What do you think?
Rate this book
Think Yourself Lucky
David Botham just wants a quiet ordinary life―his job at the travel agency, his relationship with his girlfriend Stephanie. The online blog that uses a title he once thought up has nothing to do with him. He has no idea who is writing it or where they get their information about a series of violent deaths in Liverpool. If they’re murders, how can the killer go unseen even by security cameras? Perhaps David won’t know until they come too close to him―until he can’t ignore the figure from his past that is catching up with him…
- GenresHorror
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
7 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Ramsey Campbell
860 books1,599 followersRamsey Campbell is a British writer considered by a number of critics to be one of the great masters of horror fiction. T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today," while S. T. Joshi has said that "future generations will regard him as the leading horror writer of our generation, every bit the equal of Lovecraft or Blackwood."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 7, 2019
This review originally was published in Scream Mag Issue #52 Jan/Feb 2019
Before I review this book, a word about the publisher. FlameTree Publishing has been around since the early 90s but recently, they launched their trade imprint, Flame Tree Press for SCi-Fi, Horror, Crime and Fantasy titles both new and previously released.
It has been exciting to be a part of their ARC mailing list and get fresh horror delivered to my door. One of the November releases is this previously released title from Ramsey Campbell called, THINK YOURSELF LUCKY.
Now, I am familiar with Ramsey Campbell’s name because he’s prolific in the field but honestly, this was my first time reading one of his books. I didn’t particularly get on well with this offering but I will gladly sign up to read more in honor of his legendary, horror status.
This book starts off well enough. David Botham works at a travel agency and lives a very mundane life. We get a real sense of the doldrums here. With no hope of anything terribly exciting on the horizon for Botham, he is rather taken aback when he finds a blog with an eerie title he recognizes. Reading the blog, he begins to see his own connections to the victims of a serial killer loose in Liverpool. The killer naming itself, “Lucky Newless”.
In a sick display of revenge, Lucky Newless describes in disturbing detail acts of violent revenge against people who commited very slight infractions-like scratching their car.
The first person narrative style of the blog were actually the most entertaining and compelling portions of the book but they were also overly wrought to the point of being slapstick-ish. It just wasn’t believable.
Also, I couldn’t help feeling like the social commentary was a bit heavy handed. Clearly Ramsey Campbell has a lot to say about the dangerous anonymity of the internet and longs for the days when not every sociopath with a manifesto could easily find an audience for their rantings.
It was a little too preachy and almost antiquated actually, because this book could easily find itself in the hands of a generation of horror fans who have only known technological advancements the way they are right now--a world of YouTube sensations, lifestyle bloggers and internet startups. They don’t have fond memories of the “good ol days”.
It dawned on me early on in the book that maybe younger readers wouldn’t even understand the protagonist’s employment at a travel agency since most vacation bookings are done by the individual through a specialty website these days.
All this aside, I did think Ramsey Campbell’s achievements with mystery surrounding Lucky Newless, the unidentifiable entity with an insatiable appetite for killing and the nasty blog posts, was something pretty imaginative and intriguing. Especially the contrast of character between the mysterious killer/blogger and the protagonist. David Botham having a crippling inability to express frustrations and emotions while the blogger is bold and brash. It reminded me of Stephen King’s The Dark Half which was a superior telling of the same kind of concept. Fans of crime thrillers might be the targeted audience here, as it lacked teeth.
Before I review this book, a word about the publisher. FlameTree Publishing has been around since the early 90s but recently, they launched their trade imprint, Flame Tree Press for SCi-Fi, Horror, Crime and Fantasy titles both new and previously released.
It has been exciting to be a part of their ARC mailing list and get fresh horror delivered to my door. One of the November releases is this previously released title from Ramsey Campbell called, THINK YOURSELF LUCKY.
Now, I am familiar with Ramsey Campbell’s name because he’s prolific in the field but honestly, this was my first time reading one of his books. I didn’t particularly get on well with this offering but I will gladly sign up to read more in honor of his legendary, horror status.
This book starts off well enough. David Botham works at a travel agency and lives a very mundane life. We get a real sense of the doldrums here. With no hope of anything terribly exciting on the horizon for Botham, he is rather taken aback when he finds a blog with an eerie title he recognizes. Reading the blog, he begins to see his own connections to the victims of a serial killer loose in Liverpool. The killer naming itself, “Lucky Newless”.
In a sick display of revenge, Lucky Newless describes in disturbing detail acts of violent revenge against people who commited very slight infractions-like scratching their car.
The first person narrative style of the blog were actually the most entertaining and compelling portions of the book but they were also overly wrought to the point of being slapstick-ish. It just wasn’t believable.
Also, I couldn’t help feeling like the social commentary was a bit heavy handed. Clearly Ramsey Campbell has a lot to say about the dangerous anonymity of the internet and longs for the days when not every sociopath with a manifesto could easily find an audience for their rantings.
It was a little too preachy and almost antiquated actually, because this book could easily find itself in the hands of a generation of horror fans who have only known technological advancements the way they are right now--a world of YouTube sensations, lifestyle bloggers and internet startups. They don’t have fond memories of the “good ol days”.
It dawned on me early on in the book that maybe younger readers wouldn’t even understand the protagonist’s employment at a travel agency since most vacation bookings are done by the individual through a specialty website these days.
All this aside, I did think Ramsey Campbell’s achievements with mystery surrounding Lucky Newless, the unidentifiable entity with an insatiable appetite for killing and the nasty blog posts, was something pretty imaginative and intriguing. Especially the contrast of character between the mysterious killer/blogger and the protagonist. David Botham having a crippling inability to express frustrations and emotions while the blogger is bold and brash. It reminded me of Stephen King’s The Dark Half which was a superior telling of the same kind of concept. Fans of crime thrillers might be the targeted audience here, as it lacked teeth.
