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Grandfather's House
After a prank lands him in serious trouble, Malcolm Hernandez, a sixteen-year-old boy, is shipped off to live with his grandparents while his mother attempts to save him from expulsion and criminal charges. Malcolm believes the stay will be easy—a vacation with milk and cookies and tales from the past. His hopes, however, are shattered when he bumps heads with his grandfather, Ronald O'Donnell—a stern, violent man with a sinister past. Ronald plans on disciplining his grandson in order to 'save' him from himself. He is not afraid of abusing him, either. He will physically, emotionally, and mentally break him. Jon Athan, the author of The Abuse of Ashley Collins, invites you to stay at grandfather's house to witness true human horror. This book contains scenes of graphic violence, including violence towards children. This book is about abuse—emotional, physical, and mental. This book does not contain any explicit sex scenes, but it does discuss sexual abuse. This book is not intended for those easily offended or appalled.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2018
429 people are currently reading
1791 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
February 11, 2023
Malcom is a prankster. But he went too far with one of his pranks at school. So his mother decides to bring him to his grandparents Ronnie and Babs. Here he experiences hell. Ronnie, an abusive racist with a Vietnam trauma tries all kind of Vietcong sadism on his grandson and Babs, the filthy bitch of a grandmother tries to seduce and screw the minor. Can he discipline Malcom and make a real man out of him even though he has a Mexican father? Will Babs get his young gun inside her old cunt? Does that sound fine to you? Too many disgusting scenes for my taste, too many cliches, stereotypical characters, too much racism, nasty details (I don't speak of the diarrhea vividly described here) and over the top brutality. Maybe it can be regarded as a kind of satire what's really behind a war hero's facade... but to me this was a bit too much of low life... well written and in his usual fluent style... but the content? There are some big question marks on this novel. Fans might like it. I'm glad to leave Grandfather's House behind...
November 2, 2025
Once again author Jon Athan demonstrates his mastery for delivering the ultimate in the macabre.
Grandfather's House is a nonstop twisted rollercoaster ride overflowing with unrelenting deviant sexual content and cringe inducing graphic violence. Buckle up . . . if you dare.
Grandfather's House is a nonstop twisted rollercoaster ride overflowing with unrelenting deviant sexual content and cringe inducing graphic violence. Buckle up . . . if you dare.
October 28, 2025
The Making of a Man...
GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE
by Jon Athan
4 stars. Sixteen year old Malcolm was forced to play a game of survival without any rules...
It all started when...
Malcolm showed up late for school, brandishing a gun in his classroom. He ordered his classmates down on the floor...
But his teacher,...
Malcolm took aim at and shot him in the face with what turned out to be a water pistol...
It was funny as h*ll...
But now Malcolm was in serious trouble...
He was suspended for 2 weeks, pending a decision on whether or not to expell him from school...
Mom decided it was time for some tough love...
So...
She sent Malcolm to stay with his grandparents during his suspension...
Malcolm never even knew he had grandparents...
Grandpa was a Vietnam war veteran who knew a lot about the many ways a man could be tortured by his enemy...
He even had his own torture chamber in the attic, stocked with his own homemade pain-inducing devices...
Grandpa introduced himself and Grandma to Malcolm and told Malcolm that they were family, not friends...
And...
They didn't even have to like each other...
Grandpa was a shameless racist who held it against Malcolm that he was half Hispanic...
Grandpa was determined to fix Malcolm...
Next...
Grandpa told Malcolm the house rules, then took him into the basement, where he introduced Malcolm to...
The bunker...
AKA purgatory...
Within days, Malcolm was forced to play a game of survival against a ruthless opponent without any rules...
And Malcolm was losing the game...
The Grandpa of this story reminded me of Robert Duvall in APOCALYPSE NOW. He was a tough taskmaster who used whatever it took to break his perceived enemy, which was his grandson, and he called upon his war experiences to make Malcolm into a "man."
Warning to some readers: This is an extreme horror story with child abuse, torture, racial slurs, and graphic sexual content.
GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE
by Jon Athan
4 stars. Sixteen year old Malcolm was forced to play a game of survival without any rules...
It all started when...
Malcolm showed up late for school, brandishing a gun in his classroom. He ordered his classmates down on the floor...
But his teacher,...
Malcolm took aim at and shot him in the face with what turned out to be a water pistol...
It was funny as h*ll...
But now Malcolm was in serious trouble...
He was suspended for 2 weeks, pending a decision on whether or not to expell him from school...
Mom decided it was time for some tough love...
So...
She sent Malcolm to stay with his grandparents during his suspension...
Malcolm never even knew he had grandparents...
Grandpa was a Vietnam war veteran who knew a lot about the many ways a man could be tortured by his enemy...
He even had his own torture chamber in the attic, stocked with his own homemade pain-inducing devices...
Grandpa introduced himself and Grandma to Malcolm and told Malcolm that they were family, not friends...
And...
They didn't even have to like each other...
Grandpa was a shameless racist who held it against Malcolm that he was half Hispanic...
