Scan barcode
A review by justinkhchen
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
4.0
4.5 stars
Rightfully scary, but also sarcastically funny, and full of ideas, The Book of Accidents is a horror/fantasy novel with an extremely modern take on the 'family moved into a haunted house' trope, revolving around a theme that's atypical to the genre (empathy), as well as referencing present-day (American) anxieties that truly resonate (school shooting, sexual orientation, the overall sense of hopelessness, etc). Even though the narrative can feel like its weighted down by too many elements at times, there's no denying this is one memorable reading experience.
The cast of relatable characters really brought the story to life, particularly the central family; this is probably the most convincing 'millennial' parents I've seen portrayed in a horror novel. The Book of Accidents features some genuine eerie moments, and the gore and violence, while doesn't happen often, always takes me by surprise with its intensity.
In retrospect, the story has a very distinguishable tonal shift around its halfway point, where it really amps up the fantastical elements; this is the spot where it can potentially lose some of its readers who are expecting a more classic horror structure. The transition to fantasy splinters the narrative into fragmented ideas that never truly resolves, previous priorities become background elements, and some characters make uncharacteristic decisions simply to push the plot forward. By the end I was emotionally fulfilled, but left with many logistical questions (even ones that seem to be in conflict with the narrative's own internal logic).
Nevertheless, I still really enjoy The Book of Accidents as a whole: an ambitious blend of concepts, great atmosphere (reminds me of the Silent Hill series), and sympathetic characters with excellent dialog writing, enough to overlook most of its distractions. If you enjoyed Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky, this one is an easy recommendation.
Rightfully scary, but also sarcastically funny, and full of ideas, The Book of Accidents is a horror/fantasy novel with an extremely modern take on the 'family moved into a haunted house' trope, revolving around a theme that's atypical to the genre (empathy), as well as referencing present-day (American) anxieties that truly resonate (school shooting, sexual orientation, the overall sense of hopelessness, etc). Even though the narrative can feel like its weighted down by too many elements at times, there's no denying this is one memorable reading experience.
The cast of relatable characters really brought the story to life, particularly the central family; this is probably the most convincing 'millennial' parents I've seen portrayed in a horror novel. The Book of Accidents features some genuine eerie moments, and the gore and violence, while doesn't happen often, always takes me by surprise with its intensity.
In retrospect, the story has a very distinguishable tonal shift around its halfway point, where it really amps up the fantastical elements; this is the spot where it can potentially lose some of its readers who are expecting a more classic horror structure. The transition to fantasy splinters the narrative into fragmented ideas that never truly resolves, previous priorities become background elements, and some characters make uncharacteristic decisions simply to push the plot forward. By the end I was emotionally fulfilled, but left with many logistical questions (even ones that seem to be in conflict with the narrative's own internal logic).
Nevertheless, I still really enjoy The Book of Accidents as a whole: an ambitious blend of concepts, great atmosphere (reminds me of the Silent Hill series), and sympathetic characters with excellent dialog writing, enough to overlook most of its distractions. If you enjoyed Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky, this one is an easy recommendation.