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Wicked Angel
Behind the golden cherub face was a creature as old and as evil as Hell iself.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
86 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Caldwell
151 books549 followers Also known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner.
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it remained unpublished until 1975). Her father did not approve such activity for women, and sent her to work in a bindery. She continued to write prolifically, however, despite ill health. (In 1947, according to TIME magazine, she discarded and burned the manuscripts of 140 unpublished novels.)
In 1918-1919, she served in the United States Navy Reserve. In 1919 she married William F. Combs. In 1920, they had a daughter, Mary (known as "Peggy"). From 1923 to 1924 she was a court reporter in New York State Department of Labor in Buffalo, New York. In 1924, she went to work for the United States Department of Justice, as a member of the Board of Special Inquiry (an immigration tribunal) in Buffalo. In 1931 she graduated from SUNY Buffalo, and also was divorced from William Combs.
Caldwell then married her second husband, Marcus Reback, a fellow Justice employee. She had a second child with Reback, a daughter Judith, in 1932. They were married for 40 years, until his death in 1971.
In 1934, she began to work on the novel Dynasty of Death, which she and Reback completed in collaboration. It was published in 1938 and became a best-seller. "Taylor Caldwell" was presumed to be a man, and there was some public stir when the author was revealed to be a woman. Over the next 43 years, she published 42 more novels, many of them best-sellers. For instance, This Side of Innocence was the biggest fiction seller of 1946. Her works sold an estimated 30 million copies. She became wealthy, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, though she still lived near Buffalo.
Her books were big sellers right up to the end of her career. During her career as a writer, she received several awards.
She was an outspoken conservative and for a time wrote for the John Birch Society's monthly journal American Opinion and even associated with the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby. Her memoir, On Growing Up Tough, appeared in 1971, consisting of many edited-down articles from American Opinion.
Around 1970, she became interested in reincarnation. She had become friends with well-known occultist author Jess Stearn, who suggested that the vivid detail in her many historical novels was actually subconscious recollection of previous lives. Supposedly, she agreed to be hypnotized and undergo "past-life regression" to disprove reincarnation. According to Stearn's book, The Search of a Soul - Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell instead began to recall her own past lives - eleven in all, including one on the "lost continent" of Lemuria.
In 1972, she married William Everett Stancell, a retired real estate developer, but divorced him in 1973. In 1978, she married William Robert Prestie, an eccentric Canadian 17 years her junior. This led to difficulties with her children. She had a long dispute with her daughter Judith over the estate of Judith's father Marcus; in 1979 Judith committed suicide.
Also in 1979, Caldwell suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak, though she could still write. (She had been deaf since about 1965.) Her daughter Peggy accused Prestie of abusing and exploiting Caldwell, and there was a legal battle over her substantial assets.
She died of heart failure in Greenwich, Conn
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it remained unpublished until 1975). Her father did not approve such activity for women, and sent her to work in a bindery. She continued to write prolifically, however, despite ill health. (In 1947, according to TIME magazine, she discarded and burned the manuscripts of 140 unpublished novels.)
In 1918-1919, she served in the United States Navy Reserve. In 1919 she married William F. Combs. In 1920, they had a daughter, Mary (known as "Peggy"). From 1923 to 1924 she was a court reporter in New York State Department of Labor in Buffalo, New York. In 1924, she went to work for the United States Department of Justice, as a member of the Board of Special Inquiry (an immigration tribunal) in Buffalo. In 1931 she graduated from SUNY Buffalo, and also was divorced from William Combs.
Caldwell then married her second husband, Marcus Reback, a fellow Justice employee. She had a second child with Reback, a daughter Judith, in 1932. They were married for 40 years, until his death in 1971.
In 1934, she began to work on the novel Dynasty of Death, which she and Reback completed in collaboration. It was published in 1938 and became a best-seller. "Taylor Caldwell" was presumed to be a man, and there was some public stir when the author was revealed to be a woman. Over the next 43 years, she published 42 more novels, many of them best-sellers. For instance, This Side of Innocence was the biggest fiction seller of 1946. Her works sold an estimated 30 million copies. She became wealthy, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, though she still lived near Buffalo.
Her books were big sellers right up to the end of her career. During her career as a writer, she received several awards.
She was an outspoken conservative and for a time wrote for the John Birch Society's monthly journal American Opinion and even associated with the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby. Her memoir, On Growing Up Tough, appeared in 1971, consisting of many edited-down articles from American Opinion.
Around 1970, she became interested in reincarnation. She had become friends with well-known occultist author Jess Stearn, who suggested that the vivid detail in her many historical novels was actually subconscious recollection of previous lives. Supposedly, she agreed to be hypnotized and undergo "past-life regression" to disprove reincarnation. According to Stearn's book, The Search of a Soul - Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell instead began to recall her own past lives - eleven in all, including one on the "lost continent" of Lemuria.
