Helpful Score: 5
This is a fantastic story about a very old apartment building with an extremely dark history. The author says she was inspired by stories like The Shining, Haunting of Hill House, Rosemary's Baby, and The Tenant. She has written this story with all of those "ingredients" in it. Maybe a little too involved with the architectual details, which at times were confusing or just too involved and didn't add anything to the plot. A slightly rushed ending which causes you to feel as if you are rushed out the door. I look forward to reading her other two books.
Helpful Score: 4
Audrey has issues and not in the best of the term, something is living inside her apartment. She knew the lady who lived there before her had killed her four children and thought that this would not really be a problem, but now something not so nice is happening. This is a chiller thriller, with twists and a nightmareish plot to it. In the end you realize just how creepy this book was--scary, read with the lights on.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a fantastic book, I was very impressed. I read it all in one sitting, and was jumpy for hours afterward. Very good! I'm looking forward to reading this author's other books.
Helpful Score: 1
This book got off to a bad start-the main character felt bitchy and closed minded, the writing felt... unpolitically correct? It felt submissively racist, in small parts. Near the beginning of the novel the author whines about how life has never been easy for her and she had to work at both university cafeterias just to afford her books-UH, YEAH most everyone has to have 2 jobs in college, and you're pretty lucky if they're university jobs. Later in the book, she's fairly justified in her whining-we find out that her mom is pretty crazy, she grew up almost homeless, traveling, starving, etc., and has developed some pretty full-fledged cases of craziness and OCD herself. But before you know all that, it feels a little like whining.
However, after the initial dislike, I found a lot to like. This story is basically a haunted house story, where the building itself if an alive character and changes everyone who lives in it, as well as seeks out the "right" people to live in it. The bits of truth here and there are very intriguing-this religion of chaotic naturalism and the buildings it inspired-I believe there is some truth sprinkled in that inspired the writer. I would love to learn more. Creepy people, creepy happenings, creepy imagery, and a writer who can convincingly convey dream worlds, haunted worlds, and reality all at the same time without even confusing the reader, I very much enjoyed. And the more you learn about Audrey, the more you love her and her crazy mom. Also, her boyfriend is an overweight man who's family is from India-and he's an unsuccessful independent film maker, so it was nice having a romance with someone who's more or less normal.
However, after the initial dislike, I found a lot to like. This story is basically a haunted house story, where the building itself if an alive character and changes everyone who lives in it, as well as seeks out the "right" people to live in it. The bits of truth here and there are very intriguing-this religion of chaotic naturalism and the buildings it inspired-I believe there is some truth sprinkled in that inspired the writer. I would love to learn more. Creepy people, creepy happenings, creepy imagery, and a writer who can convincingly convey dream worlds, haunted worlds, and reality all at the same time without even confusing the reader, I very much enjoyed. And the more you learn about Audrey, the more you love her and her crazy mom. Also, her boyfriend is an overweight man who's family is from India-and he's an unsuccessful independent film maker, so it was nice having a romance with someone who's more or less normal.
