Under a Watchful Eye - Adam Nevill

[Feli]

Hi all!

Rachel, Terry and I are going to read Adam Nevill's and will be starting next week.

Feel free to join us if you like :)

This will be my first Nevill but I saw that many of you have read last month. Maybe I have to catch up on that later :)

Happy reading and make sure to use spoiler tags (and maybe not quote what's in a spoiler. I've seen this a couple of times and realized to late that is was originally a spoiler xD).

I wish y'all happy holidays :)

[Rachel]

I am excited!

[Nickronomicon]

There’s too many choices for me this month! I’m a big fan of Adam Nevill so I’d like to try to squeeze this one in too if you don’t mind me joining along.

[Rachel]

Yes, join us!

[Terry]

I just got my copy of the book today, so I'm all ready to go!

[Terry]

Feli wrote: "Hi all!

Rachel, Terry and I are going to read Adam Nevill's and will be starting next week.

Feel free to join us if you like :)

This wi..."

I read The Ritual last year, and really liked it. The movie for it that just came out recently on Netflix isn't too bad either. Worth giving it a shot, I think.

[Rachel]

I'm so excited. I heard this one is really scary.

[Feli]

Rachel wrote: "I'm so excited. I heard this one is really scary."

I hope so :)
I will start tomorrow or Tuesday with it, depends on how much work to do, but Tuesday for sure. Can't wait to start :)

I have still no idea what this is about, 'cause I got it in the NRB last year. But I like those books the best because I have no false expectations then 😂

[Rachel]

same, i don't really know what it's about either lol. someone i was talking to online said it scared them so i put it on hold at the library

[Terry]

Rachel wrote: "same, i don't really know what it's about either lol. someone i was talking to online said it scared them so i put it on hold at the library"

Me three! I purposely did not read what this one was about at all so going in blind like you guys.

[Terry]

I started it and have read the first four chapters. (view spoiler)[ Little bit of a slow buildup, which is fine. Creepy thought to be stalked silently by a ghost (if that’s what he is) who keeps getting closer... (hide spoiler)]

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

YES. I am super happy about this. I own a copy of THIS book, but I did not have, nor was I able to acquire a copy of 'The Ritual', so I missed out on reading any Adam Nevill. SO, I will finally get to read his stuff, as THIS is the only book of his that I have! Perfect! *off to bookmark this thread so I do not lose track of it* ---Jen from Quebec :0)

[Terry]

I'm about a quarter of the way in. Caught up in the mystery of it now.

[Nickronomicon]

I'm almost done with Part 1. Just when I think I know where it's going, it changes. I saw the same reviews a few of you did that the less you know the more you will enjoy the story, so I'm going in blind as well. Part of me wants to scream at Seb, now I'm not so sure...

[Terry]

Nickronomicon wrote: "I'm almost done with Part 1. Just when I think I know where it's going, it changes. I saw the same reviews a few of you did that the less you know the more you will enjoy the story, so I'm going in..."

At least tell him to get some backbone!

[Rachel]

Lol, he's already frustrating me.

I'm only at page 30 which is just at the beginning of chapter 5
(view spoiler)[the descriptions of Seb and Ewan living together was nasty. i wanted to gag reading it lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Terry wrote: "I started it and have read the first four chapters. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[yes that is creepy. i'm curious to know if it's a ghost. well i guess it must be, how could he move like that and affect the sound around Seb? very strange, but creepy.

one of the creepiest images from the text is at the end of ch 4 when Seb wakes up from his nap and hears a noise on the outside walls of the house. he says something like how it reminded him of a sinewy human crawling on the walls. sooo creepy! (hide spoiler)]

[Feli]

I started yesterday and just finished chapter 9.
I can't really tell what I'm thinking about it, at least not yet. I like the book and really want to go on but I needed some pages to really get into it. But looking back now I think the beginning of this story was quite good. So I don't know what took me so long to really enjoy it. It's a bit weird (like the book, hehe).

Ewan is just... urg.. But he at least is a very interesting (and disgusting) character. I don't like Seb much, because although I think he is right in most what he says, it's not quite fair, either.
Chapters 7 & 8 (view spoiler)[I mean, yes, as I said, Ewan is disgusting and nobody would want to have him in his/her house, all right.And Seb has every right to be furious, but then again I think Seb's being a bit arrogant in what he tells Ewan and he is really superficial (Okay, I guess everyone would be in this case) but he simply doesn't know what Ewan did the last years. His opinion of him is just based on assumptions and those he built from 'I have published books and you not'. I just don't like him much, either... (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8 & 9 (view spoiler)[Here we really see the influences of this story. Some aspects remind me clearly of some Lovecraft stories and other influences are mentioned in the story itself. Although (at least yet) this isn't a completely new topic I think Nevill did a good job here to bring this dreamlike-weird-storytelling-astral projection-kind-of-thing into a whole story (and not just short glimpses as we get most often from other authors in their short stories). (hide spoiler)]

I like it so far and will go on reading this evening, but it's not creepy for me... I don't know what it is... Maybe there aren't any books that I find really creepy. The hardest part for me was (view spoiler)[Ewan's three hairs in the butter xD (hide spoiler)] ;)

I hope you are all enjoying this book :)

Question: Is The Ritual similar to this book or does it go in a different direction?