March 31, 2019
Review copy
Admittedly, I am not Ramsey Cambell's biggest fan. I'm not certain where the disconnect comes from. I understand he is one of the most successful English Horror writers and he has numerous accolades to prove it, but generally speaking, he's not for me.
As a result, I was expecting not to enjoy Think Yourself Lucky, and unfortunately, that turned out to be the case again here.
More than once I found myself having no clue what the author was getting on about.
I'm certain Think Yourself Lucky will sell well, after all, it's Ramsey Campbell. But, truth be told, I didn't care for this work at all. I didn't like any of the characters or the story. It was a chore to turn the pages, but I read the whole book as I always do. I refuse to write DNF in any review. Generally, that's not a problem since I decide what I'll read and I tend to read what I like.
Think Yourself Lucky is published by Flame Tree Press and is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction writer, editor, and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field.
Admittedly, I am not Ramsey Cambell's biggest fan. I'm not certain where the disconnect comes from. I understand he is one of the most successful English Horror writers and he has numerous accolades to prove it, but generally speaking, he's not for me.
As a result, I was expecting not to enjoy Think Yourself Lucky, and unfortunately, that turned out to be the case again here.
More than once I found myself having no clue what the author was getting on about.
I'm certain Think Yourself Lucky will sell well, after all, it's Ramsey Campbell. But, truth be told, I didn't care for this work at all. I didn't like any of the characters or the story. It was a chore to turn the pages, but I read the whole book as I always do. I refuse to write DNF in any review. Generally, that's not a problem since I decide what I'll read and I tend to read what I like.
Think Yourself Lucky is published by Flame Tree Press and is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction writer, editor, and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field.
November 10, 2018
Think Yourself Lucky by Ramsey Campbell is a horror novel.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Flame Tree Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
David Botham is working for a travel agency run by his ex-girlfriend Andrea. The atmosphere there is poor, as Andrea keeps threatening people will be fired if things don’t improve, and the staff is overly involved in everyone’s business. David’s new girlfriend Stephanie is a cook with a rather rough boss, and she is looking for a new job.
David is not a writer. Has no intention of being a writer. Insists he is not a writer – again and again. When a blog appears using a title that David had thought of, he doesn’t think much about it. Until he reads the posts. The rants that the author of that blog writes scare David. He becomes a bit paranoid. The blogger is writing about events surrounding David. Events where people die - violently. David knows these people, and they are dying in a manner that the blogger knows, maybe first-hand.
The blog is written by somebody called Lucky Newless. David had an imaginary friend as a child called Lucky. David is beginning to wonder if the blogger is that friend. He is starting to feel responsible for these deaths, even though the papers call them all accidents.
My Opinions:
I didn’t like this book. I thought the supposed humor was in poor taste, and the writing did not seem stream-lined. The dialog between the characters all seemed false and cutting, and there really wasn’t a character I liked.
I stuck with it because it was given to me in exchange for an honest review, so I felt I had to keep reading it. I just hoped it would get better.
Overall, this book was just not for me. I struggled with it from beginning to end. I am, however, going to try something else by this rather prolific and well-respected author.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Flame Tree Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
David Botham is working for a travel agency run by his ex-girlfriend Andrea. The atmosphere there is poor, as Andrea keeps threatening people will be fired if things don’t improve, and the staff is overly involved in everyone’s business. David’s new girlfriend Stephanie is a cook with a rather rough boss, and she is looking for a new job.
David is not a writer. Has no intention of being a writer. Insists he is not a writer – again and again. When a blog appears using a title that David had thought of, he doesn’t think much about it. Until he reads the posts. The rants that the author of that blog writes scare David. He becomes a bit paranoid. The blogger is writing about events surrounding David. Events where people die - violently. David knows these people, and they are dying in a manner that the blogger knows, maybe first-hand.
The blog is written by somebody called Lucky Newless. David had an imaginary friend as a child called Lucky. David is beginning to wonder if the blogger is that friend. He is starting to feel responsible for these deaths, even though the papers call them all accidents.
My Opinions:
I didn’t like this book. I thought the supposed humor was in poor taste, and the writing did not seem stream-lined. The dialog between the characters all seemed false and cutting, and there really wasn’t a character I liked.
I stuck with it because it was given to me in exchange for an honest review, so I felt I had to keep reading it. I just hoped it would get better.
Overall, this book was just not for me. I struggled with it from beginning to end. I am, however, going to try something else by this rather prolific and well-respected author.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 10, 2018
Think Yourself Lucky is not this famed author’s best work.
Co-workers, Emily, Helen, Bill, Andrea and David work in a travel agency. David is a grouch who complains about everything—his job, his girlfriend and his life. Meanwhile, an unnamed narrator is committing horrendous murders. When David discovers a blog using his fantasy blog name talking about the murders, he is concerned. The victims are people at which he was recently angry. Is someone stalking him or is he committing the murders in some sort of fugue state?
The plot of Think Yourself Lucky sounds great but the execution is flawed. I had to force myself to read it because it was so mean-spirited. I loved reading Ramsey Campbell in the 1980s. He was in a close race for perfect horror writer with Stephen King and Dean Koontz. However, please don’t judge his abilities by Think Yourself Lucky. This reads like one of the “drawer books”—books that didn’t quite make the cut for publication in the writer’s heyday but are worth a few bucks on the author’s name alone at the end of his career. Please read Cold Print or Dark Companions or any of the author’s 80s book rather than this one. 1 star.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Co-workers, Emily, Helen, Bill, Andrea and David work in a travel agency. David is a grouch who complains about everything—his job, his girlfriend and his life. Meanwhile, an unnamed narrator is committing horrendous murders. When David discovers a blog using his fantasy blog name talking about the murders, he is concerned. The victims are people at which he was recently angry. Is someone stalking him or is he committing the murders in some sort of fugue state?
