I'm not a big fan of gothic novels. In fact, I'm surprised that I'm such a fan of the Harry Potter series. That fondness of things Potter is due mostly to the ingenious twists and turns of the plot, and J.K. Rowling's fantastic writing style that carries the reader along entranced.
John Saul's style is not anything like J.K. Rowling's, though the story is one of teenage witchcraft, bullying and child abuse. These were all themes explored in the Harry Potter series also. The treatment of these topics under Saul's pen, however, are raw, real and will be painful to anyone who has ever suffered at the hands of a parent or a peer. Saul's style is a stark and journalistic as Rowling's is fantastic and literary. It is hard to feel empathy for any of the characters, even the teen hero and heroine, unlike Harry Potter and his chums.
Mostly the plot is predictable, rather like a teenage scary movie. There is an ironic twist in the last chapter that I liked. You know by the ending that the haunted house at Black Creek Crossing will go on for all time wreaking havoc on anyone who attempts to live there.
While this book is really not my cup of tea, it will be an enjoyable summertime read for those who like Gothic fiction or teenage scary movie plots. For whom this description fits, enjoy!
Liz Nichols
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment