Gore and More discussion

This is the thread for November's Group Read, The Lost by Jack Ketchum. Please use spoiler alerts and page/chapter tags in your discussion.

Great. I'm in.

Going to have to pass. For some reason the version avail by iBooks is in a foreign language. I'm going to begin reading a House Divided by Deborah LeBlanc though.

I wouldn't mind joining in on this title. I've been meaning to read him for awhile but The Girl Next Door always makes me shy away. I have to mentally prepare for that one has the movie disturbed me so much. I won't be able to until late but will def be sneaking in the discussion here. :)

I started reading this already, though I'm only on page 9. I do have to say the amount of typos is really turning me off. Not just small typos either. Quite a few were entirely different words so I had to stop reading and play a guessing game of what word should be there which makes it really hard to get into the story. I really enjoyed 2 of his other books so this is quite disappointing. I'm going to keep plugging away with it though, hopefully it gets better.

I am so excited this won. I am totally in! I am curious to see if my version has typos as well.

I ordered my copy on Amazon last week. It's a reproduction that has a white cover with eyes on it and some blood.

I'm in. Finally something I want to read has been chosen.

I'm in, too. I just need to get me a copy.

I love this novel. I am excited to see people's thoughts that have not read it yet! The movie that was made out of it is worth seeking out after you finish. The actor that plays Ray nailed it.

Nick wrote: "I love this novel. I am excited to see people's thoughts that have not read it yet! The movie that was made out of it is worth seeking out after you finish. The actor that plays Ray nailed it."
There's a movie?

Tabitha wrote: "I started reading this already, though I'm only on page 9. I do have to say the amount of typos is really turning me off. Not just small typos either. Quite a few were entirely different words so I..."

Which edition do you have?
I have the kindle edition with the white cover and so far (12% in) I haven't any typos.

Annie wrote: "Tabitha wrote: "I started reading this already, though I'm only on page 9. I do have to say the amount of typos is really turning me off. Not just small typos either. Quite a few were entirely diff..."

I have the one with the white cover. I didn't do the kindle version though, I bought the actual book off Amazon. It says it was reproduced from archive files. It's gotten a little bit better though I've noticed that they change the word 'the' to 'me' quite a bit.

Anna wrote: "Nick wrote: "I love this novel. I am excited to see people's thoughts that have not read it yet! The movie that was made out of it is worth seeking out after you finish. The actor that plays Ray na..."

Yea! Its rather low budget but its still pretty well done. Like I said I think its worth seeing for the actor playing Ray.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451102/?...

I'm liking the small town 1960s atmosphere.

I'm really enjoying the small town atmosphere as well. This is the first Ketchum book I've read and so far it's great. Ray Pye is so creepy.

I'll give it a try. I'm not big on murder stories so will reserve judgement.

Read the prologue last night. Man, Ketchum doesn't waste any time ratcheting things up, does he??

Up through Chapter 10 -

Thoughts, so far...

(view spoiler)[

Although Ketchum has a kind-of run-on, streaming style of writing, I think he's done an excellent job creating the world of Sparta. Ray is an absolute scumbag psychopath that would make me vote for the return of public execution just to watch him ride the lightning. Even though his "friends" appear to be mindless sheep, I feel like there is more than meets the eye with them, as if their lives could've went in a completely different path if they hadn't been hooked up with Ray that eventful night. The same thing can be said for the mother of the last girl that died. One event can be so life-altering that turns people into mindless husks of their former selves.

Any thoughts?

(hide spoiler)]

I just finished it last night...

(view spoiler)[The ending was so worth it. I got a little irritated with the Charlies Manson references, they seem to show up way too often in books, but this was the kind of Manson reference I could stand and agree with, that he's a little twerp like Ray. As far as the supporting characters went, I liked them though I wish they had a little bit more back story but what was given was enough. I like that Ketchum wrote well in the male and female view and did well with different relationship dynamics.