The plot of Think Yourself Lucky sounds great but the execution is flawed. I had to force myself to read it because it was so mean-spirited. I loved reading Ramsey Campbell in the 1980s. He was in a close race for perfect horror writer with Stephen King and Dean Koontz. However, please don’t judge his abilities by Think Yourself Lucky. This reads like one of the “drawer books”—books that didn’t quite make the cut for publication in the writer’s heyday but are worth a few bucks on the author’s name alone at the end of his career. Please read Cold Print or Dark Companions or any of the author’s 80s book rather than this one. 1 star.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2019
I was reminded of Waugh's works, like A Handful of Dust, "Mr. Loveday's Little Outing," and The Loved One. The same unappeasably distant tone of classical voice, the same emotional seduction of the reader into taking joy at the meting-out of just desserts.
July 6, 2019
I was reminded of Waugh's works, like A Handful of Dust, "Mr. Loveday's Little Outing," and The Loved One. The same unappeasably distant tone of classical voice, the same emotional seduction of the reader into taking joy at the meting-out of just desserts.
December 17, 2018
David Botham's relatively normal life is turned upside down the moment he attends a writing group. A book title he comes up with in the spur of the moment seems to be already in use in the form of an online blog - one that depicts cruel murders throughout the city. Mind reeling, David recognises the victims - people he's come into contact with - and so is appalled to discover their actual fate. Nothing adds up though, because he's not the one writing the posts, or is he?
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Flame Tree Press for giving me the opportunity.
My second Campbell novel of this year, and it was a shame that I had to force myself to keep on reading it at several points. Whilst the premise certainly intrigued me - the growing paranoia, the suspicion of one's own psyche - the character interactions continuously jarred my experience. Most of the time I didn't have a clue what the conversations were even about; their meanings were intentionally convoluted and incomprehensible. I found myself re-reading passages multiple times, thus my constant attempt at deciphering speech quickly became a chore, and one I didn't particularly appreciate. I much prefer a more realistic approach - I want personalities that feel real inside my head. I couldn't properly imagine anyone talking like they did here, and so they resembled puppets more than genuine human beings. This goes for the protagonist as well; he remained this cardboard cut-out that acted out emotion the way he was meant to. I just didn't care about him, despite him being the only tolerable character.
The plot focused a great deal on anger and hate, specifically directed at fellow man. It shed light on some very legitimate topics, such as social propriety and finding anonymity on the internet. These aspects appealed to me, but they were no doubt exaggerated. Characters were heavily discriminated against; their appearance, attitude and behavioural quirks magnified tenfold. In the chapters following the narrative of the mysterious entity, women were considered to be nothing but their genitalia, overweight individuals were constantly degraded, the disabled made fun of, as well as a torrent of other vicious abuse. The sheer nastiness didn't offend me, but I can understand not everyone would welcome such obscenities. If anything, this book isn't supposed to be rational, but rather it represents humanity in the worst possible way.
Here's the thing, not a lot actually happened. When I look back, I don't have any fond memories of certain scenes; I can't pinpoint the highs and lows. It's one big blur that led to an anticlimactic ending. It followed a very predictable pattern - waiting for the next blog post, for the main character to read it, rinse and repeat. There weren't any surprises. It could have served as a shorter piece, the extra padding removed. It was a disappointment to say the least, because I'm aware of Campbell's potential to create scenes that induce a delicious sense of dread.
In conclusion: My lack of attachment to the story damaged my passion to read. It took my about ten days to finish. The awkward dialogue, the predictability of the plot, they outweighed the little sliver of enjoyment.
Notable Quote:
You can't suppress words," I point out. "It doesn't make the thoughts go away. More like it puts them beyond your control."
© Red Lace 2018
Wordpress ~ Twitter
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Flame Tree Press for giving me the opportunity.
My second Campbell novel of this year, and it was a shame that I had to force myself to keep on reading it at several points. Whilst the premise certainly intrigued me - the growing paranoia, the suspicion of one's own psyche - the character interactions continuously jarred my experience. Most of the time I didn't have a clue what the conversations were even about; their meanings were intentionally convoluted and incomprehensible. I found myself re-reading passages multiple times, thus my constant attempt at deciphering speech quickly became a chore, and one I didn't particularly appreciate. I much prefer a more realistic approach - I want personalities that feel real inside my head. I couldn't properly imagine anyone talking like they did here, and so they resembled puppets more than genuine human beings. This goes for the protagonist as well; he remained this cardboard cut-out that acted out emotion the way he was meant to. I just didn't care about him, despite him being the only tolerable character.
The plot focused a great deal on anger and hate, specifically directed at fellow man. It shed light on some very legitimate topics, such as social propriety and finding anonymity on the internet. These aspects appealed to me, but they were no doubt exaggerated. Characters were heavily discriminated against; their appearance, attitude and behavioural quirks magnified tenfold. In the chapters following the narrative of the mysterious entity, women were considered to be nothing but their genitalia, overweight individuals were constantly degraded, the disabled made fun of, as well as a torrent of other vicious abuse. The sheer nastiness didn't offend me, but I can understand not everyone would welcome such obscenities. If anything, this book isn't supposed to be rational, but rather it represents humanity in the worst possible way.