Grandpa was determined to fix Malcolm...
Next...
Grandpa told Malcolm the house rules, then took him into the basement, where he introduced Malcolm to...
The bunker...
AKA purgatory...
Within days, Malcolm was forced to play a game of survival against a ruthless opponent without any rules...
And Malcolm was losing the game...
The Grandpa of this story reminded me of Robert Duvall in APOCALYPSE NOW. He was a tough taskmaster who used whatever it took to break his perceived enemy, which was his grandson, and he called upon his war experiences to make Malcolm into a "man."
Warning to some readers: This is an extreme horror story with child abuse, torture, racial slurs, and graphic sexual content.
April 2, 2025
This was an absolutely riveting affair. The premise seemed really unique, so I gave this a chance, and it turned out to be one of the best psychological horror stories that I've read in quite some time. Malcolm is a troubled kid, getting into all sorts of mischief, and lives with his single mom, who struggles to control him. He takes things one step too far and she ships him off to his grandparent's house, who he never knew existed until that point. And these 'loving' (Note the sarcasm.) grandparents, Ronald and Babs, aim to teach Malcolm some very valuable lessons, no matter how extreme they may be. And as he tries to survive the nonstop onslaught by these twisted people that he's unfortunately related to, he uncovers more about their ugly histories and lifestyle. So a strong majority of the book is about Malcolm being 'educated' in some pretty horrendous and disgusting ways. There was one scene in particular that made me put my Kindle down (Yes, I've become a Kindle person nowadays.) and take a break before continuing, but I refuse to spoil anything. It's very sadistic and violent, but it all works towards the story, and is not just inserted to be gross. And for myself, who is not a fan of torture-based movies or books, the fact that I enjoyed this so much should tell everyone how well Jon Athan developed and executed this story. Awesome book that I recommend to all fans of horror and psychological thrillers.
March 19, 2022
Story 4/5
Narration 4/5
This story is insane, brutal and gruesome.
I recommend it.
Narration 4/5
This story is insane, brutal and gruesome.
I recommend it.
December 28, 2025
GRANDFATHER’S HOUSE [2018] by Jon Athan
My Book My Review Rated 4 Stars****
I finished reading Grandfather's House (First Edition 2018) by the ever-popular Jon Athan, an apex predator of the extreme horror genre. This was the Kindle Edition Print length 248 pages. I mention this only because I noted the audiobook has received a little bad press. I am a former devotee of books on tape, Unabridged of course. Looking back, I was such a snob about the name of the narrator. In all seriousness, it matters.
This selection from Jon Athan's impressive catalog of titles was nominated for the November 2025 Group Read of the month. It secured the votes for a tie, and I was pleased to purchase it and place it prominently in queue. HGW Horror Book Club is the first club I ever joined and a Goodreads community environment in which I love to spend my time.
This is a captivating and well-written work of Splatterpunk. Jon Athan tells us that he had no special reason for choosing the subject matter. But he had just read The Girl Next Door for the second time. Hmnn. In the most basic sense, it is the cautionary tale of a delinquent high schooler named Malcolm who plays one prank too many and finds himself in deep waters. He is being raised in a single parent home, and his working mother has been tested and stretched to the point of exasperation and desperation. She makes a regrettable decision to pack his bags and drive him to stay with her parents until the School Board and local PD can be dealt with satisfactorily. This is an interesting shot from the starting pistol since Malcolm doesn't know there even is a Grandparent's house!
In another part of the library or in another genre Malcolm goes to stay with his sweet Grandma and honorable, respected war hero Grandpa and gradually learns that honesty and principles matter. But
you are on what I like to call the other side of the bleachers in the Extreme Horror section. And nothing is going to be all right.
I really enjoyed this novel, particularly the first three quarters of the book if I am honest. The narrative became unrelenting and oppressive to a noticeable degree with the extent of the brutality, physical and psychological torture. That said, I am ready to equivocate to the point that it was required to set up the explosive finale with convincing retribution. This was a particularly violent book, but no argument can be made that it is a tale that has not played out in the homes on Main Street, America. We know because the heartbreak is broadcast on our News Networks and we can read the details of depravity.
Finally, the story says a lot about the challenges faced by single parents, the horrors of war and the scars on the souls it steals, the misery of children in abusive homes, and the limits of authorities to protect us all. I rated this high energy drink of reality from Jon Athan a solid 4 Stars. I also thought the Cover Art was haunting but did not note where the artist was credited.
My Book My Review Rated 4 Stars****
I finished reading Grandfather's House (First Edition 2018) by the ever-popular Jon Athan, an apex predator of the extreme horror genre. This was the Kindle Edition Print length 248 pages. I mention this only because I noted the audiobook has received a little bad press. I am a former devotee of books on tape, Unabridged of course. Looking back, I was such a snob about the name of the narrator. In all seriousness, it matters.
