Horror Aficionados discussion
April's Promotional Group Read - Salvage by Duncan Ralston
Mixofsunandcloud wrote: "I also just finished chapter two. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of yelling at the character not to do things."Yep
Well.. I'm racing through and loving it! I've just finished Chapter 9, so thought I'd give an update.I find the backstory and premise make so much sense and give the story substance. I like the way the ghosts are real enough that they can't be dismissed but that there's often another explanation - an explanation you would only accept if you were in denial. It seems that Owen is often in denial!! This is obviously good for the storyline but makes me want to shake him... also keeping me involved and on my toes (lol)(view spoiler)
Glad you're enjoying it, Annerlee! :) Hope there's not too much yelling at characters, I think I tried to keep that to a minimum or at least tried to make the motivation strong enough that there was no other choice but we'll see what you all think! :D(view spoiler)
Duncan wrote: "Glad you're enjoying it, Annerlee! :) Hope there's not too much yelling at characters..."Thanks Duncan. I tend to read whilst commuting on the bus (2 hours a day) and try really hard not to yell too much ; )
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Just opened the first "page" on my Kindle...let's go !
If I wasn't enjoying the book, I wouldn't yell at the characters.
I'm up to chapter 6, part 2. The story keeps getting better & better, pulling you in.
Mixofsunandcloud wrote: "If I wasn't enjoying the book, I wouldn't yell at the characters."Agreed!
5% in. Great prologue, elegant, professional writing. Nice little drama with two key players: Owen's fear of water, and his ability to see ghosts.
Kimberly wrote: "60%--I am completely immersed with the characters--love the mystery behind it all, and [spoilers removed]"Thanks, Kimberly! Now it seems like (view spoiler) are a dime a dozen. I think it was almost original when Salvage came out! :D
Graeme Rodaughan wrote: "5% in. Great prologue, elegant, professional writing. Nice little drama with two key players: Owen's fear of water, and his ability to see ghosts."Thank you, Graeme! My editor is owed at least some of the credit there! :D
13% in and going...just reached the part where Owen found the photos of Chapel Lake on the internet. Now I have a magical image in mind of sparkling blue water with a bell tower rising above...I bet it doesn't stay that picturesque ;)@Duncan: I wonder if a lake like that really exists somewhere or did you make that up?
80% in and rethinking events in light of new details... I'm tempted to go back and re-read some sections to convince myself this all fits.Still loving the ride ; )
There's a place in Tennessee like that, I'll have to look it up later. I was shocked that something like that existed in my state.
Duncan wrote: "Graeme Rodaughan wrote: "5% in. Great prologue, elegant, professional writing. Nice little drama with two key players: Owen's fear of water, and his ability to see ghosts."Thank you, Graeme! My e..."
Good on you for investing in an editor.
10% in . First really spooky scene - gave me the shivers for real.
Ok I don't think I've ever heard loons, like the birds. After they were mentioned in here, I looked it up. They are mentioned in Pet Semetary too and I just read it. My first reaction? That's a bird?! No thank you! Sounds creepy as hell! https://youtu.be/4ENNzjy8QjU
I'm finding the descriptions very good. Despite me not being very good at visualizing, it really gave a good sense of atmosphere.
Latasha wrote: "Ok I don't think I've ever heard loons, like the birds. After they were mentioned in here, I looked it up. They are mentioned in Pet Semetary too and I just read it. My first reaction? That's a bird?! ..."Thanks for the link Latasha. I've read about loons so often and never knew what they sounded like (thought they were wolves at first). Stephen King mentions them a lot. Wow!! Creepy is right!
Thanks for the link, Latasha! Loons are interesting birds, and definitely very creepy at night!
Elke wrote: "13% in and going...just reached the part where Owen found the photos of Chapel Lake on the internet. Now I have a magical image in mind of sparkling blue water with a bell tower rising above...I be..."As Latasha said there's one in Tennessee. I actually got the initial idea from a scene in O Brother Where Art Thou? but researched it a fair bit and discovered there are lakes with towns below in various place in North America. There's one sort of close to me I that I'd love to dive someday as apparently a fair bit survived the flood. As for the church steeple above that was just my imagination, but I discovered later that some flooded churches do exist, mostly in Europe.
I wish I could "like" these individual comments, I'm glad you're all enjoying the book so far. I'm definitely enjoying the discussion! :)
That is awesome Duncan. I love that movie.
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Wow! You're fast, @Kimberly! Lookin forward to your thoughts on it! :)@Latasha, I love it too. That scene in particular really stuck with me. The cow on the roof and the hound dog and Dapper Dan cans floating.
I'm more of a slow reader. I'm enjoying the book. It's effective writing and really works well at creating an emotional response (well at least with me - I might be easy to spook....).
Thanks, Graeme! Glad it's workin for ya! As for the editor this book was previously published by Booktrope, who had a handful of excellent editors under their employ including Bill Campbell (who edited Salvage).
I finished yesterday. Awesome read. Thanks again Duncan.I keep popping back to see what everyone else is saying.
Re actual sunken buildings:
As a child I lived near a lake caused by mining subsidence. I remember being freaked out one especially hot Summer when I saw the roof and chimney of a sunken house peeping out above the surface. I couldn't even tell you why. There was just something inherently frightening about it... possibly because something so unexpected was hidden below something so familiar.
I'm loving this story and all the comments! Guess I'm about 60%. Reading in between work and my teen's baseball games lol
I'm taking my time. Almost 30%. I think I just finished chapter 5. Definitely has atmosphere, a sense of foreboding. Something bad has happened here and something bad is going to happen, sort of feel.
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I keep popping back to see what everyone else is saying.
Re actual sunken buildings:
As a child I lived near a lake caused by mining subsid..."
That idea has always fascinated me! You would think that the danger leaving them there presents would make it impossible, but the real ones I've seen pictures of certainly give you that "not of this world" feeling . . .
35% and going. I have to admit I took a break with a different book over the weekend, as my mood suddenly required some lighter reading ;) and I didn't want to spoil this one by continuing just because I had to...However, now I'm eager to go on and hope to finish before the weekend/easter vacation, but that will be a close call...can't wait to discover what's beneath the water...
Annerlee wrote: "I finished yesterday. Awesome read. Thanks again Duncan.I keep popping back to see what everyone else is saying.
Re actual sunken buildings:
As a child I lived near a lake caused by mining subsid..."
That's really cool, Annerlee! I would be freaked out as well! Glad you dug the book! :D
Kimberly wrote: "Annerlee wrote: "I finished yesterday. Awesome read. Thanks again Duncan.I keep popping back to see what everyone else is saying.
Re actual sunken buildings:
As a child I lived near a lake caused..."
Just the idea of "people used to live down here" gives me the chills, that's why I wrote the book! :)
I think I'm around 17%, but I had to take a pause to really... um, appreciate the descriptor of "a single eyeball floating in a red froth." Pretty happy I wasn't eating during that part!
Glad you all are enjoying it so far! If any of you are interested here's a short article I wrote about some weird coincidences (or were they?) that happened during the writing of Salvage. I love it when stuff like this happens...https://deepthoughtsandjunk.wordpress...
I finished reading today. Sure the story will stay with me for a bit. I enjoyed it so much! Like seeing what the rest of you thought here :)
Duncan wrote: "Glad you all are enjoying it so far! If any of you are interested here's a short article I wrote about some weird coincidences (or were they?) that happened during the writing of Salvage. I love it..."Thanks for sharing this. How neat ;)
Spent a while this morning getting to know more characters. Almost halfway now, Still enjoying it very much.
36% in. The relationship between Owen and Lori is really sweet. Such a pity she's dead. (But then it wouldn't be a ghost story...). I like how the memories are drawn without disturbing the present day narrative.
Elke wrote: "13% in and going...just reached the part where Owen found the photos of Chapel Lake on the internet. Now I have a magical image in mind of sparkling blue water with a bell tower rising above...I be..."I think the drowned town is so creepy, especially that bell tower:-). It's really a great setting for a horror novel.
Graeme Rodaughan wrote: "17% in post [spoilers removed]"That part was frightening! Especially (view spoiler).
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That right there is tattoo worthy.