Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jessaca_with_an_a 's review for:
Will Haunt You
by Brian Kirk
W A R N I N G
I read a book much like the one you’re holding now. And this is what happened to me. Don’t make the same mistake. Please, put it down. Or better yet, throw it away. This is your last warning. Turn the page, and you’re on your own. Actually, that’s not true. Turn the page and he’ll be there, watching you.
/\
/ \
/ | \
|
|
|
And that’s how you start a novel!
3.5 stars
I enjoyed a lot of this book! The opening scenes were creepy and terrifying, and had me looking over my shoulder anytime I’d read the book.
Will Haunt You kind of reminded me of a game called Eternal Darkness: Requiem for Sanity. Anyone familiar? In the game, you watch the MC’s sanity slowly deteriorate. Kirk uses techniques throughout the book, at crucial moments, to illustrate something similar.
I staggered towards the far do0r. Stopped, and shook my head. Not do0r, door. Imposter words invaded my mind, spoken through a mental ventriloquist. Hijacking my helium. I mean, my he4d. Too much was happening t0o fast.
The random misplaced words and letters eventually simmers down, but what’s left behind are choppy, frantic sentences that continue out during Jesse’s mental distress. I’ve read reviews of people finding this sentence structure/flow irritating though. For me, I thought it fit for the story.
And it’s not like Cassie had to settle, either. No, we made our bed together, but she sleeps in it more soundly than I. Grew into this life with its limitations like a rose through a cracked sidewalk, while I grind my teeth and stew with resentment and ponder the what-ifs and fantasize alternate scenarios like I deserve them more than her.
Jesse is a fascinating main character and made Will Haunt You an enjoyable read. He’s a middle-aged man, recovering alcoholic, former guitarist in a band, who has “given up” much of his aspirations and individuality in the name of parenthood. I felt like I know Jesse. I’ve met him in the other parents I interact with, making him both depressing and genuinely believable. But hey, he’s not 100% miserable—Jesse is also hilarious.
“So, what? Just walk in and announce ourselves and put ourselves at their mercy?” “Pretty much. I mean, what’s the alternative? You show off your big stick and demand Rox back or you’ll start bashing heads?”
Sadly, it was the second half of the book that I found less interesting and compelling. I’m not a huge fan of stories within stories, but this happens a number of times in the second half, taking the reader out of the story and shoving them into a past that could’ve been wrapped up in a few sentences rather than a few pages...
The ending itself was also slightly unsatisfying, I think because the second half of the book was pure build-up, so by the time the end happened, it felt anti-climactic. I think Kirk would’ve been better off.
Overall though, not a bad book. I think it’s biggest issue is just that it started so strong and scary, but ended like a dud.
I read a book much like the one you’re holding now. And this is what happened to me. Don’t make the same mistake. Please, put it down. Or better yet, throw it away. This is your last warning. Turn the page, and you’re on your own. Actually, that’s not true. Turn the page and he’ll be there, watching you.
/\
/ \
/ | \
|
|
|
And that’s how you start a novel!
3.5 stars
I enjoyed a lot of this book! The opening scenes were creepy and terrifying, and had me looking over my shoulder anytime I’d read the book.
Will Haunt You kind of reminded me of a game called Eternal Darkness: Requiem for Sanity. Anyone familiar? In the game, you watch the MC’s sanity slowly deteriorate. Kirk uses techniques throughout the book, at crucial moments, to illustrate something similar.
I staggered towards the far do0r. Stopped, and shook my head. Not do0r, door. Imposter words invaded my mind, spoken through a mental ventriloquist. Hijacking my helium. I mean, my he4d. Too much was happening t0o fast.
The random misplaced words and letters eventually simmers down, but what’s left behind are choppy, frantic sentences that continue out during Jesse’s mental distress. I’ve read reviews of people finding this sentence structure/flow irritating though. For me, I thought it fit for the story.
And it’s not like Cassie had to settle, either. No, we made our bed together, but she sleeps in it more soundly than I. Grew into this life with its limitations like a rose through a cracked sidewalk, while I grind my teeth and stew with resentment and ponder the what-ifs and fantasize alternate scenarios like I deserve them more than her.
Jesse is a fascinating main character and made Will Haunt You an enjoyable read. He’s a middle-aged man, recovering alcoholic, former guitarist in a band, who has “given up” much of his aspirations and individuality in the name of parenthood. I felt like I know Jesse. I’ve met him in the other parents I interact with, making him both depressing and genuinely believable. But hey, he’s not 100% miserable—Jesse is also hilarious.
“So, what? Just walk in and announce ourselves and put ourselves at their mercy?” “Pretty much. I mean, what’s the alternative? You show off your big stick and demand Rox back or you’ll start bashing heads?”
Sadly, it was the second half of the book that I found less interesting and compelling. I’m not a huge fan of stories within stories, but this happens a number of times in the second half, taking the reader out of the story and shoving them into a past that could’ve been wrapped up in a few sentences rather than a few pages...
The ending itself was also slightly unsatisfying, I think because the second half of the book was pure build-up, so by the time the end happened, it felt anti-climactic. I think Kirk would’ve been better off
Spoiler
removing the journal entries near the end and just focusing on JesseOverall though, not a bad book. I think it’s biggest issue is just that it started so strong and scary, but ended like a dud.