[Terry]

Feli wrote: "I started yesterday and just finished chapter 9.
I can't really tell what I'm thinking about it, at least not yet. I like the book and really want to go on but I needed some pages to really get int..."

Great comments, Feli! I'm still one chapter behind your post, at the end of ch8, but I read your spoilers. I agree, I've been engaged so far, mostly curious, but not excited yet. Now that we're getting more to the meat of what's going on, I'm hoping that changes.

On ch7 and 8 (view spoiler)[ There is certainly a lot not to like about both of those characters. There has to be more to these guys than meets the eye so far. (hide spoiler)]

Ch8 and 9 (view spoiler)[ I've not read any Lovecraft myself, but I've picked up some of the ideas of his writing to see what you mean. I'm hoping this whole astral projection theme is described more going forward. (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying!

On your question, although I think The Ritual may hint at some of the Lovecraft theme, it really is different to this so far in almost every way.

[Terry]

Rachel wrote: "Terry wrote: "I started it and have read the first four chapters. [spoilers removed]" ..."

Yes! (view spoiler)[ my image of a sinewy human in that context is not something I'd want crawling around my house! (hide spoiler)]

[Nickronomicon]

I'm a little over halfway and this keeps getting more interesting to me. Has anyone made it to THAT PART yet? You'll know what I mean if you have...haha - my mouth was hanging open for a bit.

I also agree this novel isn't like The Ritual, but that book does take an abrupt turn that has divided some people's opinion of it. I loved it and thought it was great. It does have that similar creepy tone, which I have come to see as Nevill's style.

[Feli]

Just started the second Part and I agree with you that it keeps getting more and more interesting.
But I guess I haven't reached THAT PART yet 😁

[Nickronomicon]

But I guess I haven't reached THAT PART yet

Well, maybe I oversold it just a little bit. In chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ when Ewan is found dead was a bit surprising to me. I was thinking we were going to be dealing with him popping in and out of Seb's life for the rest of the book. (hide spoiler)]

I just started chapter 15 (view spoiler)[and am very interested to see if the documents Seb found will help him answer the questions and mystery, or if they will lead him down the same path. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Chapter 9 was freaky AF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rachel]

Feli (view spoiler)[I wanted to vomit when I read the part about the hairs in the butter! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

ok just got up to part 2.

i'm REALLY liking this book.

[Rachel]

chapter 11
(view spoiler)[i had accidentally clicked your spoiler Nickronomicon lol but by the time i read the chapter today i had forgotten, so i was still surprised when i got to THAT PART. yeah, i wasn't expecting Ewan to die so early on in the story. not sorry to say that im glad he's gone, he was disgusting lol.

fascinating guy, but disgusting. i couldnt read about how unhygienic he was any longer! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

chapter 12
i do not know why this chapter is titled "a second death", anyone got any ideas?

[Terry]

Rachel wrote: "Chapter 9 was freaky AF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I'm just getting to ch 10. You're right, ch9 is pretty crazy!

[Feli]

Nickronomicon wrote: "But I guess I haven't reached THAT PART yet

Well, maybe I oversold it just a little bit. In chapter 11 [spoilers removed]"

Oh okay. Yes, I thought so too. But maybe it's not over yet...


Rachel wrote: "Feli [spoilers removed]"

Yes!!! Arrhg that was so disgusting, hahaha 🤣

I had to pause some days because the new term started and now I got ill and I just can't concentrate on anything (great start, right? -.-) so tomorrow I'll have a day off and hopefully get some reading done. I started 'Second death' but am only a few pages in. Not sure, but maybe it's called so (view spoiler)[because Ewan 'died' before and was reanimated. He tells this when talking about his first 'out-of-body'/astral-what-ever-experience (hide spoiler)].

[Terry]

Feli wrote: "Nickronomicon wrote: "But I guess I haven't reached THAT PART yet

Well, maybe I oversold it just a little bit. In chapter 11 [spoilers removed]"

Oh okay. Yes, I thought so too. But maybe it's not..."

That's no good, Feli! Hope you feel better soon. I'm on the slow read myself with this one as my work schedule has become very busy.

[Nickronomicon]

I'm up to chapter 21 and it's taking an interesting turn (view spoiler)[is Seb turning toward the same thing that Ewan was caught up in? Seems like he's going the same way with the drinking and becoming more un-hygenic... (hide spoiler)]

As far as the "second death," I'm picking up a lot of phrases here and there that have a Biblical meaning. In the Bible the second death has to do with Hell and torment/punishment. But there's also been a few references to the "everlasting arms" which has to do with God and heaven. I'm interested to see how or why this might actually tie in.

[Rachel]

thanks for that insight, Nick!