This selection from Jon Athan's impressive catalog of titles was nominated for the November 2025 Group Read of the month. It secured the votes for a tie, and I was pleased to purchase it and place it prominently in queue. HGW Horror Book Club is the first club I ever joined and a Goodreads community environment in which I love to spend my time.
This is a captivating and well-written work of Splatterpunk. Jon Athan tells us that he had no special reason for choosing the subject matter. But he had just read The Girl Next Door for the second time. Hmnn. In the most basic sense, it is the cautionary tale of a delinquent high schooler named Malcolm who plays one prank too many and finds himself in deep waters. He is being raised in a single parent home, and his working mother has been tested and stretched to the point of exasperation and desperation. She makes a regrettable decision to pack his bags and drive him to stay with her parents until the School Board and local PD can be dealt with satisfactorily. This is an interesting shot from the starting pistol since Malcolm doesn't know there even is a Grandparent's house!
In another part of the library or in another genre Malcolm goes to stay with his sweet Grandma and honorable, respected war hero Grandpa and gradually learns that honesty and principles matter. But
you are on what I like to call the other side of the bleachers in the Extreme Horror section. And nothing is going to be all right.
I really enjoyed this novel, particularly the first three quarters of the book if I am honest. The narrative became unrelenting and oppressive to a noticeable degree with the extent of the brutality, physical and psychological torture. That said, I am ready to equivocate to the point that it was required to set up the explosive finale with convincing retribution. This was a particularly violent book, but no argument can be made that it is a tale that has not played out in the homes on Main Street, America. We know because the heartbreak is broadcast on our News Networks and we can read the details of depravity.
Finally, the story says a lot about the challenges faced by single parents, the horrors of war and the scars on the souls it steals, the misery of children in abusive homes, and the limits of authorities to protect us all. I rated this high energy drink of reality from Jon Athan a solid 4 Stars. I also thought the Cover Art was haunting but did not note where the artist was credited.
ANOTHER HOME RUN BY PROLIFIC EXTREME HORROR APEX PREDATOR JON ATHAN
December 5, 2021
Another fantastic gory read from Jon Athan,it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Malcolm's Grandfather certainly had some evil,gruesome ways on how to turn him into a "man". I'm sure I can still feel those rats gnawing away at his flesh!! Great characters,and a great story line,the ending was very unexpected too.Thank You Jon Athan for writing another superb book...never give up putting your amazing words and thoughts down on paper. 10/10 read for me once again. I can't wait to start the next one...they're my daily fix!!!
August 24, 2022
I chose this book as my second Jon Athan reading based on how impressed I was with his first book I read - The Groomer. The Groomer was just so emotional that when I read the briefing on this one I expected a well done book on psychological terror and was so intrigued I had to sink my teeth into it.
So Malcolm Hernandez is a high school student whose high school prank gets him expelled and may leave him facing serious criminal charges as well. His mother Jennifer has had enough, so much so, that she decides to let her estranged parents have a go at correcting Malcolm. You see Malcolm wasn't even aware he had grandparents (Ronald and Barbara) and they don't live all that far from his own LA home. Malcom's mother explains that her dad can be quite a hard ass and will have no trouble straightening Malcolm into a proper young man.
When Jennifer drops off Malcolm at her parents home she is so terrified of them herself that she will not even see them. When Malcolm first meets his grandparents they let him know they have been given instruction by Jennifer to straighten Malcolm out and that there will be rules to follow.
From here Malcolm is first introduced to a downstairs bunker that seems like a solitary confinement jail cell. He spends his first few hours locked down there to be shown how what Ronald calls "purgatory" is quite a punishment. We soon learn that Ronald is quite a psycho. He served in Vietnam, was held captive and tortured by the Viet Cong and sadly learned the value of their torture methods. He is an older man in his late 60's but if you ever watched Gran Torino he is like the Clint Eastwood character at the beginning of that movie. An angry old bitter man. I have known many such men. I don't know what it is about them but they are tough, very tough. These guys in their 50s/60s can easily kick the crap out of someone in their 20s/30s. They are tough! Their hand shakes alone could crush your hands. Their eyes are of steel. I knew quite a few WWII vets and to be honest I just don't think the way our society's moved after the wars was to their liking. I have had to many tell me that this is not the society they fought for. They hate gays, they hate the movement the 60's pushed us into. These guys are rules first people and Ronald is a perfect example of such persons. To them we have to much freedoms and have run amok with those freedoms. Athan depicts this type of person through Ronald. Thankfully, nature is taking care of these types on her own. I don't think they are generally bad people they just grew up in a different era and different time when prejudice was almost the norm. And being part of an army well that's all about rules and regs and I think it just sadly carried over. In a way I feel sorry for them.
And what about grandma. Well we learn how Ronald's methods saved her and she is now on board with the insanity that is Ronald. Ronald lets Malcolm know how bad his mother was and how she had to be saved and was to a degree until she got knocked up by a good for nothing Mexican. There are plenty of racial slurs directed at those of Mexican decent in this book. Ronald clearly hates them.