In 1972, she married William Everett Stancell, a retired real estate developer, but divorced him in 1973. In 1978, she married William Robert Prestie, an eccentric Canadian 17 years her junior. This led to difficulties with her children. She had a long dispute with her daughter Judith over the estate of Judith's father Marcus; in 1979 Judith committed suicide.
Also in 1979, Caldwell suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak, though she could still write. (She had been deaf since about 1965.) Her daughter Peggy accused Prestie of abusing and exploiting Caldwell, and there was a legal battle over her substantial assets.
She died of heart failure in Greenwich, Conn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 22, 2019
This is one of the most terrifying books I have ever read.
Believe me if you like thrillers..give this one a look.
It is a very old book,,written decades and decades ago. It will remind you of "The Other" , "The Omen", 'We need to talk about Kevin".
It is terrifying.
I would call it haunting and I have never done a reread because the book scared the heck out of me. Amazingly well written. Chilling atmosphere. It will linger with you long after you have turned the last page.
Believe me if you like thrillers..give this one a look.
It is a very old book,,written decades and decades ago. It will remind you of "The Other" , "The Omen", 'We need to talk about Kevin".
It is terrifying.
I would call it haunting and I have never done a reread because the book scared the heck out of me. Amazingly well written. Chilling atmosphere. It will linger with you long after you have turned the last page.
October 6, 2023
Titulo: Angel malvado
Autor: Taylor Caldwell
Motivo de lectura: Letras Macabras (Isla Macabra 2023)
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 3.5/5
Una lectura interesante, donde se retrata a una madre narcisista (Kathy) con su hijo al estilo "niño dorado". Para esta madre su hijo es la perfeccion absoluta, el regalo de Dios a la humanidad y objeto de un profundo amor. En este tipo de comportamiento materno donde no hay espacio para una correcta eduacion con limites se lo condena al niño al fracaso absoluto, carente de limites y herramientas emocionales que repercutira en la vida adulta.
El "niño dorado" (Angelo) desde muy temprana edad da señales alarmantes. Rabietas de proporciones epicas, actos de maldad alarmante. Es un niño despota, manipulador y colerico con rasgos psicopatas.
Durante la trama hay otros personajes, pero mi atencion siempre estuvo en la dinamica madre-hijo, en la interaccion y relacion establecida. Son dos personajes muy bien construidos, con profundidad y dimension. Los otros personajes son un padre (Mark) y una tia (Alice), estos dos ultimos personajes estan muy bien desarrollados, y en la trama son el recurso para crear el conflicto (junto con otro personaje que no puedo nombrarlo porque seria spoiler).
El temor en la profundidad de la mente de que tu niño quizas no sea el ser perfecto que crees, el sentimiento latente de que hay algo que esta mal..
La trama esta establecida en el sentido "la calma antes de la tormenta", a medida que se lee en todo momento se tiene la sensacion que algo malo pasara. Un thriller psicologico con cierto tinte de terror, de prosa sencilla y entretenida. El final no es decepcionante, pero no es original (ese desenlace se veia venir)..
Es la primera vez que leo a Taylor Caldwell y probablemente le de otra oportunidad con otra obra.
Autor: Taylor Caldwell
Motivo de lectura: Letras Macabras (Isla Macabra 2023)
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 3.5/5
Una lectura interesante, donde se retrata a una madre narcisista (Kathy) con su hijo al estilo "niño dorado". Para esta madre su hijo es la perfeccion absoluta, el regalo de Dios a la humanidad y objeto de un profundo amor. En este tipo de comportamiento materno donde no hay espacio para una correcta eduacion con limites se lo condena al niño al fracaso absoluto, carente de limites y herramientas emocionales que repercutira en la vida adulta.
El "niño dorado" (Angelo) desde muy temprana edad da señales alarmantes. Rabietas de proporciones epicas, actos de maldad alarmante. Es un niño despota, manipulador y colerico con rasgos psicopatas.
Durante la trama hay otros personajes, pero mi atencion siempre estuvo en la dinamica madre-hijo, en la interaccion y relacion establecida. Son dos personajes muy bien construidos, con profundidad y dimension. Los otros personajes son un padre (Mark) y una tia (Alice), estos dos ultimos personajes estan muy bien desarrollados, y en la trama son el recurso para crear el conflicto (junto con otro personaje que no puedo nombrarlo porque seria spoiler).
El temor en la profundidad de la mente de que tu niño quizas no sea el ser perfecto que crees, el sentimiento latente de que hay algo que esta mal..