I noticed in the end of chapter 13, (view spoiler)[when Seb is having his dream and seeing the forms, one of them is saying, "Is this the second death? Where is my everlasting self?" (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

damn chapter 13 is honestly scaring me

(view spoiler)[when i was younger i used to read about and was curious about astral projection. i tried it a few times and one time it really scared me bc it felt like it was working lol. this was way back when in high school and after that night i never tried it again. i also have suffered from sleep paralysis and frequent nightmares so all this shit that he's reading in the Society's reports and Ewan's notes is really frightening to me... (hide spoiler)]

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

Argh-- I have been reading the most random things lately and yet I WANT to read THIS book, however I only own it via Kindle, and I only have a Kindle app on my computer, so unless I carry my entire laptop around with me, my Kindle books are often harder to read than a paperback that I can grab anytime, you know? I am hoping to hit this book this weekend, though. Love me some scares! --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Rachel]

chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ Omfg the conversation with Mark on the phone was such a good chapter!!! I'm so intrigued now, but worried for Mark now too. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

chapter 19

(view spoiler)[oh hell no. that dream/vision.. NOOOOO. You're never as alive as you are when you leave your body. this book is ticking all the boxes of what scares me, lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Feli]

Nickronomicon wrote: "I'm up to chapter 21 and it's taking an interesting turn [spoilers removed]

As far as the "second death," I'm picking up a lot of phrases here and there that have a Biblical meaning. In the Bible..."

Ah okay. Thank you for mentioning this. I had no idea. Once upon a time I had to take lessons in all this Bible stuff and I went to a religions school but I've never heard about it. I guess it's not what you teach children in the first place, hehe ^^
But I have to admit that I wasn't that attentive when it came to Bible hours..

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[I knew we were to see Ewan again in one way or another! Ha! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

in the middle of chapter 23
(view spoiler)[omg i fucking knew itttttttttttttttttttt i started to get suspicious of mark after initially feeling worried about him. (hide spoiler)]

[Nickronomicon]

in the middle of chapter 23(view spoiler)
Yep - me too. I just finished Part 2, and started Part 3 wow . . . If I can get enough time on my lunch break I'm going to try and finish this.

I also picked up some references to the Temple of the Last Days cult, which is from one of his other books Last Days (which is my favorite novel of his I've read so far) If you've enjoyed this book you'll like Last Days.

[Rachel]

I just got to the end of part 2 too, oh my GOD.

definitely going to finish this up today!!! i can't turn the pages fast enough!!!

[Rachel]

oh god I had to finish.. wow!

cant wait to hear everyone's thoughts.

[Feli]

Rachel wrote: "chapter 16 [spoilers removed]"
I liked this chapter very much. It was really good and I am definitely more worried for both of them now!

[Nickronomicon]

I just finished it as well - great book! I also enjoyed the last paragraph of the acknowledgements . . .

I'm still not quite sure how (view spoiler)[Thin Len fit in with Hazzard. Was he a spirit Hazzard called up? It was interesting how at the end Seb was dressed as Diane, and still had the sense to double-cross the ladies and get away. I'm still pondering all of that. (hide spoiler)]

[Feli]

Rachel wrote: "in the middle of chapter 23
[spoilers removed]"

yes, that one was quite obvious after they entered the building.

I finished today and although I think it was a good book, it wasn't really scary for me and I think I didn't quite enjoy it as much as others did. Overall I liked it but I couldn't read too much of it in a day and there were parts of it I actually just wanted to end...

I will give Last Days a try later this year because I am curious how it relates to this book. There seem to be quite a few references, as Nickronomicon said above.

[Terry]

I'm so behind you guys, but I'm still reading along. I just got to ch18, and now we know about the chapter names. (view spoiler)[ They are the names of the chapters, or stories, from Hazzard's two books. Interesting too, that in our book, we're bouncing back and forth from the more spiritual chapters of Hazzard's first book, and the darker chapters of his second book. I'm sure it means something more that I've not caught, too. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Terry wrote: "I'm so behind you guys, but I'm still reading along. I just got to ch18, and now we know about the chapter names. [spoilers removed]"

Great observation Terry!!

[Terry]

Well, I'm a week behind, but I did end up finishing yesterday. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with the way it ended. (view spoiler)[ What happened to all of the astral projection stuff?! We built up to that being what was going on, but once Ewan was gone and Seb gets trapped at the house, there is nothing else about it. It became a ghost story at that point, and even that seemed a little bit of an anticlimactic moment. Other than Thin Len getting the girls, there really wasn't any more action. I did like that there was a twist that the first 3/4 of the book ended up being a book. Over all, I did enjoy reading it, just disappointed with where it ended. So, with the burning of the Tor, are we supposed to believe that Hazzard and the other spirits will no longer be after Seb? Or is his running away futile? Would have liked some resolution there, too. (hide spoiler)]

[Feli]

Great that you have finished, Terry!
I see your points and agree with you. For me, the ending wasn't that disappointing, because I really was glad to have it finished at that point no matter what the ending would look like 😂
But your questions are interesting, haven't thought about (view spoiler)[all the ghosts and Hazzard after burning down everything (hide spoiler)].

[Terry]

Feli wrote: "Great that you have finished, Terry!
I see your points and agree with you. For me, the ending wasn't that disappointing, because I really was glad to have it finished at that point no matter what t..."

Thanks, Feli! I get what you're saying, too. I was plenty ready to be done, myself.