So give a true biggot a cause to be a biggot and they are happier than a pig in shit! The cause for Ronald is to save his grandson Malcolm and to straighten him out. Ronald is simply crazy. When he finds out Malcolm has met a neighbor girl he forces Malcolm to watch his grandmother get naked and she interacts sexually with Malcolm. It's quite bizarre and this quasi sexual thing between grandmother and grandson continues throughout the story line. It kind of made me laugh as gross as it was from Malcolm's point of view.
Malcolm being a teenager simply cannot comply with his grandparents every rule and Athan takes us on the ensuing psychological/torture ride. It wasn't as psychological as I hoped though but did lean on the heavy handed torture side with graphic description.
Though not what I was really hoping for, the reality of what I got here by Athan did not disappoint. Though different than what I expected it was nevertheless well done. I am again impressed with his writing ability and after reading two of his graphic novels back to back I am in need of a deserved break from him and will be going to one of my favourite authors whose thrillers I so enjoy. One can only handle so much of this type of reading but I do know though that my next Athan book recommended by a goodreads friend "Lovesick" will be calling out to me. How long can I put it off, who knows. A solid four star review but be forewarned as it is pretty graphic :)
So Malcolm Hernandez is a high school student whose high school prank gets him expelled and may leave him facing serious criminal charges as well. His mother Jennifer has had enough, so much so, that she decides to let her estranged parents have a go at correcting Malcolm. You see Malcolm wasn't even aware he had grandparents (Ronald and Barbara) and they don't live all that far from his own LA home. Malcom's mother explains that her dad can be quite a hard ass and will have no trouble straightening Malcolm into a proper young man.
When Jennifer drops off Malcolm at her parents home she is so terrified of them herself that she will not even see them. When Malcolm first meets his grandparents they let him know they have been given instruction by Jennifer to straighten Malcolm out and that there will be rules to follow.
From here Malcolm is first introduced to a downstairs bunker that seems like a solitary confinement jail cell. He spends his first few hours locked down there to be shown how what Ronald calls "purgatory" is quite a punishment. We soon learn that Ronald is quite a psycho. He served in Vietnam, was held captive and tortured by the Viet Cong and sadly learned the value of their torture methods. He is an older man in his late 60's but if you ever watched Gran Torino he is like the Clint Eastwood character at the beginning of that movie. An angry old bitter man. I have known many such men. I don't know what it is about them but they are tough, very tough. These guys in their 50s/60s can easily kick the crap out of someone in their 20s/30s. They are tough! Their hand shakes alone could crush your hands. Their eyes are of steel. I knew quite a few WWII vets and to be honest I just don't think the way our society's moved after the wars was to their liking. I have had to many tell me that this is not the society they fought for. They hate gays, they hate the movement the 60's pushed us into. These guys are rules first people and Ronald is a perfect example of such persons. To them we have to much freedoms and have run amok with those freedoms. Athan depicts this type of person through Ronald. Thankfully, nature is taking care of these types on her own. I don't think they are generally bad people they just grew up in a different era and different time when prejudice was almost the norm. And being part of an army well that's all about rules and regs and I think it just sadly carried over. In a way I feel sorry for them.
And what about grandma. Well we learn how Ronald's methods saved her and she is now on board with the insanity that is Ronald. Ronald lets Malcolm know how bad his mother was and how she had to be saved and was to a degree until she got knocked up by a good for nothing Mexican. There are plenty of racial slurs directed at those of Mexican decent in this book. Ronald clearly hates them.
So give a true biggot a cause to be a biggot and they are happier than a pig in shit! The cause for Ronald is to save his grandson Malcolm and to straighten him out. Ronald is simply crazy. When he finds out Malcolm has met a neighbor girl he forces Malcolm to watch his grandmother get naked and she interacts sexually with Malcolm. It's quite bizarre and this quasi sexual thing between grandmother and grandson continues throughout the story line. It kind of made me laugh as gross as it was from Malcolm's point of view.
Malcolm being a teenager simply cannot comply with his grandparents every rule and Athan takes us on the ensuing psychological/torture ride. It wasn't as psychological as I hoped though but did lean on the heavy handed torture side with graphic description.
Though not what I was really hoping for, the reality of what I got here by Athan did not disappoint. Though different than what I expected it was nevertheless well done. I am again impressed with his writing ability and after reading two of his graphic novels back to back I am in need of a deserved break from him and will be going to one of my favourite authors whose thrillers I so enjoy. One can only handle so much of this type of reading but I do know though that my next Athan book recommended by a goodreads friend "Lovesick" will be calling out to me. How long can I put it off, who knows. A solid four star review but be forewarned as it is pretty graphic :)
May 13, 2024
I’m not too sure how I feel about this. I felt like most of the conflict in the book could have been avoided if MC just… obeyed the rules. Lol. Some parts made me uncomfortable but I don’t hold it against the book or the author because that’s the purpose of the genre. Overall I guess, an odd story with some missing details and a teen who says “man” a lot.