Here's the thing, not a lot actually happened. When I look back, I don't have any fond memories of certain scenes; I can't pinpoint the highs and lows. It's one big blur that led to an anticlimactic ending. It followed a very predictable pattern - waiting for the next blog post, for the main character to read it, rinse and repeat. There weren't any surprises. It could have served as a shorter piece, the extra padding removed. It was a disappointment to say the least, because I'm aware of Campbell's potential to create scenes that induce a delicious sense of dread.
In conclusion: My lack of attachment to the story damaged my passion to read. It took my about ten days to finish. The awkward dialogue, the predictability of the plot, they outweighed the little sliver of enjoyment.
Notable Quote:
You can't suppress words," I point out. "It doesn't make the thoughts go away. More like it puts them beyond your control."
© Red Lace 2018
Wordpress ~ Twitter
November 14, 2018
Review of THINK YOURSELF LUCKY by Ramsey Campbell
I think Ramsey Campbell is a genius. Not only a Grand Master of Horror and awarded the World Fantasy Award, the August Derleth Award, and many others, he is the only author I've read who manages to personify the Inanimate and invest it with life, emotions, thoughts--and make the reader believe. With any of his works, there is no suspension of disbelief needed; the reader believes, and believes innately, and continues to believe even after the last page is turned.
THINK YOURSELF LUCKY, his newest novel (November 2018 release), focuses on an unassuming young man in Liverpool, David Botham, the adult offspring of two very dedicated local social workers. David works in a travel agency, which really doesn't elicit either his passion nor his intellectual ability, and is in a relationship with a chef. His former girlfriend unfortunately is his usually critical work supervisor.
David, he will tell one and all, is NOT a writer. Not at all. But he is also unassuming and quite a bit a people-pleaser. Roped in unwillingly and unwittingly to a local writers' group, he firmly insists "I am not a writer." But when pressed by a published author, he tosses out a title ("Better Out Than In") and then rushes away. Later, the bookstore owner (odd man) who hosts the group tells David, "Someone's using your title." True enough, there's a new Blog with that title, and it's a scary one: all about how the narrator deals with people who annoy him (which are many in number). Soon the events (actual and in thought) reach closer and closer to David, until a watershed climax.
You won't be able to set this book down. It's a compelling, ultimately nightmarish, read about a man's control of his own mind and his own life.
I think Ramsey Campbell is a genius. Not only a Grand Master of Horror and awarded the World Fantasy Award, the August Derleth Award, and many others, he is the only author I've read who manages to personify the Inanimate and invest it with life, emotions, thoughts--and make the reader believe. With any of his works, there is no suspension of disbelief needed; the reader believes, and believes innately, and continues to believe even after the last page is turned.
THINK YOURSELF LUCKY, his newest novel (November 2018 release), focuses on an unassuming young man in Liverpool, David Botham, the adult offspring of two very dedicated local social workers. David works in a travel agency, which really doesn't elicit either his passion nor his intellectual ability, and is in a relationship with a chef. His former girlfriend unfortunately is his usually critical work supervisor.
David, he will tell one and all, is NOT a writer. Not at all. But he is also unassuming and quite a bit a people-pleaser. Roped in unwillingly and unwittingly to a local writers' group, he firmly insists "I am not a writer." But when pressed by a published author, he tosses out a title ("Better Out Than In") and then rushes away. Later, the bookstore owner (odd man) who hosts the group tells David, "Someone's using your title." True enough, there's a new Blog with that title, and it's a scary one: all about how the narrator deals with people who annoy him (which are many in number). Soon the events (actual and in thought) reach closer and closer to David, until a watershed climax.
You won't be able to set this book down. It's a compelling, ultimately nightmarish, read about a man's control of his own mind and his own life.
January 14, 2019
This paranoid techno thriller is an interesting reading experience that somewhat does not quite hold together for me. With characters that are hard to be invested in against a plot device that has interesting framework that doesn’t always pay off.
Ramsey Campbell is a writer that is highly praised and he has a substantial body of work that far passes a lot of author’s work. He is consistent and has an incredible talent of writing interesting characters with above average plotting to keep the reader highly involved. He is an extremely talented author and I have to say this is the first time that he has not hit it out of the park for me which it may have more to do with my level of interest.
The plot is very well thought out but the pacing and character interactions seems to be a little forced and not very natural. The main character was a bit difficult to be able to come to terms with. For me there seemed to be a lack of empathy.
Overall, this is not a horrible book but it failed to tick the boxes for me with an excellent plot and characters that are below average, it felt that maybe with more likable characters and realistic or naturalistic dialogue, this would be surefire winner for me. Interesting, thought provoking but needs better execution.
Ramsey Campbell is a writer that is highly praised and he has a substantial body of work that far passes a lot of author’s work. He is consistent and has an incredible talent of writing interesting characters with above average plotting to keep the reader highly involved. He is an extremely talented author and I have to say this is the first time that he has not hit it out of the park for me which it may have more to do with my level of interest.
The plot is very well thought out but the pacing and character interactions seems to be a little forced and not very natural. The main character was a bit difficult to be able to come to terms with. For me there seemed to be a lack of empathy.
Overall, this is not a horrible book but it failed to tick the boxes for me with an excellent plot and characters that are below average, it felt that maybe with more likable characters and realistic or naturalistic dialogue, this would be surefire winner for me. Interesting, thought provoking but needs better execution.
November 27, 2018
The idea behind this novel is certainly an interesting one. It's not a comfortable read and reflects the modern reality of online nastiness.
