I enjoyed this book, but not the way I intended to enjoy it. From the blurbs and reviews, I expected a subtle, eerie ghost story similar to The Haunting of Hill House or The Turn of the Screw. Instead, it was a clever, twisty thriller with a supernatural bent. The plot is contrived and the set-up is painfully obvious, but it still entertains, although it is seldom scary.
The protagonist, Dale Stewart, is a professor/novelist who has been dumped by the young woman for whom he left his wife and kids. No sympathy from me there. After a suicide attempt, he decides the perfect place for a sabbatical would be in the home of his childhood friend Duane, who died in a grisly accident on his farm in Elm Haven, Illinois. Winter is approaching. Local skinheads are out for Dale's blood. The local sheriff hates his guts and won't offer any help. He can't get cell phone service at his place. What could possibly go wrong?
I'm making fun of the book, but it fooled me in places and kept me interested throughout. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had I read its precursor, Summer of Night, since I felt there were a lot of unanswered questions about the evil lurking in Elm Haven. Unfortunately, I didn't realize I was reading a sequel until I finished the book.
Dan simmons dan simmons, is too wearing to taste the occurrences promote all over the house doing the waltz till morning
Posted by: Bellucci97 | 01/07/2010 at 09:45 AM