June 25, 2020
Audible version
This was such a great story. I loved how personable the voice was. As he spoke I saw the book playing in my head like a movie. The story is about a boy that gets sent to his grandparent's house to learn discipline. It turns out that his Grandfather is very violent. I love gore.... And the level of gore in this book is very high. Also, there are a few gross scenes. (Sex with Grandma???? HMMMM). I laughed so many times, but I have a morbid sense of humor. I've only read a handful of Jon Athan's stories, but this one might have been my favorite
This was such a great story. I loved how personable the voice was. As he spoke I saw the book playing in my head like a movie. The story is about a boy that gets sent to his grandparent's house to learn discipline. It turns out that his Grandfather is very violent. I love gore.... And the level of gore in this book is very high. Also, there are a few gross scenes. (Sex with Grandma???? HMMMM). I laughed so many times, but I have a morbid sense of humor. I've only read a handful of Jon Athan's stories, but this one might have been my favorite
March 18, 2022
Damn this was just a fucked up brutal violent read. Jon Athan is and always will be a favorite of mine. I just like the way he brings the violence. This is a gritty fucking read with one bad ass fucking grandfather that nobody wants to fuck with. This book is inspired a lot by The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum and that's not a bad thing at all. This isn't for everyone or for the easily offended violence and torture throughout this but but it keeps you turning pages. 4.2 stars from me
December 28, 2023
Pretty good story. Totally brutal.
July 23, 2024
Absolutely brutal, love this authors work
August 17, 2025
The story follows Malcolm, a kid who’s been misbehaving and breaking rules. When one of his pranks at school goes too far, his mother sends him to stay with his grandparents in hopes they can straighten him out. But Malcolm soon discovers his grandparents aren’t exactly “normal” grandparents what unfolds is a gory and violent fight for survival.
I found this book slower-paced compared to Athan’s other works. While it was still good, it wasn’t one of my favorites. It delivers on the violence and gore, but it doesn’t quite reach the extreme levels seen in his other stories. Be sure to check the content warnings before diving in.
I found this book slower-paced compared to Athan’s other works. While it was still good, it wasn’t one of my favorites. It delivers on the violence and gore, but it doesn’t quite reach the extreme levels seen in his other stories. Be sure to check the content warnings before diving in.
April 17, 2023
Well damn, don't f**k with grandfather 😳
Read
August 9, 2023👁️👄👁️
October 30, 2025
Damn, that was messed up. 👀
April 16, 2022
Insane, brutal, and crosses every moral line...I loved this one! 16-year-old Malcolm takes a prank at school entirely too far and is sent home. His mother is a single parent who can't afford to keep missing work to deal with her son's increasingly challenging behavior. She tells him he's going to spend some time with his grandparents. She drops him off, and Malcolm has no idea that he's stepping into a house of horrors.
His grandfather Ronald and his grandmother seem like polar opposites--she is warm and caring, and he is domineering, cold, and harsh. Malcolm expected certain rules and expectations from his grandfather, but he had no idea what was in store for him.
I can't even describe what Malcolm went through in that house...and that warm and caring grandmother? Let's just say you'll see a different side of her. Malcolm certainly did.
"Spare the rod, spoil the child" is a motto that I heard many times growing up in the 80s. While I got my fair share of spankings with a belt or a switch, my childhood was a dream compared to what this kid endured.
In addition to the usual trigger warnings associated with his books, be aware that the sexual scenes in this book are extreme.
His grandfather Ronald and his grandmother seem like polar opposites--she is warm and caring, and he is domineering, cold, and harsh. Malcolm expected certain rules and expectations from his grandfather, but he had no idea what was in store for him.
I can't even describe what Malcolm went through in that house...and that warm and caring grandmother? Let's just say you'll see a different side of her. Malcolm certainly did.
"Spare the rod, spoil the child" is a motto that I heard many times growing up in the 80s. While I got my fair share of spankings with a belt or a switch, my childhood was a dream compared to what this kid endured.
In addition to the usual trigger warnings associated with his books, be aware that the sexual scenes in this book are extreme.
May 9, 2024
This was the 3rd book I have read by Jon Athan, and definitely the tamest. Don’t be confused though; this was still BRUTAL. I really think Jon Athan is a genius when it comes to writing horror.
Malcom pulls a prank at school and gets in a lot of trouble. In hopes to rehabilitate him, his mother sends him to her racist, violent, estranged father’s house. What could go wrong?
Malcom quickly discovers he has the worst grandparents in the world and suffers abuse at the hand of his grandfather and his passive, horny grandma (If you know, you know 😭👵🏻).
I fucking loved this. It was fast paced and per usual the way Athan describes gore in the story is 🤌 chef‘s kiss.
5⭐️, I recommend to all extreme horror lovers
Malcom pulls a prank at school and gets in a lot of trouble. In hopes to rehabilitate him, his mother sends him to her racist, violent, estranged father’s house. What could go wrong?
Malcom quickly discovers he has the worst grandparents in the world and suffers abuse at the hand of his grandfather and his passive, horny grandma (If you know, you know 😭👵🏻).