What I think stopped me from enjoying the book more was the dialogue. Everyone seemed to constantly talk in circles, only saying part of what they meant or misunderstanding each other. It made it hard to follow and frustrating to get through in parts. It does have a role with the main character but it spread to most of the others too.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
What I think stopped me from enjoying the book more was the dialogue. Everyone seemed to constantly talk in circles, only saying part of what they meant or misunderstanding each other. It made it hard to follow and frustrating to get through in parts. It does have a role with the main character but it spread to most of the others too.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
November 6, 2014
It has been a couple of weeks since I've read this book, which means I have lost some of the immediacy of a review, but I'll give it a stab (which is something like "pun intended" given the topic).
This is a story about a man who definitely is not a writer (a point he emphasizes in several places) who works a humdrum job in a travel agency beset by his managerially empowered ex-girlfriend and friendly-though-maybe-not coworkers and, well, life and people in general. After a blog pops up using some his phrasings and describes horrible acts that seem surprisingly related to events in his everyday, well-beset life, he has to start questioning his sanity and his surroundings. His humdrum existence begins to unravel and he finds himself unable to ask important questions without sounding like madman, a madman who might just have a much worst madman stalking him.
Think Yourself Lucky is exactly the sort of book that knows what it is meant to be, but does not necessarily turn that surety of self-awareness into a solid product. The interactions between characters—usually strained and awkward at the best of times as per Campbell's standard m/o—feels rote. The paranoia central to the plot becomes stretched out and thinned to fit the length [I'd accept argument against this, but after a bit a character playing cards this close to his or her chest becomes a little too crazy sounding]. The beleaguered protagonist does much of his own beleaguering. Worse, Campbell engages in a mean-ness not usually this present in his works.
A number of characters are reduced to their most annoying qualities—usually they are old or fat or both on top of a laundry list of other quirks—even when the book plays at pretending it is not focusing on reductio ad horribilis, and then bad things happen to people and you begin to wonder why the victims as often are not are portrayed as quite so deserving. It is a revenge film of a book, with the revenge being against a society that attacks people for their personal twitches AND against people for having those twitches. It is not simply that the book seems to be missing a moral compass or that it might offend, it is that it wallows in the dirt without joy. Feels a little too snide, much too prone to fogeyism. This is its chief sin, an it condemns it.
There are moments that are wonderfully written, and ideas that are worth examination. The ending, though possibly a disappointment, at least feels complex in a way most of the book is not. It gets some praise for that, even if Campbell can and has done better. He's the kind of writer where his best is always prone to be hated by someone, and maybe I am simply not quite in alignment with what he was going for, but ultimately it comes across as a misstep in tone.
This is a story about a man who definitely is not a writer (a point he emphasizes in several places) who works a humdrum job in a travel agency beset by his managerially empowered ex-girlfriend and friendly-though-maybe-not coworkers and, well, life and people in general. After a blog pops up using some his phrasings and describes horrible acts that seem surprisingly related to events in his everyday, well-beset life, he has to start questioning his sanity and his surroundings. His humdrum existence begins to unravel and he finds himself unable to ask important questions without sounding like madman, a madman who might just have a much worst madman stalking him.
Think Yourself Lucky is exactly the sort of book that knows what it is meant to be, but does not necessarily turn that surety of self-awareness into a solid product. The interactions between characters—usually strained and awkward at the best of times as per Campbell's standard m/o—feels rote. The paranoia central to the plot becomes stretched out and thinned to fit the length [I'd accept argument against this, but after a bit a character playing cards this close to his or her chest becomes a little too crazy sounding]. The beleaguered protagonist does much of his own beleaguering. Worse, Campbell engages in a mean-ness not usually this present in his works.
A number of characters are reduced to their most annoying qualities—usually they are old or fat or both on top of a laundry list of other quirks—even when the book plays at pretending it is not focusing on reductio ad horribilis, and then bad things happen to people and you begin to wonder why the victims as often are not are portrayed as quite so deserving. It is a revenge film of a book, with the revenge being against a society that attacks people for their personal twitches AND against people for having those twitches. It is not simply that the book seems to be missing a moral compass or that it might offend, it is that it wallows in the dirt without joy. Feels a little too snide, much too prone to fogeyism. This is its chief sin, an it condemns it.
There are moments that are wonderfully written, and ideas that are worth examination. The ending, though possibly a disappointment, at least feels complex in a way most of the book is not. It gets some praise for that, even if Campbell can and has done better. He's the kind of writer where his best is always prone to be hated by someone, and maybe I am simply not quite in alignment with what he was going for, but ultimately it comes across as a misstep in tone.
November 16, 2018
*I received a free ARC of this book with thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
David is not a writer. Please don’t get the idea that he is a writer, because he is not. Definitely not a writer.
Aside from that, he is clearly also not happy. He lives a humdrum life, surrounded by people who irritate him intensely, and his response is to lie flatter and let the world wipe its feet on him while he politely apologizes for scuffing their shoes.
Lucky, is a different, darker story.
Throughout the novel the mystery and horror lies in the unknown which David is dealing with: is this Jekyll and Hyde? American Psycho? Fight Club? How much of what is happening is real and how much is inside his head? Or is he, in fact, out of his head (literally or figuratively!)? Does he have control, and therefore responsibility, over events?
The book was a little hard to get into at first, as the writing style is similar to the chaos of a Robert Rankin far-fetched fiction, but whilst Rankin embraces and exalts the eccentricities and idiosyncracies of his characters, Think Yourself Lucky feels more mean-spirited – glorying in exposing and mocking perceived weaknesses and quirks. This is deliberate and the reasoning becomes clearer as the plot unfolds, but it takes a little initial perseverance as we first familiarise ourselves with David’s drudgery and all the petty miseries it involves.
