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okenwillow's review against another edition
5.0
Liquidé en 3 jours !!
troublant, presque frustrant si on veut un dénouement clair et rationnel, car là, c’est au choix, on interprète la fin (voire toute l’histoire) comme on veut !
J’ai adoré !
à la manière du génial Tour d’écrou d’Henry James…
troublant, presque frustrant si on veut un dénouement clair et rationnel, car là, c’est au choix, on interprète la fin (voire toute l’histoire) comme on veut !
J’ai adoré !
à la manière du génial Tour d’écrou d’Henry James…
faustian_bargain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
milaarquen's review against another edition
2.0
It's a frustrating narrative, with shallow characters but with a good plot.
It's my first Peter Straub's book. It wasn't good, but I'll try another one to see if he's writing style grows on me.
It's my first Peter Straub's book. It wasn't good, but I'll try another one to see if he's writing style grows on me.
kmt75's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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
3.5
Pretty good "first" outing for Straub, whose agent suggested he try his hand at genre fiction after his first book bombed.
Julia's a pretty great character. Compelling throughout, although it doesn't quite stick the landing.
Julia's a pretty great character. Compelling throughout, although it doesn't quite stick the landing.
doreena's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing
The characters were so unlivable, it made it impossible to wish any of them a happy ending. I’ve read and enjoyed Straub’s works before, but this was poorly written and poorly paced.
The characters were so unlivable, it made it impossible to wish any of them a happy ending. I’ve read and enjoyed Straub’s works before, but this was poorly written and poorly paced.
crowyhead's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like this one nearly so well as Straub's other novels. The beginning was promising, and the tension builds nicely through the first 3/4 of the book, but the ending seemed really abrupt and overly vague to me. I kept reading because I thought there was going to be a pay-off, and I was going to find out something really creepy and interesting, but instead things just stayed obscure and I was left confused by the ending.
xanderemrys's review against another edition
1.0
Somewhat intriguing storyline that just... fizzled and lost my interest about halfway through. I gave up with maybe 1/4 left, cuz I couldn't bring myself to care how it ended.
aidanh616's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
plywes's review against another edition
1.0
I’ll start this off by saying that this is the first novel of Straub’s that I’ve read, so I wasn’t sure what to expected going into it. After the shocking and tragic death of her daughter Kate, Julia decides to leave her husband and purchases a beautiful house to start her next chapter. Julia almost instantly sees a girl that bears a startling resemblance to Kate. Things seem to be out of sorts in Julia’s new home, heaters turning themselves back on, lamps breaking, etc. Is Julia losing her mind, is her vengeful ex-husband causing trouble for her, or is it something supernatural?
Julia reads as a sort of stereotypical haunted house novel. Julia experiences things, but she doubts herself and others are skeptical. The pacing was pretty slow and honestly it became a bit of a slog to power through this one and get to the finish. I want to give Straub a second chance, so if you a novel of his to recommend please let me know. At the end of the day, this one just didn’t do for me.
Julia reads as a sort of stereotypical haunted house novel. Julia experiences things, but she doubts herself and others are skeptical. The pacing was pretty slow and honestly it became a bit of a slog to power through this one and get to the finish. I want to give Straub a second chance, so if you a novel of his to recommend please let me know. At the end of the day, this one just didn’t do for me.