La trama esta establecida en el sentido "la calma antes de la tormenta", a medida que se lee en todo momento se tiene la sensacion que algo malo pasara. Un thriller psicologico con cierto tinte de terror, de prosa sencilla y entretenida. El final no es decepcionante, pero no es original (ese desenlace se veia venir)..
Es la primera vez que leo a Taylor Caldwell y probablemente le de otra oportunidad con otra obra.
September 18, 2018
I've read many books whose main character was an evil child, but the one in this story was truly despicable. I don't say this often, (and I have never said it about a child in real life, as I have never met a true monster like this one), but this is one child I would truly consider admitting to a mental institution. Ugh, he gave me the shivers...
The mother wasn't any better.
Thank goodness it was fictional. (I hate to think that there might actually be children like this in the world).
The mother wasn't any better.
Thank goodness it was fictional. (I hate to think that there might actually be children like this in the world).
July 7, 2011
For a book published so long ago, Wicked Angel is surprisingly quite the page turner. The book deals with the issue of sociopaths (sometimes called psychopaths) that live among us. Taylor Caldwell does a fantastic job painting the portrait of a true psychopath and while I found the ending a bit ridiculous, the journey there quite enjoyable. This was a nice surprise. Although the dated language and concepts in most older books makes them difficult for some readers to enjoy, that isn't the case with this book. I'd recommend it to anyone.
October 11, 2023
A muy pcos libros les pngo 5 estrellas, pero este se lo merece. NO lo podía dejar de leer, que pasará despues, y después. Es un libro no muy largo y se lee en incluso un dia. Es un libro que se trara sobre la maldad, su origen. ¿Se puede cambiar a alguien malo? ¿Nacen personan malas y que no se pueden cambiar o es la familia y la sociedad las que los corrompren? veremo este dilema en Angelo y sus padres. De hecho, en español el nombre del niño es Angel Santo. ¿Cómo amar a alguien su descubres sus horribles secretos?
Si esre religioso, el mal es el demonio, pero si no? como se explica?
Saludos
r.
Si esre religioso, el mal es el demonio, pero si no? como se explica?
Saludos
r.
November 3, 2007
I wasn't sure I wanted children after reading this novel.
September 10, 2017
Rambling prose filled with perpetual character introspection, very little dialog and a plodding series of episodic events. Caldwell drifts into many narrative detours to about teachers, psychology, parenting and the general state of child behavior at the time, but most of the observations simply slow things to a crawl. A thankfully short, single idea plot that would have made a better novella through extensive edits.
May 6, 2014
This is one creepy book. I read it decades ago, and believe me, I still remember it well. I love the way Taylor Caldwell crafts her characters. There is always the heavy, fat ankled, long suffering once beautiful wife. There is always the strong, plain, independent and unassuming heroine. Well, maybe not always. But kids are just wicked. Always.
April 5, 2013
A good story, predictable but entertaining. What I enjoyed most about this book was the commentary on how parents treated "The Children". Even though the book was set in the 50/60's era, this social behavior is still around today and ten times more prevalent and overwhelming.
May 13, 2021
The propaganda and preaching in this book was really weird until I saw that it was written in the 60s. Which explains the cover lol!
Bearing that in mind this was a pretty good read and really enlightening when it came to psychological insights during that time. Really interesting and also shows how far we've come in our understanding of human nature and behaviour thanks to extensive research and studies that are easily accessible to the public and have shaped our ever changing collective values. As such, I loved the sociocultural analysis though it was really heavy handed throughout the book.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the mindblowing similarities between the current boomer vs millenials resentment and disdain with the previous "silent/ traditionalist generation" vs boomers in the 50s and 60s and tensions surrounding family values e.g. worries surrounding the shift from a society that believes the children are meant to be seen not heard generation to the baby boomers who were now being raised in families entirely revolving around children and spoiling them etc. So interesting to see how that generation's concerns are exactly the same concerns that the now adult boomers have about younger generations and vilify millennials and Gen Z generations. Time passes but basically every generation resents and looks down on the younger generations. Learnt so much about how little things change in that particular aspect which was funny but also kind of depressing.
All in all though this was a decent and quick read.
Bearing that in mind this was a pretty good read and really enlightening when it came to psychological insights during that time. Really interesting and also shows how far we've come in our understanding of human nature and behaviour thanks to extensive research and studies that are easily accessible to the public and have shaped our ever changing collective values. As such, I loved the sociocultural analysis though it was really heavy handed throughout the book.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the mindblowing similarities between the current boomer vs millenials resentment and disdain with the previous "silent/ traditionalist generation" vs boomers in the 50s and 60s and tensions surrounding family values e.g. worries surrounding the shift from a society that believes the children are meant to be seen not heard generation to the baby boomers who were now being raised in families entirely revolving around children and spoiling them etc. So interesting to see how that generation's concerns are exactly the same concerns that the now adult boomers have about younger generations and vilify millennials and Gen Z generations. Time passes but basically every generation resents and looks down on the younger generations. Learnt so much about how little things change in that particular aspect which was funny but also kind of depressing.
