April 2016 Group Read-The Dark by James Herbert

[Char]

The Dark by James Herbert is our poll winner for April! Here is a place for us to discuss it. Please remember to use spoiler tags as necessary and, as always, happy reading!

[Lisa - HowlBeSatReading 🐺]

Yay!!! I am so happy this book is on a group read! Reason being, this is the very first horror book I read at the tender age of 11. It disturbed me no end, and I will HAPPILY re-read it. This book is solely to blame for my love of all gore-fest terror inducing books! Mr Herbert, you were a genius! RIP. Ok, I'm done. Just had to share lol ;)

[Antony]

Look forward to it

[Jack]

I won't be joining you guys on this one - I'm still reading February's - but for all of you who haven't read The Dark before, you're in for a treat. It's up in my top 5 James Herbert books - I envy you getting to enjoy it for the first time - and all those who've read it before you know what I'm talking about.

[Pike]

Honestly didn't know that he wrote horror. I'm heading to the library today (or requesting it)!

[Lisa - HowlBeSatReading 🐺]

He is the Master of Macabre! I do love a British author, particularly if it is one of my favourite genres.

[Rachel]

It might be mid month before I can start this one. I can't buy any more books until pay day. :(

[11811 (Eleven)]

My library has this filed under "fiction-fascism." I wasn't expecting that. Anyway, I put a hold on it.

[Daniel]

Alas, I cant find this in time...that being said, I picked up Ash to read in its place

[Becci]

Fantastic, James Herbert is one of my favourite authors.

[Victoria]

Yay! So excited just got ot off google play gonna read it as soon as im done with the current read. This is my first group read.

[John]

Gosh, this takes me back.
Read it years ago - I'll have to fish around in the loft or download it.

[Kimberly]

I read this one, so I may lurk....but I'm going to re-read the number 2 choice this month.

[Monika]

I'm pretty excited for this one. It will be my first James Herbert book, can't wait!!

[Henrik]

First James Herbert book for me as well! I started reading it last night, and so far so good! :)

[Steve]

First James Herbert book for me. Ordered yesterday so hopefully arrive this week. Always planned on reading some of his books but never quite got around to it .... So this worked out perfect!!

[Lisa - HowlBeSatReading 🐺]

Looking forward to hearing the opinions of Herbert-virgins! The Dark is a great place to start, I hope you all get hooked. I did!!

[Char]

This is pretty cool-HA introducing horror fans to horror authors from the 70s and 80s. Both our group reads this month fall under that umbrella.
I love Herbert, but I haven't read this one yet. I'm hoping I can join in towards the end of the month. Either way, I think everyone will enjoy this book-Herbert's work is compulsively readable, IMO. :)

[Kimberly]

I'm wondering if I should re-read this one, too.... It was one of the first I'd read by him, yet somehow I didn't like it as much as many of his others..... Things change over time, and I'm certain I still have the paperback.

[Tiffany]

I'm in on this one.

[Chris]

My first James Herbert book like some others here! Started it a few days ago and I'm hooked. So far it is definitely one of the darkest books (no pun intended) I've read and I'm only a fourth of the way in.

[Baz]

I'm trying to wean myself a teenie bit away from horror and start embracing other genres (I can get quite addicted!), so I'm in the middle of a thriller at the moment, but have added this to my shelf for a later date.
Have fun, everyone :)

[Kim]

I love James Herbert but I have never read this one. I don't know how I missed it. I'm in!!

[Jay]

This one was a lot of fun. I won't be joining, as I read it in January, but I'll lurk for sure

[Latasha]

i'll be joining in a few weeks. I've only read/listened to 2 other James Herbert books. 1 I liked, 1 I didn't. tie breaker!

[Dani]

I ripped thru this. Wickedly fun!

[Alex]

Read this a few years ago. There were some decent scenes

[David]

It's rare I participate in group reads as I'm a bit of a sporadic reader, I can go weeks without reading a single page but then when I get 'the bug' I can read four or five books in a week! Herbert is by far one of my favourites and even though I've read them all many times before I'm always happy to reacquaint myself with any of his works, The Dark was one of my earliest acquisitions and (imo) one of his best!

[Dawn]

Should start this today yay!! #2 is one of my faves so will be glad to see the discussion there as well

[Josen]

Aw none of my libraries or bookstore has this book. Looks like I'll have to order it.

[Jeremy]

This is my first Herbert, and I'm about 150 pages in--the exposition parts of this are a little stuffy, but there has been some great horror so far.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

It's my first James Herbert book as well. But I've just started.

[Patrik]

just ordered it. i will start it just after the current book.

[Jeremy]

Finished today. I enjoyed it--it was great horror, even if I felt the plot started to fall apart toward the end. Herbert started to rely on description (some single paragraphs were 2-3 pages long) to patch up the holes in the story, and there were a lot of action scenes that seemed like they would never end. I still thought it was a pretty engaging story, however.

[Kimberly]

Jeremy wrote: "Finished today. I enjoyed it--it was great horror, even if I felt the plot started to fall apart toward the end. Herbert started to rely on description (some single paragraphs were 2-3 pages long) ..."

(view spoiler)[It was those page-long paragraphs that started turning me off, too. Great idea, still, but I wish the writing had been "tighter". (hide spoiler)]

[Katy]

Been traveling. I ordered my copy, will start when I get it.

[Andrew]

Just started this last night. Got through the intro and first chapter. Already like the world that Herbert is setting up. Can't wait to read more tonight.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I binge read it last weekend but haven't been on here since. I found it really good, but I didn't think much of the ending.

[Andrew]

I just finished up last night and really liked a lot of the book, but was also disappointed with the ending.

Definitely had some creepy scenes, that had me looking up more than once.

I'll definitely be checking some more James Herbert.

[Latasha]

I'm starting this Tuesday.

[Kevin]

About halfway through this and I've been enjoying the memories it's bringing back from when I read Herbert as a teenager, mainly to do with his writing of a set piece.

The rest of his writing is solid, more than inspiring, but it's enough to keep you reading until the next sequence comes along.

[Katy]

Latasha wrote: "I'm starting this Tuesday."

I'm still waiting for my copy. Supposed to come next week.

[Monika]

Finished it last night. I really enjoyed the story overall but I thought the ending was rather weak.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I thought there should have been more information on some of the characters. Bishop was well done, and Edith was about the right amount. But so many people just got classed as good or evil, basically, without much to their actual character. (view spoiler)[ And for Jacob Kulek who is supposedly incredibly important etc, we don't actually know all that much about him. We have the kind of biographical information that you might get for a book jacket or obituary, but I was expecting more. (hide spoiler)]

[Dawn]

I finished last night too. My first James Herbert too, but looking forward to reading more. Loved the dread and feel throughout and the awesome descriptions! Fell apart a little for me towards the end as well, as some others have indicated.

[Kimberly]

This one wasn't near my favorite from Herbert, but I've loved some of his other books.

[Katy]

Dawn wrote: "I finished last night too. My first James Herbert too, but looking forward to reading more. Loved the dread and feel throughout and the awesome descriptions! Fell apart a little for me towards the ..."

Finally got my copy, about one-fifth of the way in. Ghastly doings abound...

Anyone else still reading?

[Latasha]

I am Katy.

[Katy]

Latasha wrote: "I am Katy."

Yippee! Company. Hope to finish by month end.

[Latasha]

Katy wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I am Katy."

Yippee! Company. Hope to finish by month end."

I'm a lil over half way. I'm not super impressed. it reminds me a lot of hell house and (so far) I liked it much more.