I fucking loved this. It was fast paced and per usual the way Athan describes gore in the story is 🤌 chef‘s kiss.
5⭐️, I recommend to all extreme horror lovers
March 13, 2023
A prank goes wrong and an creepy weird grandad. Not a great story it could’ve been better
August 8, 2020
Puh, ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll. Zunächst, dies ist ein Festa Extrem Titel, heißt ab 18 Jahren und das hat schon seinen Sinn. Das Buch ist nichts für schwache Nerven. Wobei ich sagen muss, also nach meinem persönlichen empfinden, habe ich schon krasseres im Festa Extrem Bereich gelesen.
Bei Großvaters Haus gibt es zwar auch eklige und brutal Szenen, aber vieles spielt sich auch auf einer psychologischen Ebene ab. Bei manchen Szenen war ich echt froh, dass ich nicht nebenbei etwas gegessen habe, sonst hätte es mich vielleicht gestellt. Und was die Brutalität angeht, hier wird gnadenlos und mit vergnügen gefoltert.
Aber das wirklich schlimme ist die Hilflosigkeit, dieses ausgeliefert sein und das nicht durch einen Fremden, nein, durch die eigenen Großeltern. Die einem eigentlich beistehen und betüdeln sollten. Malcolm wird gnadenlos psychisch fertig gemacht und mit der Zeit ist er sich nicht mehr sicher, ob er das ganze überleben wird.
Und warum passiert das alles? Weil er sich einen Scherz erlaubt hat. Okay, vielleicht war es nicht witzig mit einer Waffe seine Mitschüler zu erschrecken und den Lehrer zu bedrohen, aber es war doch nur eine Wasserpistole. Ein harmloser Streich, doch einer zu viel und seine Mutter weiß sich nicht mehr anders zu helfen als ihren Sohn zu ihren Eltern zu schicken. Und ao beginnt der Horror.
Das Buch hat so einige Gefühle bei mir ausgelöst. Von Ekel, über Wut, bis Mitgefühl und Rachedurst und noch vielen mehr. Emotional war ich voll dabei und das mag ich an diesen Titeln, sie lassen einen als Leser nicht kalt. Ob man solche Gefühle aber beim Lesen empfingen möchte, muss jeder für sich entscheiden. Ich habe diesen alten sadistischen Sack abgrundtief gehasst. Und manchmal hätte ich am liebsten, wie früher bei den Horrorfilmen, mit zugehaltenen Augen, wo man ein bisschen durchschaut, weiter gelesen, weil es einfach so krass war.
Ich fand Großvaters Haus Mal wieder einen genialen Ausbruch aus meiner Lese-Komfortzone, den ich nicht bereut habe. Aber hier nochmal ganz deutlich lesen auf eigene Gefahr und Bitte nicht beim Essen ;-)
Bei Großvaters Haus gibt es zwar auch eklige und brutal Szenen, aber vieles spielt sich auch auf einer psychologischen Ebene ab. Bei manchen Szenen war ich echt froh, dass ich nicht nebenbei etwas gegessen habe, sonst hätte es mich vielleicht gestellt. Und was die Brutalität angeht, hier wird gnadenlos und mit vergnügen gefoltert.
Aber das wirklich schlimme ist die Hilflosigkeit, dieses ausgeliefert sein und das nicht durch einen Fremden, nein, durch die eigenen Großeltern. Die einem eigentlich beistehen und betüdeln sollten. Malcolm wird gnadenlos psychisch fertig gemacht und mit der Zeit ist er sich nicht mehr sicher, ob er das ganze überleben wird.
Und warum passiert das alles? Weil er sich einen Scherz erlaubt hat. Okay, vielleicht war es nicht witzig mit einer Waffe seine Mitschüler zu erschrecken und den Lehrer zu bedrohen, aber es war doch nur eine Wasserpistole. Ein harmloser Streich, doch einer zu viel und seine Mutter weiß sich nicht mehr anders zu helfen als ihren Sohn zu ihren Eltern zu schicken. Und ao beginnt der Horror.
Das Buch hat so einige Gefühle bei mir ausgelöst. Von Ekel, über Wut, bis Mitgefühl und Rachedurst und noch vielen mehr. Emotional war ich voll dabei und das mag ich an diesen Titeln, sie lassen einen als Leser nicht kalt. Ob man solche Gefühle aber beim Lesen empfingen möchte, muss jeder für sich entscheiden. Ich habe diesen alten sadistischen Sack abgrundtief gehasst. Und manchmal hätte ich am liebsten, wie früher bei den Horrorfilmen, mit zugehaltenen Augen, wo man ein bisschen durchschaut, weiter gelesen, weil es einfach so krass war.
Ich fand Großvaters Haus Mal wieder einen genialen Ausbruch aus meiner Lese-Komfortzone, den ich nicht bereut habe. Aber hier nochmal ganz deutlich lesen auf eigene Gefahr und Bitte nicht beim Essen ;-)
March 16, 2025
Holy crap
Yet again, another banger from Jon Athan. This one was more psychological horror than splatterpunk. To me, the situation felt very realistic. This book really goes there.