All in all though this was a decent and quick read.
May 10, 2017
Es difícil darle una puntuación a un libro que no sabes si te gustó o no.
Eso me pasó mucho durante mi lectura. Había capítulos que me gustaban (aunque nunca me gustaban por completo), pero la mayoría no los disfrutaba.
La historia va en torno a la familia Saint. La madre Kathy, su esposo Mark y su hijo Angelo. Kathy tiene una hermana llamada Alice, a quien Angelo odia, pues no la puede engañar como a los demás. Y Alice está enamorada de Mark.
Cosas que me gustaron:
1. La narración: es muy ágil y bien escrita.
2. Angelo: me parece en general la idea de un niño psicópata (sociópata sería un término más adecuado) muy controversial y, a la vez, seductora. La historia en general me pareció tolerable.
Cosas que no me gustaron:
Básicamente todo lo demás.
1. Los personajes mal desarrollados y clichés (Alice es la típica mujer hermosa y delgada, inteligente y todos la aman).
2. Aunque me gusta la idea de un niño sociópata, no me gustó la ejecución de ésta, ya que tratándose de Taylor Caldwell, se involucra más el tema religioso que la psiquiatría en sí.
El libro me decepcionó mucho y el final y epílogo son predecibles y flojos. No lo recomiendo.
Eso me pasó mucho durante mi lectura. Había capítulos que me gustaban (aunque nunca me gustaban por completo), pero la mayoría no los disfrutaba.
La historia va en torno a la familia Saint. La madre Kathy, su esposo Mark y su hijo Angelo. Kathy tiene una hermana llamada Alice, a quien Angelo odia, pues no la puede engañar como a los demás. Y Alice está enamorada de Mark.
Cosas que me gustaron:
1. La narración: es muy ágil y bien escrita.
2. Angelo: me parece en general la idea de un niño psicópata (sociópata sería un término más adecuado) muy controversial y, a la vez, seductora. La historia en general me pareció tolerable.
Cosas que no me gustaron:
Básicamente todo lo demás.
1. Los personajes mal desarrollados y clichés (Alice es la típica mujer hermosa y delgada, inteligente y todos la aman).
2. Aunque me gusta la idea de un niño sociópata, no me gustó la ejecución de ésta, ya que tratándose de Taylor Caldwell, se involucra más el tema religioso que la psiquiatría en sí.
El libro me decepcionó mucho y el final y epílogo son predecibles y flojos. No lo recomiendo.
February 17, 2020
The reason I give this book 5 stars is because it has stayed with me for over 50 years. It is the best short description of psychopathy I’ve seen!, ever!
June 19, 2020
It was an interesting take on good and evil, some parts felt incredibly real while others kinda cartoonish.
December 2, 2021
This book just feels very dated.
July 31, 2017
Older book but still quite relevant. An eerie and interesting story about a child who appears to be perfect but is indeed far from it! Reminiscent of "The Bad Seed" and perhaps a Twilight Zone episode, also a commentary on what happens when parents refuse to admit their child has a problem. Glad I found this at the library book sale.
March 13, 2023
Novela corta de Taylor Caldwell acerca de un niño psicópata que más bien podría ser el vivo retrato del anticristo.
Algunas secuencias de suspenso son verdaderas joyas y mantienen al lector al borde del abismo, tal como Angel lo hizo con su tía Alice.
Recomendable para fanáticos de la autora.
Algunas secuencias de suspenso son verdaderas joyas y mantienen al lector al borde del abismo, tal como Angel lo hizo con su tía Alice.
Recomendable para fanáticos de la autora.
October 13, 2023
Ame de inicio a fin
March 16, 2017
There was a time in my life when I would read any Taylor Caldwell book I could find. I'm glad this wasn't the first of her books I read. If it had been I probably would never have picked up another.
The story line is not unique, but has unique aspects within it that make it intriguing. Angelo, a phyiscally beautiful child, with above average intelligence shows signs of being a psychopath (sociopath would probably be a more appropriate term). He is the centre of his family's universe until, one by one, people in his life begin to realize there is something that is not quite right about him and situations around him. Despite everything, his mother continues to remain blind to his faults and think of him as an angel and superior to all other children. His father however, almost destroys himself with worry and guilt as he is forced to confront the truth. Angelo develops into a master of maniuplation and is able to remove from his world those who see what he really is and so threaten his exalted status and cherished position.
