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etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
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? No
3.0
songwind's review
3.0
[b:Ghoul|216211|Ghoul|Brian Keene|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172782549s/216211.jpg|209321] is a good novel. Keene's take on the ghoul is interesting, well fleshed out, and unusual.
Strangely, though, it seems more like a subplot than the subject of the book.
The book's central focus is on the friendship of Timmy, Barry, and Doug. Most of the story revolves around the boys' relationships with their parents and each other. The villain of the piece could have been just about anything. A murderous drifter, a violent animal, or even Barry's abusive father, and it would have been just as good as it was with the ghoul's presence.
Strangely, though, it seems more like a subplot than the subject of the book.
The book's central focus is on the friendship of Timmy, Barry, and Doug. Most of the story revolves around the boys' relationships with their parents and each other. The villain of the piece could have been just about anything. A murderous drifter, a violent animal, or even Barry's abusive father, and it would have been just as good as it was with the ghoul's presence.
billymac1962's review
5.0
Am I ever glad I gave Brian Keene another shot. I had read The Rising a few years ago and although there were several typos in that publication, it was still a very gripping read.
So now a colleague of mine had been ripping through his books and told me that Ghoul was awesome.
Well yeah, it pretty much was.
It seems that Keene is channeling Stephen King with his nostalgic depiction of three 12 year-old buddies, and he does this quite well. Although, as some reviewers are keen (sorry) to point out, he does get rather heavy handed with the nostalgic references, once he snaps out of that the story is a very absorbing read. There are some very dark things happening here, and not from where you would think from the title.
Because this is such a tightly delivered story, one that has kept me late from other commitments, and one that resolves very nicely, I am loathe to dock it any stars. I haven't read a whole lot of really good horror lately so five stars for hitting me when I needed it.
Sheer reading pleasure, and the type of brain candy that deserves beach time.
I'll read more of this guy for sure.
So now a colleague of mine had been ripping through his books and told me that Ghoul was awesome.
Well yeah, it pretty much was.
It seems that Keene is channeling Stephen King with his nostalgic depiction of three 12 year-old buddies, and he does this quite well. Although, as some reviewers are keen (sorry) to point out, he does get rather heavy handed with the nostalgic references, once he snaps out of that the story is a very absorbing read. There are some very dark things happening here, and not from where you would think from the title.
Because this is such a tightly delivered story, one that has kept me late from other commitments, and one that resolves very nicely, I am loathe to dock it any stars. I haven't read a whole lot of really good horror lately so five stars for hitting me when I needed it.
Sheer reading pleasure, and the type of brain candy that deserves beach time.
I'll read more of this guy for sure.
skullheadface's review
5.0
This book was fuckin’ awesome! Like Stand By Me, but if Ray Brower was an undead corpse-eater. So sick!
I loved every page.
5/5 Powwow Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
I loved every page.
5/5 Powwow Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
runjohnnyrun845's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
anthrat's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
the_epi_reader's review against another edition
5.0
It’s the summer of 1984 and 12 year-old friends Doug, Barry, and Timmy have lots of plans in-store for their summer vacation. That is until people start going missing, and their favorite hangout spot, the cemetery, is deemed “unsafe” by Barry’s monster of a father. The graves are sinking into the ground, Barry’s father (who is the caretaker of the cemetery) is acting more hostile, and an underground tunnel has unearthed itself in the cemetery’s shed. What better adventure can three 12 year-olds have than to go explore the tunnel?
“Ghoul” is your typical gory 80’s horror novel, filled with guts, teenage angst, and parental nightmares. This was the first book I’ve read of Brian Keene’s and I loved it! His writing was vivid and detailed, making it hard to put the book down. He captured the mental health concerns of adolescents growing up in abusive households and the difficulties of navigating the different emotions that transpire. After reading “Ghoul”, I can’t wait to pick up another one of Keene’s novels.
*TW: domestic violence, SA, animal abuse
“Ghoul” is your typical gory 80’s horror novel, filled with guts, teenage angst, and parental nightmares. This was the first book I’ve read of Brian Keene’s and I loved it! His writing was vivid and detailed, making it hard to put the book down. He captured the mental health concerns of adolescents growing up in abusive households and the difficulties of navigating the different emotions that transpire. After reading “Ghoul”, I can’t wait to pick up another one of Keene’s novels.
*TW: domestic violence, SA, animal abuse
mboyette252's review
5.0
This was my first introduction to Brian Keene and it was amazing. I connected with the young boys very quickly and there were moments that I had flashbacks of my own childhood while reading this.
starbabe2529's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
Giving this the lowest possible rating I could. I hated this book. I don't like giving bad reviews because I feel like I'm "being mean" but I also want to be honest. This book was awful. It was not scary but horrible and gross. Everything felt like this was intended to be the next "IT" but in an effort to "out-do" King, Brian Keene just added as many terrible things as he could. I was expecting a coming-of-age story but at the end everyone ended up right where they started. There was no growth, only the characters becoming pessimistic adults and turning into their own parents. All the abuse the characters faced (which honestly felt pointless anyway because it had no narrative purpose but felt more like shock value) was only continued in the cycle of abuse when they grow up and have their own kids. The Ghoul in question was a disgusting rapist, holding two women hostage and brutalizing them repeatedly and no mention is made of these women in the epilogue to see how they are doing or if one of them even survived the final "fight". A final fight that happened in a single chapter and was won out of sheer luck rather than our main characters triumphing over evil. I get that horror is not always happy and good endings. But this kind of ending left so much to be desired, especially after having to read the brutal accounts of 2/3 of our main character's home lives. It all felt pointless and hollow. Like there was no reason for any of it and it was just trauma for the sake of packing as much "horror" as possible into this story. 0/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Incest, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
wirawin_aria's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5