Post by nickmontelongo on Aug 13, 2013 19:39:18 GMT -6
In the little town of Milburn, NY, a group of old men gather weekly. They have been friends for a lifetime and have shared numerous experiences together. . . and secrets. One of them has died and now an unknown force haunts the dreams of the survivors and each of them live in fear. They do not know that this force is a figure from the past and that not only are their lives at risk, but the safety of the town as well.
Simply put, Ghost Story is one of the great supernatural novels of the 20th century. It was published in 1979 and is one of Peter Straub’s earliest novels. Over thirty years has passed and this book has aged well. Much like some of Stephen King’s work, Straub explored the minutia of small town life, including town leaders, high school students, and its less savory inhabitants, and wove a tapestry of lives that is convincing and interesting. The main characters are ordinary and likeable despite their faults.
Like any novel of this scale, it taxes the memory and so my advice would be to read this book consistently. This admonition might not even be necessary because this book gives you plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages. There is some violence here and there, but the horror in the book is subtle. Although the setting of the book is definitely modern, it invokes the creepiness found the in best of the Victorian ghost stories (Straub was heavily influenced by the likes of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry James, and M.R. James).
This is a great book, but when it comes down to it, you’ll have to read it to believe me. While you’re at it, make sure that you find a copy of another Straub novel, Julia, his earliest supernatural novel. Have fun.
Simply put, Ghost Story is one of the great supernatural novels of the 20th century. It was published in 1979 and is one of Peter Straub’s earliest novels. Over thirty years has passed and this book has aged well. Much like some of Stephen King’s work, Straub explored the minutia of small town life, including town leaders, high school students, and its less savory inhabitants, and wove a tapestry of lives that is convincing and interesting. The main characters are ordinary and likeable despite their faults.
Like any novel of this scale, it taxes the memory and so my advice would be to read this book consistently. This admonition might not even be necessary because this book gives you plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages. There is some violence here and there, but the horror in the book is subtle. Although the setting of the book is definitely modern, it invokes the creepiness found the in best of the Victorian ghost stories (Straub was heavily influenced by the likes of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry James, and M.R. James).
This is a great book, but when it comes down to it, you’ll have to read it to believe me. While you’re at it, make sure that you find a copy of another Straub novel, Julia, his earliest supernatural novel. Have fun.
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