To be fair to this book it is essential to remember that it was written and released in 1965. Psychopath was a relatively new term for the public and the entire field of psychiatry was still coming into its own. Also, being the end of the baby boom, there were multiple theories on child rearing in competition with one another. Much of the language in the book seems stilted to a 21st century reader but would have been accepted if not expected in 1965. However, this does not excuse the fact that the characters are unevenly developed, and some of the tangets would be better left unfollowed. Caldwell also deals with some of her favourite themes, such as religion and what she considers to be conservatism (but I would term social darwinism). She is not as extreme as Rand but does challenge many progressive-liberal ideas.
The greatest disappointment is the ending. As mentioned, the plot is intriguing. The reader wants to know how it ends--but the ending is so convenient that it was a complete let-down.
I was saddened that this short novel (almost a novella) was not up to Calewell's usual standard. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone
The story line is not unique, but has unique aspects within it that make it intriguing. Angelo, a phyiscally beautiful child, with above average intelligence shows signs of being a psychopath (sociopath would probably be a more appropriate term). He is the centre of his family's universe until, one by one, people in his life begin to realize there is something that is not quite right about him and situations around him. Despite everything, his mother continues to remain blind to his faults and think of him as an angel and superior to all other children. His father however, almost destroys himself with worry and guilt as he is forced to confront the truth. Angelo develops into a master of maniuplation and is able to remove from his world those who see what he really is and so threaten his exalted status and cherished position.
To be fair to this book it is essential to remember that it was written and released in 1965. Psychopath was a relatively new term for the public and the entire field of psychiatry was still coming into its own. Also, being the end of the baby boom, there were multiple theories on child rearing in competition with one another. Much of the language in the book seems stilted to a 21st century reader but would have been accepted if not expected in 1965. However, this does not excuse the fact that the characters are unevenly developed, and some of the tangets would be better left unfollowed. Caldwell also deals with some of her favourite themes, such as religion and what she considers to be conservatism (but I would term social darwinism). She is not as extreme as Rand but does challenge many progressive-liberal ideas.
The greatest disappointment is the ending. As mentioned, the plot is intriguing. The reader wants to know how it ends--but the ending is so convenient that it was a complete let-down.
I was saddened that this short novel (almost a novella) was not up to Calewell's usual standard. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone
July 6, 2012
Though known for her epic-style family sagas which often revolved around the industrialization of America and Europe, Taylor Caldwell wrote several short novels such as MAGGIE - HER MARRIAGE and this one which appeared as paperback originals in the 1950s and 1960s, and were often omitted from the listings of her novels that were usually included in the hardcover editions of her latest novels.
This one, according to the publisher, Fawcett-Crest, is “In the spine-chilling tradition of THE BAD SEED - Taylor Caldwell weaves a horror-rimmed portrait. It is a picture you will not easily forget.”
And any readers familiar with THE BAD SEED (one of my all-time favorites that I can't recommend highly enough) won't miss the similarities to that novel (including an incident with a puppy): an impeccably-mannered (if, in this case, over-indulged) child who charms and deceives adults (except for one) but around whom other children are instinctively uncomfortable, who has his own agenda and moral code that doesn't stop at (so far) attempting murder - Caldwell describes the child as 'psychopathic' but I think she got her terminology wrong, and that 'sociopathic' is much more appropriate. And despite the novel's brevity (176 pages), Caldwell uses it for a soapbox with tirades about good vs. evil and the generation of soft, over-indulged children that was being raised in the 1950s and 1960s (regrettably, Caldwell's own track-record as a parent wasn't all that successful).
This one, according to the publisher, Fawcett-Crest, is “In the spine-chilling tradition of THE BAD SEED - Taylor Caldwell weaves a horror-rimmed portrait. It is a picture you will not easily forget.”
And any readers familiar with THE BAD SEED (one of my all-time favorites that I can't recommend highly enough) won't miss the similarities to that novel (including an incident with a puppy): an impeccably-mannered (if, in this case, over-indulged) child who charms and deceives adults (except for one) but around whom other children are instinctively uncomfortable, who has his own agenda and moral code that doesn't stop at (so far) attempting murder - Caldwell describes the child as 'psychopathic' but I think she got her terminology wrong, and that 'sociopathic' is much more appropriate. And despite the novel's brevity (176 pages), Caldwell uses it for a soapbox with tirades about good vs. evil and the generation of soft, over-indulged children that was being raised in the 1950s and 1960s (regrettably, Caldwell's own track-record as a parent wasn't all that successful).
June 19, 2021
Este libro es realmente maniqueo, específicamente en sus personajes, los cuales siempre están en un tono farsico y exagerado, algo que no ayuda al lector a conectar con la historia.
Además, la voz narrativa siempre mezcla el concepto de "psicopatía" con temas religiosos, es decir, menciona que los psicópatas son personas poseídas por demonios o que son entes sin alma, algo que a mí juicio son dos cosas diferentes, aunque comprendo que es un problema derivado del contexto histórico en el cual se produjo la obra.
La historia es predecible pero cumple con el objetivo de entretener, aunque su mayor defecto es la voz narrativa ya que siempre es sentenciosa y por ello, emite varios juicios de valor bastante cuestionables, sobre todo lo que refiere a los niños y sus definiciones en torno a la "psicopatía". Le doy una estrella por presentar algunos de los problemas en torno a la docencia, pero personalmente no es un libro que recomendaría.
Además, la voz narrativa siempre mezcla el concepto de "psicopatía" con temas religiosos, es decir, menciona que los psicópatas son personas poseídas por demonios o que son entes sin alma, algo que a mí juicio son dos cosas diferentes, aunque comprendo que es un problema derivado del contexto histórico en el cual se produjo la obra.
La historia es predecible pero cumple con el objetivo de entretener, aunque su mayor defecto es la voz narrativa ya que siempre es sentenciosa y por ello, emite varios juicios de valor bastante cuestionables, sobre todo lo que refiere a los niños y sus definiciones en torno a la "psicopatía". Le doy una estrella por presentar algunos de los problemas en torno a la docencia, pero personalmente no es un libro que recomendaría.
November 18, 2022
(3.5)
En general el libro me gustó, pero siento que ese final fue demasiado rápido o al menos así lo siento, porque si, esperaba más, pero sobre todo, la autora durante el libro describía mucho el pensar y sentir de los personajes, y en el momento más importante me hubiera gustado saber los pensamientos aunque fuera mínimo de cierto personaje principal, o al menos la interpretación de lo que pudo verse en ese rostro en uno de los capítulos finales.
En general el libro me gustó, pero siento que ese final fue demasiado rápido o al menos así lo siento, porque si, esperaba más, pero sobre todo, la autora durante el libro describía mucho el pensar y sentir de los personajes, y en el momento más importante me hubiera gustado saber los pensamientos aunque fuera mínimo de cierto personaje principal, o al menos la interpretación de lo que pudo verse en ese rostro en uno de los capítulos finales.
February 26, 2018
Un relato que te atrapa desde el principio en sus 248 páginas.
Nos lleva por el recorrido desde los 4 hasta los 11 años de Ángelo un niño psicópata, su madre castrante y obsesiva Katy, un padre cobarde Mark y la tía Alice obsesionada con su cuñado y evasiva ante la realidad.
Muy bueno y recomendable.
Lastima que ya no lo editen.
Nos lleva por el recorrido desde los 4 hasta los 11 años de Ángelo un niño psicópata, su madre castrante y obsesiva Katy, un padre cobarde Mark y la tía Alice obsesionada con su cuñado y evasiva ante la realidad.
Muy bueno y recomendable.
Lastima que ya no lo editen.
April 15, 2019
Muy buena historia.
En este libro está basada la película del mismo nombre pero... solo basado ... es muy diferente ... bueno si hay un niño malvado pero la historia se desarrolla diferente.
En este libro está basada la película del mismo nombre pero... solo basado ... es muy diferente ... bueno si hay un niño malvado pero la historia se desarrolla diferente.
July 23, 2021
Que final tan por obra de Dios....
February 6, 2021
La trama de este libro es bastante interesante y es lo que me hizo decidir leerlo.
Kathy y Mark son una pareja feliz, común, de clase alta, la pareja ideal. Tienen un niño precioso, Angelo, es física e intelectualmente superior a los demás chicos de su edad. Sin embargo, hay algo raro con este niño que tiene mirada de adulto.
Alice, la hermana menor de Kathy es la única en darse cuenta de la verdadera naturaleza maligna del pequeño Angelo y gracias a la relación entre ambos podemos entender en las primeras páginas a Angelo y a sus padres.
¿Cómo nace un psicópata? ¿Nace o se hace? Son dudas que seguimos teniendo hasta la fecha, es por eso que entiendo la falta de desarrollo a estas preguntas complejas en un libro escrito en los 60s. Definitivamente si este libro hubiera sido escrito en estas fechas hubiera podido tener el doble de páginas y no aburrir ya que es un tema con infinitas variables y dudas que se pueden explorar.
Me gustó mucho la historia entera, la trama, ese final que no solo te deja sin aliento, sino con una extraña sensación de un cierre forzado. Es por eso que se lleva 3 estrellas, faltó hacer a los personajes más reales para poder sentir empatía por ellos, faltó que se describieran mejor sus personalidades para entender el gran abismo entre todos los personajes con consciencia y el pequeño Angelo, faltó un cierre más completo, no sé, pareció quedar inconcluso a pesar de tener un final completamente cerrado. A pesar de esas pequeñas fallas, me gustó bastante, se me hizo muy entretenido y diferente a lo que normalmente leo, no es de terror, no es policiaco, es como un thriller psicológico? Probablemente es la descripción que va más acorde.
Kathy y Mark son una pareja feliz, común, de clase alta, la pareja ideal. Tienen un niño precioso, Angelo, es física e intelectualmente superior a los demás chicos de su edad. Sin embargo, hay algo raro con este niño que tiene mirada de adulto.
Alice, la hermana menor de Kathy es la única en darse cuenta de la verdadera naturaleza maligna del pequeño Angelo y gracias a la relación entre ambos podemos entender en las primeras páginas a Angelo y a sus padres.
¿Cómo nace un psicópata? ¿Nace o se hace? Son dudas que seguimos teniendo hasta la fecha, es por eso que entiendo la falta de desarrollo a estas preguntas complejas en un libro escrito en los 60s. Definitivamente si este libro hubiera sido escrito en estas fechas hubiera podido tener el doble de páginas y no aburrir ya que es un tema con infinitas variables y dudas que se pueden explorar.
Me gustó mucho la historia entera, la trama, ese final que no solo te deja sin aliento, sino con una extraña sensación de un cierre forzado. Es por eso que se lleva 3 estrellas, faltó hacer a los personajes más reales para poder sentir empatía por ellos, faltó que se describieran mejor sus personalidades para entender el gran abismo entre todos los personajes con consciencia y el pequeño Angelo, faltó un cierre más completo, no sé, pareció quedar inconcluso a pesar de tener un final completamente cerrado. A pesar de esas pequeñas fallas, me gustó bastante, se me hizo muy entretenido y diferente a lo que normalmente leo, no es de terror, no es policiaco, es como un thriller psicológico? Probablemente es la descripción que va más acorde.
March 12, 2018
Es un libro maravilloso, quiero rescatar las partes que más me gustaron:
Me encanta como hablan de la docencia, a pesar de ser un libro escrito en 1974 parece que está basado en la actualidad con muchos de los problemas a los que se tienen que enfrentar los maestros en la actualidad.
El trama de un niño psicópata y como es algo que no se hereda me envolvió desde un principio, ver sus acciones y como logra obtener lo que quiere a pesar de su corta edad.
Los personajes.
Katty sin duda me estreso a un limite, siempre defendiendo y mimando a su hijo en exageración, al punto de no aceptar las cosas que hacía y culpando a los demás.
Mark aunque era un personaje de los más importantes no se me hizo muy interesante , en su casa no tenía ni voz ni voto, su esposa siempre lograba lo quería, como tratar mal a las chicas que le ayudaban en la limpieza y cuidado de Angelo.
Angelo, sus acciones eran pensadas pero muchas veces siento que se dejó llevar por la ira y de ahí que su tía Alice y su padre lo descubrieran, lograba manejar a su madre a su antojo, ma partió el corazón cuando leí que habían comprado un perrito pues sabía su destino.
Final
Pensé que sería muy predecible lo que pasaría y más cuando supe que Kathy estaba embarazada pero con lo que no contaba era con el destino de Ángelo, me tuve que regresar a leer esa parte tres veces pues no podía creerlo.
Me encanta como hablan de la docencia, a pesar de ser un libro escrito en 1974 parece que está basado en la actualidad con muchos de los problemas a los que se tienen que enfrentar los maestros en la actualidad.
El trama de un niño psicópata y como es algo que no se hereda me envolvió desde un principio, ver sus acciones y como logra obtener lo que quiere a pesar de su corta edad.
Los personajes.
Katty sin duda me estreso a un limite, siempre defendiendo y mimando a su hijo en exageración, al punto de no aceptar las cosas que hacía y culpando a los demás.
Mark aunque era un personaje de los más importantes no se me hizo muy interesante , en su casa no tenía ni voz ni voto, su esposa siempre lograba lo quería, como tratar mal a las chicas que le ayudaban en la limpieza y cuidado de Angelo.
Angelo, sus acciones eran pensadas pero muchas veces siento que se dejó llevar por la ira y de ahí que su tía Alice y su padre lo descubrieran, lograba manejar a su madre a su antojo, ma partió el corazón cuando leí que habían comprado un perrito pues sabía su destino.
Final
Pensé que sería muy predecible lo que pasaría y más cuando supe que Kathy estaba embarazada pero con lo que no contaba era con el destino de Ángelo, me tuve que regresar a leer esa parte tres veces pues no podía creerlo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
“No matter how much we sin, if we love: there is always forgiveness. But for evil, which cannot love, there is no redemption.”
