherman|John Langan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1461603054l/29901930._SX50_.jpg|50275540]. I was so enthralled by it, I decided to continue reading some of his other works. House of Windows is a horror story unlike most, you aren't entirely sure what you're going to encounter as the story continues...but you also can't put this book down!
John Langan does a wonderful job of sucking you into a story, even topics or activities that might seem mundane in real life, are entirely engrossing as your eyes run across the page. The psychological journey this specific story brings makes you wonder about the world around us. Could something like this happen? HAS something like this happened??
The ending is wonderful, I will not specify more than just saying...it stays with you. I want to know more, I want to ask more questions; I Googled interviews from Langan afterward in hopes of answers to my questions. But alas, the mystery is key and important to this book because sometimes knowing the answers doesn't make things as scary does it ?
A horror thrill that will not jump scare or creep you out with gore...this is in a category of its own and something even scaredy cats (like me) can read at night! You'll love it!
John Langan does a wonderful job of sucking you into a story, even topics or activities that might seem mundane in real life, are entirely engrossing as your eyes run across the page. The psychological journey this specific story brings makes you wonder about the world around us. Could something like this happen? HAS something like this happened??
The ending is wonderful, I will not specify more than just saying...it stays with you. I want to know more, I want to ask more questions; I Googled interviews from Langan afterward in hopes of answers to my questions. But alas, the mystery is key and important to this book because sometimes knowing the answers doesn't make things as scary does it ?
A horror thrill that will not jump scare or creep you out with gore...this is in a category of its own and something even scaredy cats (like me) can read at night! You'll love it!
android's review against another edition
4.0
John Langan has done it again and cemented his standing as my favorite horror writer. This time, the horror is mixed in with complex family drama but the spookiness never takes a backseat - it actually made everything more realistic because these are real characters, with their own faults and traumas, reacting to these things. And oh boy is there trauma.
My only gripe is that I do wish there was a little bit less time dedicated to the narrator's numerous childhood flashbacks and so on - at one point it did feel like it was holding back the story's progression. I would've appreciated a few more answers too, especially since so much was hinted but never expanded on.
Other than that, it was brilliant and creepy from start to finish.
My only gripe is that I do wish there was a little bit less time dedicated to the narrator's numerous childhood flashbacks and so on - at one point it did feel like it was holding back the story's progression. I would've appreciated a few more answers too, especially since so much was hinted but never expanded on.
Other than that, it was brilliant and creepy from start to finish.
eddiegenerous's review against another edition
4.0
A weighty and densely-spilled haunting (one unlike I've ever read before). Enthralling. Thorough and far-reaching.
not_bender's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, look, me giving a John Langan book a high rating, that's unusual! Wait, that's not it, I meant totally expected. House of Windows is his first novel, but I think the last currently available piece of his work I hadn't yet read. In typical Langan style, the book is thoroughly fleshed out and can get dense at points, and this one referenced a lot of Dickens I've not read (my primary exposure to Dickens thus far is the Muppets Christmas Carol). So, did I miss things, probably? Sure. But it was still an engaging read, with his unusual take on a haunting. Sometimes, it did feel like it was trying to drag just a hair. But otherwise, great book.
notanaardvark's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0