Similarly the dialogue style is unique, as every conversation forms part of an elaborate and extended word association game, as each character dances round the others’ meaning without any direct speech or clear understanding. Again, deliberate on the part of the author.
Think Yourself Lucky is a paean to honest, direct communication and a very dark take on what can happen when we repress our thoughts and emotions until they take on a life of their own. Or do they?!
Recommended for fans of chaotic horror/fantasy, who enjoy plenty of word play, tongue-in-cheek digs and winks to the writerly fourth wall.
Only streetlamps lit the bookcases full of hardcovers that smelled stale, the shelves of nondescript glossy self-published paperbacks. All the way to the door David felt as if he was toiling through a medium composed of dimness and haphazard thoughts. He was never going to be a writer, he promised himself.
Even Kinnear hadn’t mentioned all of David’s diatribe; he’d left out David’s gripe about the homeless man who’d tried to sell him a magazine. If this left David feeling even more shameful, at least it guaranteed that he would never publish any of the thoughts he should have kept to himself. Better yet, he wouldn’t have them. As he stepped out of We’re Still Left he saw the roofless church across the road, the walls left standing as a monument to the blitz, and it put him in mind of a hollow prayer. He suspected that was how a writer might think, and he expelled the fancy from his mind as he tramped downhill to the station.
– Ramsey Campbell, Think Yourself Lucky
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
David is not a writer. Please don’t get the idea that he is a writer, because he is not. Definitely not a writer.
Aside from that, he is clearly also not happy. He lives a humdrum life, surrounded by people who irritate him intensely, and his response is to lie flatter and let the world wipe its feet on him while he politely apologizes for scuffing their shoes.
Lucky, is a different, darker story.
Throughout the novel the mystery and horror lies in the unknown which David is dealing with: is this Jekyll and Hyde? American Psycho? Fight Club? How much of what is happening is real and how much is inside his head? Or is he, in fact, out of his head (literally or figuratively!)? Does he have control, and therefore responsibility, over events?
The book was a little hard to get into at first, as the writing style is similar to the chaos of a Robert Rankin far-fetched fiction, but whilst Rankin embraces and exalts the eccentricities and idiosyncracies of his characters, Think Yourself Lucky feels more mean-spirited – glorying in exposing and mocking perceived weaknesses and quirks. This is deliberate and the reasoning becomes clearer as the plot unfolds, but it takes a little initial perseverance as we first familiarise ourselves with David’s drudgery and all the petty miseries it involves.
Similarly the dialogue style is unique, as every conversation forms part of an elaborate and extended word association game, as each character dances round the others’ meaning without any direct speech or clear understanding. Again, deliberate on the part of the author.
Think Yourself Lucky is a paean to honest, direct communication and a very dark take on what can happen when we repress our thoughts and emotions until they take on a life of their own. Or do they?!
Recommended for fans of chaotic horror/fantasy, who enjoy plenty of word play, tongue-in-cheek digs and winks to the writerly fourth wall.
Only streetlamps lit the bookcases full of hardcovers that smelled stale, the shelves of nondescript glossy self-published paperbacks. All the way to the door David felt as if he was toiling through a medium composed of dimness and haphazard thoughts. He was never going to be a writer, he promised himself.
Even Kinnear hadn’t mentioned all of David’s diatribe; he’d left out David’s gripe about the homeless man who’d tried to sell him a magazine. If this left David feeling even more shameful, at least it guaranteed that he would never publish any of the thoughts he should have kept to himself. Better yet, he wouldn’t have them. As he stepped out of We’re Still Left he saw the roofless church across the road, the walls left standing as a monument to the blitz, and it put him in mind of a hollow prayer. He suspected that was how a writer might think, and he expelled the fancy from his mind as he tramped downhill to the station.
– Ramsey Campbell, Think Yourself Lucky
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
January 19, 2019
Ramsey Campbell is a legend. He has been writing horror novels for decades, and there are only a handful of horror writers with names more recognizable than his. I have read a few of his books as a teenager, so I was happy to get a chance to read "Think Yourself Lucky". The story revolves around David, a person working in a travel agency, whom everyone tries to convince is a writer. He has an idea for a project called, "Better Out Than In," but when David looks up this title on the internet, he finds a blog with the same name, a blog of stories involving the untimely "accidents" of people with whom he has had angry encounters or people he genuinely dislikes. Most of the novel is him trying to figure out what is going on, why this person is writing these posts with so much insight into his psyche, and trying to keep the subjects of the new posts safe. This is an interesting enough concept, but the novel actually is difficult and uninteresting.
Campbell has written a novel that is convoluted, with characters that seem to have more impact of David than is given, and a plot that moves wily nilly without much aim toward get to the end. It took me a long time to get through this novel, and for the first quarter, I did not understand what was even happening. The structure is off-putting as well. The chapters move between third and first person, which is fine once I got the hang of what was going on with them, but I found it odd that the first person chapters are blog posts, but these posts might run two or three chapters in a row, instead of just having solid marking between a blog post and the story. Maybe if instead of just giving chapter markers, he titled the blog posts with real titles to differentiate the difference, it would have been much easier for me to understand what is going on. As it is, the plot does not seem bad, but the execution is very poor. I would skip this one.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Campbell has written a novel that is convoluted, with characters that seem to have more impact of David than is given, and a plot that moves wily nilly without much aim toward get to the end. It took me a long time to get through this novel, and for the first quarter, I did not understand what was even happening. The structure is off-putting as well. The chapters move between third and first person, which is fine once I got the hang of what was going on with them, but I found it odd that the first person chapters are blog posts, but these posts might run two or three chapters in a row, instead of just having solid marking between a blog post and the story. Maybe if instead of just giving chapter markers, he titled the blog posts with real titles to differentiate the difference, it would have been much easier for me to understand what is going on. As it is, the plot does not seem bad, but the execution is very poor. I would skip this one.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2018
This was certainly an interesting read, although I feel like it could easily have been a longer book, this still packs a whallop!
