false 3 0 false false Wed Nov 11 13:21:37 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 11 13:21:48 -0800 2009 I don’t read much horror. This is in fact the first horror novel I’ve read in the past few years. The book, published in 1980, was heavily edited because of sex and violence. The version I read was the unedited, original edition recently published.
The novel starts out slow, despite its attempt at a catcher of an opening. Once the group is attacked in the cabin, the action is non-stop all the way through, which made for a fast read along with Ketchum’s short but effective writing style. The character development is non-existent, though this is to be expected from this sort of novel. I didn’t find any of the characters very likable, with the exception of Marjorie out of bias, and I really think Ketchum should have explored the cannibalistic family with more depth. I also felt the character introduced at the very start of the novel was cast aside rather quickly and could have been explored further as well, or at least tied into the ending. The ending as it was did surprise me with a few character deaths but also seemed rather abrupt.
While gruesome, the story falls to a few horror stereotypes that perhaps come from me having a 21st century view. With movies out like The Hills Have Eyes and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, books like this are not as shocking to today’s generation as they might have been a few decades ago. However, the novel delivers the shock of gore that it promises, and I can understand why some horror fans hold this novel in high regard. As a fan of other genres, this was an enjoyable read but not something I would read again.]]>