And thank God the cat lived! (hide spoiler)]

Ok, I started. I am at about 20% now.
I like the 60's atmosphere too. It really sets the stage here.
I also like how the characters (view spoiler)[ are all separate, but are also interconnected. That can never be a good thing.
It is also so "Ketchum" to have the retired cop doin' the 18 yr old hottie. lol (hide spoiler)]

Finished the book and now I'm a Ketchum fan. Loved the characters and time period. I like reading about a time when everything couldn't be solved with a mobile phone.
Ray is such a loathsome character, but fascinating at the same time. Jennifer and Tim are annoying.

Chapter 17 -

(view spoiler)[

This chapter was vintage Ketchum! I loved the back and forth between Schilling and Ray. I was smiling the whole time while reading it. That's when you know the author has you.

(hide spoiler)]

Happy Birthday, Jack Ketchum!

Tabitha wrote: "I started reading this already, though I'm only on page 9. I do have to say the amount of typos is really turning me off. Not just small typos either. Quite a few were entirely different words so I..."

Wow! where did you get the book...I may have to change my mind on this one....

I'm thinking that I can squeeze it in, will try because it looks so good, but Tabitha's comment is scaring me off a bit. Anybody else having her issues? Those comments make it sound like a huge lack of editing....or a very early ARC.....so I'd like to know if it's worth my time and money....

One more question before I jump in: Is it worse than THE girl NEXT door? READ A CRITICS REVIEW THAT HE JUST (sorry, caps was on) getting violence and blood in with very little story around it. How do you who have read it feel. I at least need a story that means something, then the rest is just fine....

Christy wrote: "One more question before I jump in: Is it worse than THE girl NEXT door? READ A CRITICS REVIEW THAT HE JUST (sorry, caps was on) getting violence and blood in with very little story around it. How ..."

I have finished the book since my last post. The story itself was really good but unfortunately the typos did last throughout the whole book. Having the amount of typos that it did I do feel that it took away from the story. Maybe I just got 'the lemon'.
As far as The Girl Next Door, I really did like that book though it was awfully disturbing (kind of the whole point of the book). To me there was definitely a storyline to the book.

Christy wrote: "I'm thinking that I can squeeze it in, will try because it looks so good, but Tabitha's comment is scaring me off a bit. Anybody else having her issues? Those comments make it sound like a huge lac..."

I had no trouble with the edition I have.

Christy wrote: "One more question before I jump in: Is it worse than THE girl NEXT door? READ A CRITICS REVIEW THAT HE JUST (sorry, caps was on) getting violence and blood in with very little story around it. How ..."

There is a story.
The Girl Next Door was based on a true story.

My version has typos, as well. Typos, unfortunately, have become so commonplace in e-reader versions that I've become somewhat immune to it. With that being said, I can say that The Lost is ALL about story and realistic characters. Ketchum has done a really good job in tapping into everyday, average people that you buy into.

Annie wrote: "Christy wrote: "One more question before I jump in: Is it worse than THE girl NEXT door? READ A CRITICS REVIEW THAT HE JUST (sorry, caps was on) getting violence and blood in with very little story..."

Yes, I'm aware of the True story...(that's what makes it just so horrific! )....i was meaning that i liked the Girl Next Door (as much as "like" can be used for it. I was engrossed with it and saddened because the story WAS so great...and could put up with being terribly disturbed and crying for that poor poor innocent girl... because of the story.(Unfortunately in my home state!) I had read a critic saying this one did not have as much of one.....but never mind all the confusion! Ken answered:)

Ken wrote: "My version has typos, as well. Typos, unfortunately, have become so commonplace in e-reader versions that I've become somewhat immune to it. With that being said, I can say that The Lost is ALL abo..."

Thank you, Ken. Exactly what I wanted to know....to bad for the typo's...I guess I haven't noticed them in mine.