From the start I was intrigued, and the Author has a clear talent for making the person feel a sense of foreboding, and the book gave me chills at times.
I didn’t feel as though the story was lacking for being shorter, although I do feel that this could easily have been a longer read.
The Main Character was... frustrating at times, I felt like he spent a lot of time complaining, but that’s personal preference and interpretation and didn’t change my enjoyment of the story. I still found the Characters Intriguing and I enjoyed seeing the plot unfold.
The plot was interesting an just that bit different to anything else I have read, perhaps not one I would Rush to read again, but not one I would be sad to reread! As much as the main character irritated me at times, I found myself oddly liking him 🙈
Several times throughout the story I had a shiver down my spine and felt thoroughly creeped out, and I love the fact that the Author has used a concept relevent to Society today. As a blogger myself, I have to admit that this made me a little bit nervous 😂
Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy the Authors Genre! And I will be getting his other books to see what else he has come up with!
From the start I was intrigued, and the Author has a clear talent for making the person feel a sense of foreboding, and the book gave me chills at times.
I didn’t feel as though the story was lacking for being shorter, although I do feel that this could easily have been a longer read.
The Main Character was... frustrating at times, I felt like he spent a lot of time complaining, but that’s personal preference and interpretation and didn’t change my enjoyment of the story. I still found the Characters Intriguing and I enjoyed seeing the plot unfold.
The plot was interesting an just that bit different to anything else I have read, perhaps not one I would Rush to read again, but not one I would be sad to reread! As much as the main character irritated me at times, I found myself oddly liking him 🙈
Several times throughout the story I had a shiver down my spine and felt thoroughly creeped out, and I love the fact that the Author has used a concept relevent to Society today. As a blogger myself, I have to admit that this made me a little bit nervous 😂
Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy the Authors Genre! And I will be getting his other books to see what else he has come up with!
December 27, 2018
This one is going to split the jury I feel. On one hand the story has a series of nasty killings, seemingly instigated by someone that takes exception to their victim’s anti-social or unacceptable behavior. Good horror novel fare and a fun hook that shows bad behaviour is not going to be tolerated by our killer.
On the other hand I didn’t find the story flowed as easily as I needed and I found the narrative a bit cumbersome.
We see a scene as David Botham which ends with David being frustrated/thwarted or vexed by the situation. Then the killer relives the same scene (or is it David’s perception) and this time the irritating individual that David encountered is permanently silenced.
The mystery behind the story is who is responsible for a series of brutal deaths? The anecdotal narrative of the murders is uploaded to a blog. It is made quite clear that David is no writer and distances himself from any suggestion that he may be. However, there are too many overlaps and coincidences for random chance to be a factor so, over the course of the story, the reader has to puzzle out what is happening.
I liked the premise of this story and there were some nicely dark touches throughout, however, this has not been my favourite Ramsey Campbell title but it would be one I suggest you pick up if you are a fan of revenge/retribution thrillers.
On the other hand I didn’t find the story flowed as easily as I needed and I found the narrative a bit cumbersome.
We see a scene as David Botham which ends with David being frustrated/thwarted or vexed by the situation. Then the killer relives the same scene (or is it David’s perception) and this time the irritating individual that David encountered is permanently silenced.
The mystery behind the story is who is responsible for a series of brutal deaths? The anecdotal narrative of the murders is uploaded to a blog. It is made quite clear that David is no writer and distances himself from any suggestion that he may be. However, there are too many overlaps and coincidences for random chance to be a factor so, over the course of the story, the reader has to puzzle out what is happening.
I liked the premise of this story and there were some nicely dark touches throughout, however, this has not been my favourite Ramsey Campbell title but it would be one I suggest you pick up if you are a fan of revenge/retribution thrillers.
December 29, 2018
Written by Horror legend Ramsey Campbell, Think Yourself Lucky is a multi-layered novel full of darkness and psychological tension, self-doubt and menace. David Botham is an ordinary guy (or is he?). He works in a travel agency and has, at best, a mixed relationship with his boss and colleagues. But life is about to get increasingly complicated for David and the complications come in the form of a blog and a character called Lucky Newless who seems to have no regard for anyone. A real sociopath whose cruelty extends to giving his targeted victims demeaning nicknames, right before he kills them. Then it becomes personal. Much too close to home. David's anxieties turn to out-and-out fear as people around him are murdered, one by one, and it seems as if this sinister blogger can somehow intuit David's thoughts, wishes and anger. But who is he? What is going on?
I loved the way this novel weaved a powerful tale of psychological terror and palpable fear. Just when I thought I had worked it out, it tantalised me still further. Ramsey Campbell demonstrates once again the power of his ability to craft a story that is full of both pace and depth. Masterful.
I loved the way this novel weaved a powerful tale of psychological terror and palpable fear. Just when I thought I had worked it out, it tantalised me still further. Ramsey Campbell demonstrates once again the power of his ability to craft a story that is full of both pace and depth. Masterful.
October 24, 2020
Think Yourself Lucky tells the story of David Botham, a man who just wants to lead a normal average life, the trouble is his thoughts sometimes get away from him...
Tragedy tends to befall many of the people he encounters. Surely they can't be as result of his violent desires, for he's just a normal guy, right?