Yet again, another banger from Jon Athan. This one was more psychological horror than splatterpunk. To me, the situation felt very realistic. This book really goes there.
June 4, 2024
My second journey in to Jon Athans work and this is just as visceral as the first. This is extreme horror and is likely to sicken a lot of readers, but I found myself truly absorbed in to what was happening and physically grimacing at some of the imagery. Not sure what this says about me, but I can't deny I read this entire book in one sitting and I needed a quiet minute of reflection once it ended :').
Malcolm is sent to his estranged grandparents after pulling a prank at school that could get him in trouble. His grandfather has an extreme attitude to discipline and malcolm is soon sickened by the abuse he nonchalantly gives him everyday. He confides in a local girl, but can she convince the cops that his life is in danger before his grandparents take it too far?
Malcolm is sent to his estranged grandparents after pulling a prank at school that could get him in trouble. His grandfather has an extreme attitude to discipline and malcolm is soon sickened by the abuse he nonchalantly gives him everyday. He confides in a local girl, but can she convince the cops that his life is in danger before his grandparents take it too far?
February 15, 2025
A teenager misbehaves and is sent to his loving grandparents’ house to be set straight. Sounds simple enough—except these grandparents aren’t the kind to bake cookies and tell bedtime stories.
Let’s be clear: Grandfather’s House is extreme horror, and the grandfather? An abusive, racist, misogynistic piece of shit. In a weird way, he reminded me of my own grandfather (take that as you will). Athan doesn’t hold back, and this one is brutal, disturbing, and filled with triggers—so check content warnings before diving in.
This won’t be my last Athan book, that’s for sure.
Let’s be clear: Grandfather’s House is extreme horror, and the grandfather? An abusive, racist, misogynistic piece of shit. In a weird way, he reminded me of my own grandfather (take that as you will). Athan doesn’t hold back, and this one is brutal, disturbing, and filled with triggers—so check content warnings before diving in.
This won’t be my last Athan book, that’s for sure.
April 22, 2020
Below Average Extreme Horror Book
Review contains spoilers!
Synopsis: A teenager, Malcolm, lands in hot water after he took a prank too far at school. His mother, Jennifer, takes him to her estranged parents to stay for a couple of days or weeks while she tries to clean up the mess her son has created back home. However, Malcolm's grandfather, Ronald, is a very cruel and abusive man who will make Malcolm's stay a living hell...
This is my first book I've read from Jon Athan. Usually I'm very selective as to what I read, especially when it comes to fiction.
After reading numerous "splatterpunk" books from authors like Matt Shaw, Sam West, Edward Lee and Wade H. Garrett, amongst others, of which all works of fiction I enjoyed from these authors, I decided to try out a book from another extreme horror author I heard of- Jon Athan. I chose "Grandfather's House" out of the myriad books by Jon Athan because of so many rave reviews I saw.
Halfway into the story I was already shaking my head at how bad it is. Here are some of the aspects I found frustrating or even downright laughable:
- The protagonist of the story, Malcolm, did something so heinous in the first chapter that I found it impossible to sympathize with this irresponsible punk- no matter what happened to him throughout the story. Unlike Jack Ketchum's "The Girl Next Door", that deals with similar themes, which makes the reader strongly connect with the protagonist, I never cared what happened to Malcolm.
- 90% of the time Malcolm speaks his thoughts out loud, no matter in what situation he is in. Who does that? Why couldn't the author just write out his thoughts in cursive instead of making him talk to himself throughout the whole book?
- The romance between Malcolm and secondary protagonist, Claire, was SOOO cringeworthy and unrealistic. I've never seen anything like this since "Romeo and Juliet". Here they slobber and drool all over each other at their FIRST meeting. These are teenagers all over each other on initial contact and the author specifically tells the readers they care about each other and it isn't teenage hormones. Really? Claire is so infatiated with this stranger that she already buys him a cellphone after their first meeting and even plays heroine at the climax (after still barely knowing this boy) of the story by going to Ronald's house and saving Malcolm's ass almost James Bond style-like. This is beyond ridiculous. The only reason this pair has a deep connection or "loves" each other is because the author wants them to. I know this is fiction but still?
- Ronald O' Donnel, our antagonist, is just as bland and unbelievable as the rest of the story. There's absolute no reason given as to why this one-dimensional villain is such a bastard other than that he was in The Vietnam War. From the get-go it is made clear this dude is a vile, racist and cruel asshole but we are hardly given any reason as to WHY he is like this. To ensure readers suspend further disbelief, the author tells us Ronald has hit every person in the town, even children, and everyone is afraid of him. There's no way someone would get away with something like this.
- Another idiot of the story- Jennifer, Malcolm's mom, drops her son off at her parents' house, knowing what type of people they are. She is just as much a monster as them but the readers are made to belief at the end of the book she is innocent.
