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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
As someone relatively well-acquainted with both literary fiction and horror, I was surprised I hadn't heard of a book of this quality before. I bought it because I had a credit on Audible and it was offered as part of a 2-for-1 sale, and I am very glad I did. The tale that transpires is a parable of small town evil a la Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. In the auctioneer Pearly Dunsmore, Samson successfully transforms the old figure of the devil into a capitalist demagogue, with uncanny parallels to the modern American political landscape. Written without a touch of flab and infused with a terror remarkably clean of gratuitous gore but no less chilling for its absence, this book will stay with me for a while.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is not a book about the overt, violent or grotesque villains, nor is it about the absolute evils of the supernatural. The Auctioneer deftly demonstrates how evil can be subtle and gradual--how it can sidle up to you with a suspiciously disarming smile and can coerce people into behaving in a way contrary to all previous behavior. The townsfolk soon find themselves bound to the titular character, until they have lost everything but their values and morals, and in the end, they find they may not have those anymore either.
This is not a book about the overt, violent or grotesque villains, nor is it about the absolute evils of the supernatural. The Auctioneer deftly demonstrates how evil can be subtle and gradual--how it can sidle up to you with a suspiciously disarming smile and can coerce people into behaving in a way contrary to all previous behavior. The townsfolk soon find themselves bound to the titular character, until they have lost everything but their values and morals, and in the end, they find they may not have those anymore either.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
No
dark
tense
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
reflective
sad
tense
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't remember the last time, if ever, I read a book that hooked me that hard. I was angry, I was sad, I was upset and felt just as helpless as the characters.
All in all, a clear 5 star read.
All in all, a clear 5 star read.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes