May 2014 Group Read: The Ritual by Adam Nevill

[Missy]

Scott wrote: "I read this book before and definitely liked the first half best. Katy I loved the part where they found the creepy church."

I'm there right now. I can't put it down!

[Wayne's]

I agree Scott the first half was very atmospheric.

[Marc-Antoine]

42 pages in and the build up is great. I can't wait to see where this is going!

[Latasha]

Jason wrote: "So, I'm curious...

[spoilers removed]"

I did not either.

[Latasha]

I finished the book earlier this evening. I really liked it. i did think the 1st part was better but never saw the events in the 2nd part coming. i read it faster than i thought i would. (view spoiler)[ i think i would have preferred a grimmer ending though. (hide spoiler)]

[(shan) Littlebookcove]

oh my gosh! well I didn't expect the whole black metal thing thats all I'm saying! All in all I loved this book the atmosphere in the book truly terrifying.

[Misty]

I'm about half way through this book and it is so incredibly terrifying and intense for me. I think that suffering from mazeophobia (fear of getting lost) I am really able to put myself in the story.

My heart is racing just typing this and thinking about the book!

[Tamela]

just bought my copy and will be starting it as soon as I finish the book I'm on.

[Marc-Antoine]

I'm at the 30% mark. (view spoiler)[ that part where Phil is peeing outside of the church really spooked me out, I hate getting the sense that I'm being watched. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

I'm about 90% I like the book but the second part is kind of dragging on now and I'm ready for it to just end already.

[Latasha]

Marc-Antoine wrote: "I'm at the 30% mark. [spoilers removed]"

yes! that was so creepy!

[Kirstin]

Justin wrote: "I'm about 90% I like the book but the second part is kind of dragging on now and I'm ready for it to just end already."

I hope you enjoy the ending as much as I did! I felt that the middle of the second part was too long as well but the last bit made up for it..

[Kasia]

I have just started this book, read the premise and had to pick it up, especially since my favorite group is reading it.. I will read the comments now, have some catching up to do, so far it's nice, I tried a page and didn't want to stop.

[Kasia]

This is great so far, chapter 12 and it's reeking of danger and creepiness, this was a great pick, I feel so lucky to be reading it, I love intense lost in woods stories such as this one... I have a feeling that the nights of antiseptic on tired feet wont last long in this book.

[Amanda]

I want to post my comment, but it has some spoilers in it. How do I hide those?

[Kasia]

I wanted to copy and paste but it put the instruction into the spoiler tag lol, here's the link to the info

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

[Amanda]

Kasia wrote: "I wanted to copy and paste but it put the instruction into the spoiler tag lol, here's the link to the info

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2..."

Thanks Kasia! I'll give it a go.

[Amanda]

I really enjoyed The Ritual and thought it was genuinely creepy, but I thought there were a couple of things off with it…

(view spoiler)[1. (My main gripe) I thought that the second half of the book with the teenaged death metal kids was kind of silly and took away from some of the general terror of the book. I will say that the constant fear that he was going to be sacrificed was certainly troubling, but I wish he would have replaced the kids with deranged forest hermits or something.
2. This second thing doesn’t really offend me, but I want to know what everyone else thinks. And please no one get pissed about this comment. I’m not trying to stir the pot or make some sort of social or political stance. Anyway… Did anyone else find the book to be particularly anti-female/ anti-woman? Aside from a few vague girlfriend comments, there was seriously not a single non-awful or non-evil female character in the entire novel. The book starts out with half of the group of guys trying to escape their terrible harpy wives. Then they are hunted and killed off by the evil female beast/god. Next, of the three death metal teenagers, the girl was by far the most vile. Even her genitalia was specifically described in a very disgusting and off-putting way multiple times. Then of course there is the old lady who at first appears to be a benevolent character, but turns out to be an evil you-know-what too. Perhaps I’m wrong, but usually I’m not one to latch on to thoughts like this. What do y’all think?
(hide spoiler)]

[11811 (Eleven)]

Amanda wrote: "I really enjoyed The Ritual and thought it was genuinely creepy, but I thought there were a couple of things off with it..."

1. That sums up my my opinion of the novel right there.

2. I didn't pick up on that but now that you mention all those specifics it is a very interesting aspect of the story. Coincidence? I have no idea. Nice catch though :)

[Justin]

Kirstin wrote: "Justin wrote: "I'm about 90% I like the book but the second part is kind of dragging on now and I'm ready for it to just end already."

I hope you enjoy the ending as much as I did! I felt that the..."

(view spoiler)[ the part where he took out blood frenzy was great but then the last battle part felt long and drawn out again. (hide spoiler)] I have it three stars it was alright.

[Kasia]

Amanda wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I wanted to copy and paste but it put the instruction into the spoiler tag lol, here's the link to the info

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2..."

Thanks Kasia! I'll ..."

Anytime :) Once I finish the book I will be back to read all the spoiler tags :)

[Missy]

Just finished the book. The first half was really good. Creepy and atmospheric. It had me looking over my shoulders. But the second half seemed really drawn out and lost me a few times.

[Amanda]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I really enjoyed The Ritual and thought it was genuinely creepy, but I thought there were a couple of things off with it..."

1. That sums up my my opinion of the novel right there. ..."

Thanks. I doubt it was deliberate, but I thought it was pretty weird for sure.

[Marc-Antoine]

I just passed the halfway mark, and so far it has been great! Now I'm afraid to read on as there seems to be a consensus on the second half...

[Kasia]

Marc-Antoine wrote: "I just passed the halfway mark, and so far it has been great! Now I'm afraid to read on as there seems to be a consensus on the second half..."

^ if you're afraid then it truly is a horror book :P

Just kidding, I spend a few hours in a huge Queens park yesterday going through some tricky woods, it made me stop and laugh suddenly when I remembered that I was reading this book, luckily the only thing stalking us was a squirrel since I was feeding them along with birds.

[Marc-Antoine]

I'm at chapter 51 and still very much enjoying the story! (view spoiler)[ the south of heaven characters are really creepy... (hide spoiler)]

[Marc-Antoine]

Kasia wrote: "Marc-Antoine wrote: "I just passed the halfway mark, and so far it has been great! Now I'm afraid to read on as there seems to be a consensus on the second half..."

^ if you're afraid then it tru..."
The reminds me of after I had seen the Blair Witch Project wit some friends from university. We grabbed a camera and spent the night in the forest after trying to freak each other out...

Ahhhh.... The good old days....

[Latasha]

that sounds fun!

[Missy]

Lol it does indeed!

[Marc-Antoine]

Ok, I have passed the 75% mark, and I am still totally thrilled with this story!

[Mia]

Still waiting for my book to arrive! I think I'm going to be spending a whole weekend reading it when it finally arrives, I am so far behind.

[Kasia]

Marc-Antoine wrote: "The reminds me of after I had seen the Blair Witch Project wit some friends from university. We grabbed a camera and spent the night in the forest after trying to freak each other out...

Ahhhh.... The good old days....
."

I was 18 or so when I finally watched The Blair Witch and I ended up seeing it with my parents somehow, my mom told me it was a true story, well duh later I found out that it wasn't but she scared the bejesus out of me with that comment lol.

[Kasia]

I'm about 30% in but chapter 18 has been my favorite so far, it even smelled creepy from what I read, great stuff.

[Marc-Antoine]

All done and I loved everything about this book. My nails took a beating as it had me biting them throughout. I know I'm in the minority here, but the second half scared me more than the first, (view spoiler)[ as I can actually envision that such a trio of psychotic black metal idiots could exist (hide spoiler)]. I gave the story a full five stars, and deserving of a spot of honor on my favorites shelve!

[Sean]

Ok wow, all done my first read with HA. I loved the story, maybe because i live in the pine barrens and hike a lot who knows.

(view spoiler)[ I couldn't believe when Dom turned up in the trees!I thought for sure he had a part to play after he just disappeared, Oh well. I also didn't pick up on the fact that the old lady had hooves until they mentioned it! How creepy. Lastly i found it very funny that i listen to most of the black metal bands and named in part 2. I could really envision some of the mislead youth that I've seen at some of these concerts doing some of the things in this book. (hide spoiler)]

The ending felt.....satisfying

[Anna]

I've never read anything by Adam Neville and ordered the Kindle version of "The Ritual" two days ago. The first day I read until my Kindle's battery died. I immediately grabbed my phone and picked up where I left off. I finished the book late last night.

In the first part of the book I thought Hutch was the main protagonist of the story. Luke seemed to have been the "odd man out" from the beginning. His protests of going into the woods and his suggestions were dismissed by the other members of the group.

SPOILER ALERT: (view spoiler)[I thought for sure Dom was a goner when his and Hutch's tent was under attack. I was totally unprepared when Hutch was the first one killed! (hide spoiler)]

Anyway, I can't wait until we can openly discuss the story. For me it was a great intro to Neville's work and I am looking forward to delving into one of his other novels. Any suggestions for my next Neville read?

[Wayne's]

Anna wrote: "I've never read anything by Adam Neville and ordered the Kindle version of "The Ritual" two days ago. The first day I read until my Kindle's battery died. I immediately grabbed my phone and picked ..."

I loved Apartment 16

[K4tie]

I am half way through and I have to say I can't imagine how there is a whole half to go. It's good, don't get me wrong, but I feel like the story is winding to an end.

Half a book about 1 guy barely stumbling around? I have to read it to see how it will pan out. :) I am intrigued.

[Marc-Antoine]

K4tie wrote: "I am half way through and I have to say I can't imagine how there is a whole half to go. It's good, don't get me wrong, but I feel like the story is winding to an end.

Half a book about 1 guy bar..."

IMHO it gets better...

[K4tie]

I know, I totally started the craziness just after I said I had no idea how this could go. It's pretty awesome :)

[Mia]

Just finished this! The first half is definitely stronger but I thought the ending was fantastic. I loved it.

I may have gotten a little excited and read this entire book in two days, oops.

[[deleted user]]

Finally got around polishing off The Terror, and now I can begin The Ritual!

[David]

I did not enjoy this one at all, found it silly and really non-scary. Liked Nevill's "last days" but did not care at all for this one.

[Latasha]

I can't wait to hear what next month group read will be about!

[Katy]

Anna wrote: "I've never read anything by Adam Neville and ordered the Kindle version of "The Ritual" two days ago. The first day I read until my Kindle's battery died. I immediately grabbed my phone and picked ..."

I'm with you, Anna. (view spoiler)[ I didn't know who was going to make it. The bonding made me think perhaps two of them would make it out. (hide spoiler)]

[Patricia]

Jason wrote: "Marc-Antoine wrote: "I just got this and will be joining in, but I need to finish House of Leaves first..."

Such an amazing novel. It's my favorite."

That's a great title, i'm going to look it up on Amazon.

[Kasia]

Just finished it last night, what a ride, super fun and it really made me feel being lost in the woods, it was very realistic.

[Amanda]

Do y'all know when we can stop using spoilers?

[Kasia]

For that you'd probably have to have a thread from beginning that says "With Spoilers" so that others don't read it accidentally.

[[deleted user]]

I read Apartment 16 a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. When I found out about this one I was looking forward to reading it. Disappointment comes to mind. I wanted to love it, but couldn't.