- For an "extreme horror" book the ending had your typical cliché protagonists-get-away-and-takes-revenge happy ending. I expected a more twisted and darker ending for this type of genre.
As mentioned, this is my first book by Jon Athan, but I haven't given up on him. I will try one more book before ultimately drawing a line through his name.
Review contains spoilers!
Synopsis: A teenager, Malcolm, lands in hot water after he took a prank too far at school. His mother, Jennifer, takes him to her estranged parents to stay for a couple of days or weeks while she tries to clean up the mess her son has created back home. However, Malcolm's grandfather, Ronald, is a very cruel and abusive man who will make Malcolm's stay a living hell...
This is my first book I've read from Jon Athan. Usually I'm very selective as to what I read, especially when it comes to fiction.
After reading numerous "splatterpunk" books from authors like Matt Shaw, Sam West, Edward Lee and Wade H. Garrett, amongst others, of which all works of fiction I enjoyed from these authors, I decided to try out a book from another extreme horror author I heard of- Jon Athan. I chose "Grandfather's House" out of the myriad books by Jon Athan because of so many rave reviews I saw.
Halfway into the story I was already shaking my head at how bad it is. Here are some of the aspects I found frustrating or even downright laughable:
- The protagonist of the story, Malcolm, did something so heinous in the first chapter that I found it impossible to sympathize with this irresponsible punk- no matter what happened to him throughout the story. Unlike Jack Ketchum's "The Girl Next Door", that deals with similar themes, which makes the reader strongly connect with the protagonist, I never cared what happened to Malcolm.
- 90% of the time Malcolm speaks his thoughts out loud, no matter in what situation he is in. Who does that? Why couldn't the author just write out his thoughts in cursive instead of making him talk to himself throughout the whole book?
- The romance between Malcolm and secondary protagonist, Claire, was SOOO cringeworthy and unrealistic. I've never seen anything like this since "Romeo and Juliet". Here they slobber and drool all over each other at their FIRST meeting. These are teenagers all over each other on initial contact and the author specifically tells the readers they care about each other and it isn't teenage hormones. Really? Claire is so infatiated with this stranger that she already buys him a cellphone after their first meeting and even plays heroine at the climax (after still barely knowing this boy) of the story by going to Ronald's house and saving Malcolm's ass almost James Bond style-like. This is beyond ridiculous. The only reason this pair has a deep connection or "loves" each other is because the author wants them to. I know this is fiction but still?
- Ronald O' Donnel, our antagonist, is just as bland and unbelievable as the rest of the story. There's absolute no reason given as to why this one-dimensional villain is such a bastard other than that he was in The Vietnam War. From the get-go it is made clear this dude is a vile, racist and cruel asshole but we are hardly given any reason as to WHY he is like this. To ensure readers suspend further disbelief, the author tells us Ronald has hit every person in the town, even children, and everyone is afraid of him. There's no way someone would get away with something like this.
- Another idiot of the story- Jennifer, Malcolm's mom, drops her son off at her parents' house, knowing what type of people they are. She is just as much a monster as them but the readers are made to belief at the end of the book she is innocent.
- For an "extreme horror" book the ending had your typical cliché protagonists-get-away-and-takes-revenge happy ending. I expected a more twisted and darker ending for this type of genre.
As mentioned, this is my first book by Jon Athan, but I haven't given up on him. I will try one more book before ultimately drawing a line through his name.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
So Malcolm is you're typical douche teenager that has a smart mouth and his grandfather Ronald is not your typical gramps in that the dude is a sadistic piece of c**p. I really empathised with the poor teenager and just wanted the best for him. This is another fast paced and gore filled book from athan that just works on every level, its a good and entertaining read for the gore trained.
Read
February 1, 2024This book was crazy. Can’t say I have ever read a book like it, not sure why I did to be honest. Curiosity? I tried The Groomer (by the same author) after hearing about it from a group I follow. I can handle some horror but killing babies and torturing children is way too much for me, I couldn’t get past the first couple chapters. This book was easier. It was still shocking, violent, bloody, had to skim through some paragraphs (hello psycho Grandma!)…I read the whole book within 24 hours so it held my interest, I wanted to know what happened. Would I recommend it to anyone? Probably not. Am I going to tell anyone about what I just read? Heck no! That book was crazy, what does that make me?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2024
Wow gruesome.
April 5, 2020
Yes, it was dark, except for the last two chapters where everything seems surprisingly normal.
With book info and (of course,) a pillory on a cover, I knew what's gonna happen in this story, so it wasn't that disturbing. This book is not for everyone. If you have watched saw and wrong turn movies and if that wasn't vexatious to you, this book is for you.
With book info and (of course,) a pillory on a cover, I knew what's gonna happen in this story, so it wasn't that disturbing. This book is not for everyone. If you have watched saw and wrong turn movies and if that wasn't vexatious to you, this book is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2024
A little slow, I skimmed the last chapter just wanting it to be over. The action doesn’t start until about 60% through.
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