This was a good short book. I could have done without the additional info about psychopaths and how poor or abused children become them. But we see how it manifests in children who have everything and more. I know this was an old book and it’s interesting to see how people were taught that abused, poor, and downtrodden children can only turn bad in the world of child development. At least I hope this wasn’t taught to our teachers.
But as a black woman who was a black child, there were times when my socioeconomic background made me a stereotype that harmed me growing up. This book brought out those feelings of being spoiled goods as a person. It also showed how those stereotypes harmed the Saints and everyone around them. They decided to continue the delusion instead of thinking again and differently about this child. The signs were there but they chose to disregard their intuition. It didn’t work for them and evil prevailed in the worst way. All of them have scars…the dead and the ones barely alive, trying to live.
This was a good short book. I could have done without the additional info about psychopaths and how poor or abused children become them. But we see how it manifests in children who have everything and more. I know this was an old book and it’s interesting to see how people were taught that abused, poor, and downtrodden children can only turn bad in the world of child development. At least I hope this wasn’t taught to our teachers.
But as a black woman who was a black child, there were times when my socioeconomic background made me a stereotype that harmed me growing up. This book brought out those feelings of being spoiled goods as a person. It also showed how those stereotypes harmed the Saints and everyone around them. They decided to continue the delusion instead of thinking again and differently about this child. The signs were there but they chose to disregard their intuition. It didn’t work for them and evil prevailed in the worst way. All of them have scars…the dead and the ones barely alive, trying to live.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2023
Considero que no me atrapó ninguno de los personajes y no me importaba si moría la madre de Angelo o no, Y es que ciertamente me caía muy mal por hipócrita y simple, podría decir que me caía mejor Alice, pero la verdad es de que no, porque eso de que le tuviera miedo a un niño, no justifica que prefiriera alejarse en vez de buscar algo para ayudarle. Su padre sí me caía bien, pero solo eso, no era un cariño más allá del caerme bien. A pesar de que el libro fue corto y lo leí en un día, se me hizo bastante difícil de leer y no quiero decir que no tuviera trama, porque sí estaban constantemente pasando cosas pero los personajes no se me hacían tan desarrollados para poder empatizar con lo que en realidad estaba pasando. Por último tengo que decir que sí esperaba ver a Angelo de mayor y haciendo más crímenes, aunque sí me alivió su muerte porque ya no tenía que seguir leyendo así que creo que su muerte fue el mejor final.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2020
Angel malvado trata sobre un pequeño niño mimado e hijo unico llamado Angelo que parece todo un angelito, y tras esa carita esconde una personalidad con actitudes sociopatas. Todo parece ir bien hasta que su madre se embaraza y él deja de ser el centro de atencion de su madre. Angelo resulta tener varias disputas con su tia Alicia, la unica que parece ver a Angelo por quien en realidad es... un ángel malvado, sin que los demas se den cuenta de lo que este pequeño niño planea.
Este libro me pareció muy bueno ya que te cautiva con su suspenso y su dramatica historia controversial para su epoca ya que fue publicado en 1965, me parce un perfecto ejemplo de literalmente no juzgar un libro por su portada. Este libro si se los recomiendo por completo, es facil de digerir y una lectura muy rápida.
Este libro me pareció muy bueno ya que te cautiva con su suspenso y su dramatica historia controversial para su epoca ya que fue publicado en 1965, me parce un perfecto ejemplo de literalmente no juzgar un libro por su portada. Este libro si se los recomiendo por completo, es facil de digerir y una lectura muy rápida.
January 22, 2020
Originally published in 1965, This could easily be called the Author’s treatise on Psychopaths. Throw in some opinions on public vs private education, and other beliefs such as man cannot become what he’s not - Class determines success. All of that is good topic for a book club or other social group discussion.
I do believe we have people like Angelo Saint in our society and community and in positions of power. That I believe is what scared me. And we’ll always have them. The novel brings to light the difficulty of identifying such individuals and formulating treatment.
The story is riveting and well told but highly burdened by explanations of the above topics. Too much info. Some of which were repetitive. The ending seemed rushed. And too neat for a story that was so disturbing.
However it’s very interesting and I recommend it for mature persons.
I do believe we have people like Angelo Saint in our society and community and in positions of power. That I believe is what scared me. And we’ll always have them. The novel brings to light the difficulty of identifying such individuals and formulating treatment.
The story is riveting and well told but highly burdened by explanations of the above topics. Too much info. Some of which were repetitive. The ending seemed rushed. And too neat for a story that was so disturbing.
However it’s very interesting and I recommend it for mature persons.
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