I have a kindle version and I have not noticed any typos like others have mentioned.
I read The Girl Next Door and that one was soooo disturbing and upsetting. The Lost is not like that for me.

Vicki wrote: "I have a kindle version and I have not noticed any typos like others have mentioned.
I read The Girl Next Door and that one was soooo disturbing and upsetting. The Lost is not like that for me."

How are you liking it, Vicki?

I really like this one. I am only at 32% right now.
I am so nervous about Ray and (view spoiler)[ his relationships with the different women. The fact that Sally rejected him is going to put all the other girls he is around at risk.
I am also at the part where he is waiting for Friday night to have his date with Katherine. She is going to be tricky I think. Maybe his downfall??? (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "I really like this one. I am only at 32% right now.
I am so nervous about Ray and his relationships with the different women. The fact that Sally rejected him is going to put all the other girls..."

I think the thing I really like about this one is that the characters feel so realistic. I swear I knew people like Ray, Jennifer and Tim. Now, take those people and add the fact that they've done something so horrific and got away with it and are still walking the streets. Now, that's scary.

Yes, I agree with you on that one. Ray is terrifying to me. His thought process is well done in the book and the reader can see what he is missing as a human, even though the characters around him can not.

What did everyone think of (view spoiler)[ Ed's relationship with Sally? (hide spoiler)] ?

Ken wrote: "What did everyone think of [spoilers removed] ?"

(view spoiler)[I liked it. I wasn't offended by it and I thought it was refreshing to see that in a book when a lot of the time that sort of relationship is frowned upon. (hide spoiler)]

Annie wrote: "Ken wrote: "What did everyone think of [spoilers removed] ?"

[spoilers removed]"
Can you imagine this happening in the 1960s? Lol.

Ken wrote: "Annie wrote: "Ken wrote: "What did everyone think of [spoilers removed] ?"

[spoilers removed]""

(view spoiler)[It probably did! But of course, the secrecy would be much more like Ketchum put it then it would be now, but even now it is frowned at. (hide spoiler)]

I like the way Ketchum writes from different perspectives. The three women were so distinctively different. He manages to make Ray's thoughts quite chilling at times. The make-up thing is creepy.
It's really a gripping read. I want to watch the movie, but it's not on Netflix. I might have to go to actually go to the DVD shop.
The relationship between Ed and Sally is surprising.

Anna wrote: "I like the way Ketchum writes from different perspectives. The three women were so distinctively different. He manages to make Ray's thoughts quite chilling at times. The make-up thing is creepy.
..."

I watched it on putlocker. It's free.

I finished it. I thought it was great. Very eerie and disturbing in some parts. I will have to find and watch the movie too.
(view spoiler)[it was tragic in parts, like when Kath's Dad first loses his wife and then his daughter. But I was also happy that the cat lives.
I was glad Ray got his in prison (hide spoiler)]
The alternating perspectives worked well and I thought he did a good job differentiating between the sexes.
Great read for me!

Anna wrote: "I like the way Ketchum writes from different perspectives. The three women were so distinctively different. He manages to make Ray's thoughts quite chilling at times. The make-up thing is creepy.
..."

Yeah, I loved how he had the taboo relationship between Ed and Sally. These were main protagonists and yet they had something that many in society would think of negatively. For me, it gives these characters depth because it felt real. Ketchum didn't heavy hand the relationship. He showed how Ed felt guilty about it once it was brought to light that everyone at the precinct new about it.

Vicki wrote: "I finished it. I thought it was great. Very eerie and disturbing in some parts. I will have to find and watch the movie too.
it was tragic in parts, like when Kath's Dad first loses his wife and t..."

What did you think of (view spoiler)[ when Ray was out with Katherine and she kept getting him to do outrageous things? I know I thought, "Girl, you're playing with fire there!"

What about Katherine, in general? I thought she was an interesting character because I couldn't decide if I liked her or thought that she was as nuts as Ray!

(hide spoiler)]