Greg’s Comments (group member since Jul 16, 2015)

Greg’s comments from the The Read-a-Thon-ers group.

That's super-exciting, Dustin! Here's hoping I get a formal review up here soon. I've also been conspicuously absent from here for awhile, but I plan to change that once things slow down a bit after Christmas. Merry Christmas and see you all soon :)

Hi, Dustin! I didn't write a full review, but I shared some of my thoughts while waiting for everyone to finish. I probably should just write one anyway, lol The book's insights into friendship, and how unresolved conflicts can come back to haunt a person, really struck a cord w/me. Straub's writing style made the whole thing jell for me. I should point out that the book doesn't so much end w/things fully resolved. It just stops at what seems like a logical place to end it. I hope when you read it you enjoy it!

I'm glad. I hope you find something to enjoy in it when you do :)

I'm glad. I hope you find something to enjoy in it when you do :)

At least at its best.

At least at its best.

Lol, I feel blessed that Julanne picked the book! It just clicked with me at the right time. I've meant to read this for a long time, but kept finding reasons not to. This hasn't entirely been a happy experience, but the best ones seldom are. The voice of the author reflects back the life experience and expectations of the reader. At the same time we are communing w/the author. Haha... I guess I'm making out the reading experience to be a spiritual one.

It happens. There's always the next one. And, maybe you'll end up reading it some day anyway :)

The sense of dread seems to be piling up like the snow falling in the story! I love how Straub mentions things early in the book and then revisits them from a different point of view later, even telling it within a flashback. A flashback within a flashback within a flashback!

Dustin, that's awesome! The book is moving along nicely. It has some interesting observations about the writing process that link up well w/the books fixation on storytelling within the narrative. Btw, I'd be further along in my reading, but I was entertaining my 4 year old nephew this weekend. I'm back on track now though. Happy reading :)

My pleasure, Dustin :) If this is like the two other books by Straub that I read, it should be a good one. They were The Talisman and Black House, both written w/Stephen King. Both are part of a series, with a planed third book hopefully coming asap!

So far this book is a never ending source of wonder! It seems that very little is as it seems, and the writing style reflects that. The various story threads seem to be at odds with each other, but, for me, give the book that special unsettling quality that all good horror stories have. I also like the fact that Straub is not afraid to leave certain things vague and wispy.
My favorite line so far is "Could you talk to the people you meet in hallucinations, and would they answer back?".