| Author | Message | ||
     Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.110.13.182 |
There have been three horror novels in Asda this month; The Birthing House, a John Saul (with what looks like the same cover as Birthing), and one called The Harrowing with a positive quote on the back by Ramsey. I've bought the first two but does anyone know if they are any good? | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 93.96.181.75 |
I thought Birthing House started off promisingly, but ultimately I was disappointed in that one. Just seemed to fizzle out and characterisation was all over the place.  Haven't read the other two. | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.179.143 |
This reminds me, my local Asda has a Ray Bradbury boxset -- Dandelion Wine, We'll Always Have Paris and Farewell Summer -- going for a fiver. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.74 |
It's a steal if you haven't got them, Stu. I agree with Kate re The Birthing House. The bit I read (in the Asda cafe) started well but then went downhill. Voice didn't hold up to its initial style or momentum. As for John Saul, he's kind of inoffensive and James Herbert-lite, I found after reading one years ago. Not a criminal, though. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.74 |
Damn. I missed the chance to write, John Saul at Asda? More reasones to shop at Morrisons.. Too late now. The moment has gone. I followed my hand not my head, I knew I was wrong. (Guitar solo) Reprise of chorus. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Alan Titchmarsh was doing a signing in our local Asda yesterday ... | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.74 |
Never mind. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.74 |
Celebrity novelists, eh? I heard the bloke who plays Jonathan Creek on the radio the other day, plugging his autobiography. He said he was going to be writing a novel next, because he'd mentioned in passing during his book tour that he had a great idea for a novel the other night and this made its way back to his publisher, which signed him up straightaway. See, it's easy... | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
I haven't read the other two, but I did slog through "The Birthing House" and really didn't enjoy it at all. Like Kate and Mark write above, it starts well but then suffers really badly from a) not knowing where it wants to go and b) not apparently having an editor to cut at least 25% of padding out. | ||
| Steve Jensen (Stevej) Username: Stevej Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 82.0.77.233 |
Yeah, there was something curiously uninvolving about the book. I wanted to like it (as I was given it as a birthday present) but struggled to carry on reading. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
Steve, I only managed it because I was away on business and spent a huge chunk of two days either on a plane, on a train or in boring meetings and had nothing else to read. If I hadn't been away, I'd probably still be slogging through it. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.11.186 |
Is 'The Harrowing' by Alexanda Sokoloff? It's had some decent reviews. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
Steve - yes, it is by Sokoloff. I happened to be in our local Tesco last night and checked the book section and saw "The Harrowing" there. I might pick it up at the weekend. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.108.128 |
The bit at the front about her is awful though; I forget the phrasing but it really put me off. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.77.197 |
The Harrowing: students playing with a ouija board in an old house. Not wholly excited just yet. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.108.128 |
I know. The Ramsey quote seems to be praising the fact it 'moves swiftly'... Ramsey! Explain! |