In some ways, this could be seen as Ramsey Campbell's take on Jekyll and Hyde, with some of the themes, particularly repression and the dangerous effect of that comes to life here.
The writing is better than the story. The trouble with having a character who longs to lead a dull and normal life, is they don't make for the most engaging protagonists. It's more skillfully plotted than other novels which have tried to use a similar angle though.
Tragedy tends to befall many of the people he encounters. Surely they can't be as result of his violent desires, for he's just a normal guy, right?
In some ways, this could be seen as Ramsey Campbell's take on Jekyll and Hyde, with some of the themes, particularly repression and the dangerous effect of that comes to life here.
The writing is better than the story. The trouble with having a character who longs to lead a dull and normal life, is they don't make for the most engaging protagonists. It's more skillfully plotted than other novels which have tried to use a similar angle though.
April 3, 2022
I REALLY wanted to like this. Ramsey is a cult hero of British weirdness in the book world over here, and the ideas in this book are great for a classic oddity.
The writing feels rushed though and it's as if an early draft was used instead of a polished manuscript. The characters are all equally loathsome to the point where reading about their lives becomes a real effort. There's a real streak of immaturity throughout the attempts at humour as well, particularly in the sections from the killer's perspective ("Chefanny" - really?!).
Someone could do with reminding Mr Campbell how to use commas as well, or he needs to hire a better editor.
To summarise: good ideas executed poorly. Go for his more well known books and avoid this misstep.
The writing feels rushed though and it's as if an early draft was used instead of a polished manuscript. The characters are all equally loathsome to the point where reading about their lives becomes a real effort. There's a real streak of immaturity throughout the attempts at humour as well, particularly in the sections from the killer's perspective ("Chefanny" - really?!).
Someone could do with reminding Mr Campbell how to use commas as well, or he needs to hire a better editor.
To summarise: good ideas executed poorly. Go for his more well known books and avoid this misstep.
September 17, 2022
David is a milquetoast travel agent who is accosted on the street by a magazine salesman. His vitriol is enough to convince the man that he has the chops to be a writer. Reluctantly, David attends a writers workshop where he admits his first novel would be called “Better Out than In”. Soon, a new online blog with the same title appears and details vicious murders of annoying people David regularly encounters in his day to day life.
Probably one of the funniest horror novels I’ve ever read, as long as dry British humor is your thing. As with all Ramsay Campbell novels, this isn’t cold, biting horror but rather subtle creeping dread mixed with humor and social commentary. Definitely a great read between darker novels.
Probably one of the funniest horror novels I’ve ever read, as long as dry British humor is your thing. As with all Ramsay Campbell novels, this isn’t cold, biting horror but rather subtle creeping dread mixed with humor and social commentary. Definitely a great read between darker novels.
November 12, 2020
This is my first experience with Campbell, being recommended to me due to my love of Lovecraft, and while this title doesn’t quite match the immensity of Lovecraft’s work, I can see certain parallels.
I wanted to enjoy Think Yourself Lucky, and in a way I did. However, it felt both overcooked and underdone. There was a lot that didn’t seem to add to the tale, and the end seemed to hurry toward a conclusion that while not disappointing, felt a bit damp.
It does make me want to read more of Campbell’s work, so in that sense it is an achievement. I just hope it is more appealing overall than this.
I wanted to enjoy Think Yourself Lucky, and in a way I did. However, it felt both overcooked and underdone. There was a lot that didn’t seem to add to the tale, and the end seemed to hurry toward a conclusion that while not disappointing, felt a bit damp.
It does make me want to read more of Campbell’s work, so in that sense it is an achievement. I just hope it is more appealing overall than this.
November 14, 2018
This wasn't what I expected from Ramsey Campbell, it was mediocre compared to most of his other writings and I really struggled to finish it. The dialogue seemed stilted and the plot felt stretched, maybe a novella would have been better for this.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 7, 2024
I read this author as part of an October reading challenge. I liked the plot and the slow build up but the writing had me lost some times. I did not understand a lot of the slang used (British author, American reader) and some of the dialogue left me lost. Overall though I liked the plot and he had a creep factor where I can easily see why Ramsey Campbell is the British Stephen King.
February 6, 2019
Full review here:
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
While I normally like Campbell's work, this one left me bored.
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
While I normally like Campbell's work, this one left me bored.
unexamined
April 23, 2022It's just me, but this one just isn't clicking for me.
October 11, 2022
Wish it was possible to give 0 stars. Bleah.
January 21, 2025
This book just simply was not worth my time. I wanted to see how the story would end but even that was quite disappointing to me anyways.
January 31, 2025
Right from the start it was going so well. But in the end all we’re left with is a pretty shitty, anticlimactic conclusion. Yeah, I’m thinking Game Of Thrones book series conclusion like.
May 7, 2019
I've postponed writing this review because I've been reluctant in the past to post negative reviews, but let's be honest: some books just aren't going to be to my taste, and some books are going to be actively harmful. Personally, I think this book fits in both categories. My best summation is this: What started out as an interesting thriller devolved into a racist anti-abortion screed.
My sincere thanks to Flame Tree Press for providing a free copy for review.
My sincere thanks to Flame Tree Press for providing a free copy for review.
October 22, 2018
I struggled with this read. It’s hard going as it tells the tale of David, a non writer (this point is made many times) and his daily grind at his job in a travel agency until a blog pops up that seems to have been written by him and which causes him to become paranoid.
It’s a strange read and not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book.
2*
It’s a strange read and not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book.
2*
November 16, 2018
Thank yourself lucky is a mean-spirited horror novel. The plot was interesting in the book was well written. This by far was not one of my favorite Ramsey Campbell book's.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews