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Cropsy
During Billy Powell's summer camp experiences he discovers a world of unimagined adventures, friendships, romance, and a horrifying secret. In this dual novel, as a past war between campers and a poor farmer escalates to tragic proportions, Billy battles his own demons in the form of raging hormones, cruel peers and counselors, and a terrifying camp legend that alters the course of his life.
Excerpts:
"The lead abductor jabbed the machete at each camper in an intimidating head count, then led us into the abyss, slashing at real and imagined forest undergrowth like a demonic safari guide.
Treetops blocked the moonlight so effectively upon entering the jungle that we had to hold the shoulder of the person in front of us to keep from straying out of line. Descending the hill, essentially blind, the terrain I had once traversed in a panic was now foreign territory under my feet. The procession halted at some point, I estimated, close to the spring. We then continued, veering into the trees, I sensed, where I had once glimpsed a genuine phantom hovering in the shadows. Of all the places to explore at Aerie, this would have been my very last choice. Still, I had no option but to follow. The concept of breaking free and trying to find my way back to camp alone never entered my mind.
We soon stumbled into a clearing, made visible by moonlight pouring in through a gap in the forest canopy. My eyes slowly adjusted, only to behold a dreadful sight.
It could only be the ruins of Aerie's original pool.
The large man-made oval contrasted appallingly with the dark earth surrounding its unearthly outline. Moonlight bounced off invisible water onto an ancient stone wall directly across from us, the reflections dancing a tragically slow waltz in time with the rhythm of serenading crickets. Dark stains and splotches of organic matter soiled the stone. It was as if we had traveled backward in time only to witness the decay of the future. In a state of pure awe, it occurred to me that this dismal scene had played out every night and day for the last 40 years."
***
"I stopped asking needless questions and focused entirely on Alison. Soft kissing quickly escalated into frantic, primal kissing. Our hands explored familiar places, and urgently sought new territory. I knew we had surpassed our physical benchmark set in the teepee when Alison breathed and moaned in ways I'd not heard before from any human being. I became aware at some fuzzy point that she was no longer guiding my exploration of her body, instead allowing, then demanding me to find my own way. With each moan I expected her to stop me, to stop us, as we went further. She didn't stop us.
I stopped us.
In the midst of mauling each other, the small statue distracted me just enough to divert my full attention from Alison. Ninety-nine percent of me wanted to lose my virginity on that bench with the girl I knew I loved, if she was willing. The remaining one percent contained a potent antidote to my rampaging lust. For one, although it undeniably felt right, it did not feel like the right place. The candles, the reflecting pool, the virtuous statue – all created an aura that reminded me of pictures I'd seen of European cathedrals. Despite my absence of religious faith, I had a nagging sense of behaving...unholy...in the eyes of the mother and child."
Excerpts:
"The lead abductor jabbed the machete at each camper in an intimidating head count, then led us into the abyss, slashing at real and imagined forest undergrowth like a demonic safari guide.
Treetops blocked the moonlight so effectively upon entering the jungle that we had to hold the shoulder of the person in front of us to keep from straying out of line. Descending the hill, essentially blind, the terrain I had once traversed in a panic was now foreign territory under my feet. The procession halted at some point, I estimated, close to the spring. We then continued, veering into the trees, I sensed, where I had once glimpsed a genuine phantom hovering in the shadows. Of all the places to explore at Aerie, this would have been my very last choice. Still, I had no option but to follow. The concept of breaking free and trying to find my way back to camp alone never entered my mind.
We soon stumbled into a clearing, made visible by moonlight pouring in through a gap in the forest canopy. My eyes slowly adjusted, only to behold a dreadful sight.
It could only be the ruins of Aerie's original pool.
The large man-made oval contrasted appallingly with the dark earth surrounding its unearthly outline. Moonlight bounced off invisible water onto an ancient stone wall directly across from us, the reflections dancing a tragically slow waltz in time with the rhythm of serenading crickets. Dark stains and splotches of organic matter soiled the stone. It was as if we had traveled backward in time only to witness the decay of the future. In a state of pure awe, it occurred to me that this dismal scene had played out every night and day for the last 40 years."
***
"I stopped asking needless questions and focused entirely on Alison. Soft kissing quickly escalated into frantic, primal kissing. Our hands explored familiar places, and urgently sought new territory. I knew we had surpassed our physical benchmark set in the teepee when Alison breathed and moaned in ways I'd not heard before from any human being. I became aware at some fuzzy point that she was no longer guiding my exploration of her body, instead allowing, then demanding me to find my own way. With each moan I expected her to stop me, to stop us, as we went further. She didn't stop us.
I stopped us.
In the midst of mauling each other, the small statue distracted me just enough to divert my full attention from Alison. Ninety-nine percent of me wanted to lose my virginity on that bench with the girl I knew I loved, if she was willing. The remaining one percent contained a potent antidote to my rampaging lust. For one, although it undeniably felt right, it did not feel like the right place. The candles, the reflecting pool, the virtuous statue – all created an aura that reminded me of pictures I'd seen of European cathedrals. Despite my absence of religious faith, I had a nagging sense of behaving...unholy...in the eyes of the mother and child."
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 29, 2015
Loved this book! I loved the writing, the story, the way it was told.
This story is told in 2 alternate timelines. The first takes place in the mid-1930's when a retreat for rich boys is built by a man who wanted other boys to keep his son, Ethan, company. He buys up lots of land in the Catoctin area of Maryland from the existing farmers for this. Except there is one holdout, the Crosby family. This sparks a rage in Ethan, who tries to get the family to leave the land in a series of escalating attacks despite warnings that the family may be more than what they seem. In one extreme act, Ethan's actions give rise to consequences that echo thoughout the years of Camp Aerie.
This leads us to the other story taking place in the 1980's and it's main character, Billy Powell. You will follow Billy to when he first attends camp and through several years after, and will witness not only camp life through his eyes, but several incidences which baffle the campers and some call the Cropsy curse.
That's all I am going to say about it because I don't really want to give too much away. This book reminded me so much of the movie Stand By Me and the book, Boy's Life. The way the author vividly wrote about camp life just came alive for me. Some reviewers thought the book was too long, but I wasn't bored for one minute. The alternating timelines (it alternated in chapters) wasn't confusing in the least and I actually liked that it was set up that way. The two stories do end up coming together to a satisfying end.
Anyway, I am going to quit writing before I sound like I am babbling. I'm not very good at this, but I wanted to give kudos to this author. He should keep writing.
Highly recommended!
This story is told in 2 alternate timelines. The first takes place in the mid-1930's when a retreat for rich boys is built by a man who wanted other boys to keep his son, Ethan, company. He buys up lots of land in the Catoctin area of Maryland from the existing farmers for this. Except there is one holdout, the Crosby family. This sparks a rage in Ethan, who tries to get the family to leave the land in a series of escalating attacks despite warnings that the family may be more than what they seem. In one extreme act, Ethan's actions give rise to consequences that echo thoughout the years of Camp Aerie.
This leads us to the other story taking place in the 1980's and it's main character, Billy Powell. You will follow Billy to when he first attends camp and through several years after, and will witness not only camp life through his eyes, but several incidences which baffle the campers and some call the Cropsy curse.
That's all I am going to say about it because I don't really want to give too much away. This book reminded me so much of the movie Stand By Me and the book, Boy's Life. The way the author vividly wrote about camp life just came alive for me. Some reviewers thought the book was too long, but I wasn't bored for one minute. The alternating timelines (it alternated in chapters) wasn't confusing in the least and I actually liked that it was set up that way. The two stories do end up coming together to a satisfying end.
Anyway, I am going to quit writing before I sound like I am babbling. I'm not very good at this, but I wanted to give kudos to this author. He should keep writing.
Highly recommended!
August 15, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I've always thought that summer camps are creepy from themselves. I've not found a charm in being shipped away for the complete summer. That's just me. But I expected a solid summer camp horror when I started reading, but the book has some horrors of its own. Basically, it was far too long.
As a coming of age story for Billy it was quite enjoyable. At first the disappointment of having to go on summer camp and later the excitement for returning to it, and finally the realization that perhaps you went to the camp one time too many were all very relatable (except for the fact I never went on summer camp, but it's true for a lot of things). Only the parts during the different camps are told, but still you get the feeling that you're with Billy while he comes of age.
As something scare though, it felt short. I was reading and reading and reading and kept waiting for the story to turn into something more sinister. And yes, there is the backstory which explains the existence of Cropsy and yes, there are some unexplained accidents in the book, but Cropsy is mostly just a myth in the story. The terrifying truths that are uncovered in the story that takes place around the initiation of the camp were not that shocking either.
Something I always have some problems with is trying to make everything fit together too well, by huge coincidences and making the main character extra special. Unfortunately this was the case with Cropsy and it made my eyes roll near the end of the book. Overall, I felt the book was too long and was waiting for things to happen for a long time.
So, all in all, I enjoyed the story, but it was too long and it was more of a coming of age novel than a horror story, Cropsy was not that creepy.
I've always thought that summer camps are creepy from themselves. I've not found a charm in being shipped away for the complete summer. That's just me. But I expected a solid summer camp horror when I started reading, but the book has some horrors of its own. Basically, it was far too long.
As a coming of age story for Billy it was quite enjoyable. At first the disappointment of having to go on summer camp and later the excitement for returning to it, and finally the realization that perhaps you went to the camp one time too many were all very relatable (except for the fact I never went on summer camp, but it's true for a lot of things). Only the parts during the different camps are told, but still you get the feeling that you're with Billy while he comes of age.
As something scare though, it felt short. I was reading and reading and reading and kept waiting for the story to turn into something more sinister. And yes, there is the backstory which explains the existence of Cropsy and yes, there are some unexplained accidents in the book, but Cropsy is mostly just a myth in the story. The terrifying truths that are uncovered in the story that takes place around the initiation of the camp were not that shocking either.
Something I always have some problems with is trying to make everything fit together too well, by huge coincidences and making the main character extra special. Unfortunately this was the case with Cropsy and it made my eyes roll near the end of the book. Overall, I felt the book was too long and was waiting for things to happen for a long time.
So, all in all, I enjoyed the story, but it was too long and it was more of a coming of age novel than a horror story, Cropsy was not that creepy.
March 29, 2015
I didn't want it to end.
I fell in love with the characters right from the get go. I grew up during the fifties and sixties, spending many summers at summer camp, and this brought back so many memories.
I fell in love with the characters right from the get go. I grew up during the fifties and sixties, spending many summers at summer camp, and this brought back so many memories.
January 21, 2019
Good Verses Evil Past and Present
Billy's parents send him to summer camp. There he learns valuable lessons and makes some good friends. But he sees a shadow sporadically in the woods that frightens him, but also calms him at the same time.
Each summer he goes back to his second home, and learns how to be a man.
This story goes back and forth from past to present telling you all the good and bad experiences as well as the good and bad people. It also has hair raising parts that will scare you.
This is an exceptionally well written book! I dare you to read this book and discover everything that Billy has endured not only at summer camp, but throughout his life!
Billy's parents send him to summer camp. There he learns valuable lessons and makes some good friends. But he sees a shadow sporadically in the woods that frightens him, but also calms him at the same time.
Each summer he goes back to his second home, and learns how to be a man.
This story goes back and forth from past to present telling you all the good and bad experiences as well as the good and bad people. It also has hair raising parts that will scare you.
This is an exceptionally well written book! I dare you to read this book and discover everything that Billy has endured not only at summer camp, but throughout his life!
October 8, 2017
There are no words
I could not put this book down without obsessing about picking it up again. Some parts scared the heck out of me. Most parts made me smile and laugh....and cry. There are no words that could convey the pure enjoyment I felt whole reading it. I can only hope the author is not finished writing. Please read this.
I could not put this book down without obsessing about picking it up again. Some parts scared the heck out of me. Most parts made me smile and laugh....and cry. There are no words that could convey the pure enjoyment I felt whole reading it. I can only hope the author is not finished writing. Please read this.
August 29, 2019
Page Turner!
I truly enjoyed this book.
I love when a story takes you on an unexpected journey. It's really two stores in one with a great conclusion
Highly recommend this exceptional read.
I truly enjoyed this book.
I love when a story takes you on an unexpected journey. It's really two stores in one with a great conclusion
Highly recommend this exceptional read.
September 4, 2023
Creepy camp myth + coming of age.
Light on the horror, but still a decent read.
A little longer than it needed to be, but not excessively so.
Light on the horror, but still a decent read.
A little longer than it needed to be, but not excessively so.
August 24, 2015
It was okay
Kinda long, and went into a lot of unnecessary detail. It wasn't a terrible story, just a long read. I would still recommend it to my friends though.
Kinda long, and went into a lot of unnecessary detail. It wasn't a terrible story, just a long read. I would still recommend it to my friends though.
February 6, 2018
Oh, I simply loathed this book. Wait...I wrote it. Never mind. Dopey me.
July 12, 2015
Part coming of age, part gory horror. Longer than I expected it to be. Was a good summer read. Predictable at the end.
September 17, 2015
Great reading
Very original plot line. Enjoyed reading this book very much. Would recommend to anyone looking to lose themselves for a few hours.
Very original plot line. Enjoyed reading this book very much. Would recommend to anyone looking to lose themselves for a few hours.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews