Horror Aficionados discussion
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Ghost Story
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Februrary 2015 Group Read: Ghost Story by Peter Straub
Mike wrote: "Charlene, I hate spoilers as much as the next reader but Jeremy's 'revelations' are hardly giving away any important plot points. I've no problem with a reader telling me that 'it slows down for a..."Point taken. I edited my post to ask him to use spoiler tags in the future.
Sorry you're not enjoying the read, Mike.
I picked it up in December and stopped kinda 30% in. It's sooooooo slooooooow. Does it pick up at any point? Because I really don't think I can handle another 400 pages otherwise :(
Catherine wrote: "I picked it up in December and stopped kinda 30% in. It's sooooooo slooooooow. Does it pick up at any point? Because I really don't think I can handle another 400 pages otherwise :("
For me it started to get better around the halfway mark.
(view spoiler)
I liked the writing style but was disappointed in a couple of things about the overall story arc.
Sorry, didn't realize that I was spoiling anything--there's nothing to spoil yet! :D But I will put in tags in the future.
No worries, Jeremy. Than you. :)
Got it from the library; started reading it last night after my binge watch of The Fall on Netflix ended. Very compelling read so far.
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Kimberly wrote: "Okay, I got my copy from the library and am planning on starting tomorrow! :)"Got it and started it. Have something else to finish, then should be able to focus on this one.
OOOH Lucky I just got this book! And now it's the book of the month! I better get started! I've been wanting to read it forever! Now's my Chance!
I've finally started this one and I'm about 112 pages in. No sign of anything boring, so I'm not sure what people are talking about, instead its steadily building dread and I've found each chapter more interesting than the last.
I read this one several years ago and really liked it. I don't remember it being slow... I don't usually go for action packed stuff though, so I dunno how sound my judgment is on that front.
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It's been YEARS since I've read it, but I remember it more as Maxine put it, "steadily building dread"...
I just finished the part (view spoiler) It is definitely a slow build, but I'm liking the story and looking forward to the slow reveal of what happened to these guys in the past. I'm also enjoying trying to figure out how that Prologue is going to fit into the story.
I just crossed the halfway point and I'm starting to wonder if this story is going anywhere. It seems to be a bunch of random happenings loosely tied to (view spoiler) but I'm feeling a little bogged down with it. I'm still enjoying it, just ready to see some threads start to come together.
Nick wrote: "I just crossed the halfway point and I'm starting to wonder if this story is going anywhere. It seems to be a bunch of random happenings loosely tied to [spoilers removed] but I'm feeling a little..."I'm about 20% in. I don't feel it's dragging so much as there's a lot of groundwork being laid down. I'll keep going.
Can someone tell me how to do spoiler tags again? It's been awhile since I've posted here and I can't remember!
Grace wrote: "Can someone tell me how to do spoiler tags again? It's been awhile since I've posted here and I can't remember! "Grace,
Towards the bottom of this page shows them.
https://www.goodreads.com/help/show/4...
Anthony wrote: "Grace wrote: "Can someone tell me how to do spoiler tags again? It's been awhile since I've posted here and I can't remember! "Grace,
Towards the bottom of this page shows them.
https://www.go..."
Thank you so much!
Just started. Very compelling beginning.
I am still waiting for my copy from the library. I hope I can join you guys for the group read.
I'm at about page 330 and I haven't been one bit bored. Each chapter has been interesting and I found young Don's story about "Alma Mobley" extremely creepy. (view spoiler). Clealy each character's experience is intersecting in a way that we as the reader can't understand yet.
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Nick wrote: "I just crossed the halfway point and I'm starting to wonder if this story is going anywhere. It seems to be a bunch of random happenings loosely tied to [spoilers removed] but I'm feeling a little..."
Stay with it Nick and I think you'll see everything will tie together nicely.
Stay with it Nick and I think you'll see everything will tie together nicely.
One of the things that impressed me most about this book is the intricacy of the stories and how they all tie in together in the end.I also love how the Chowder Society are all named after authors.
I read this one last year sometime and to be honest I struggled with it. I was so confused with all the jumping backwards and forwards I couldn't get a clear picture of the people and places in my head. It's interesting reading your thoughts on this as this group read carries on.
I may start this one though I guarantee it might take me a couple of months if what all these posts are saying is true. I'm hoping, like Maxine, I won't be bored with it.
I just finished Part 2 and the threads are coming together. I hope my earlier comments aren't discouraging anyone. I am liking this book, it's just a little different. He takes little side trips and makes descriptions that add to the story, but don't necessarily move the plot along. I'm enjoying it and am curious to read some of your thoughts as well.
Addy wrote: "I may start this one though I guarantee it might take me a couple of months if what all these posts are saying is true. I'm hoping, like Maxine, I won't be bored with it."I hope you'll like it, Addy. Our tastes are pretty close and this was my favorite book for a long, long time. It's still in my top 3 or 5.
I agree with both Charlene and Rob. Ghost Story is extremely intricate (like all Peter Straub books) and can be confusing at places as it jumps back and forth in time and between different incarnations of "the evil".However, the end result is totally worth the effort, and is one of the best character driven horror books around.
Who's everyone's favorite Chowder Boy? I think Sears James is an incredible character.
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I hope you'..."
As I figured, (even though I KNOW it was a favorite), I've forgotten just about everything about it. :)
I just had such a hard time with Shadiwland which I've attempted to finish several times that I'm Leary.
*Shodowland*leery
Stupid phone!
Lol, oh well. Just can't win!
Shadowland. I'm bummed because I loved that one too. :)
Andy wrote: "I agree with both Charlene and Rob. Ghost Story is extremely intricate (like all Peter Straub books) and can be confusing at places as it jumps back and forth in time and between different incarna..."I think Ricky was my favorite, Andy. :)
Nick wrote: "I just finished Part 2 and the threads are coming together. I hope my earlier comments aren't discouraging anyone. I am liking this book, it's just a little different. He takes little side trips an..."I'm close to finishing Part II as well, and I agree with you. It's gotten much more story driven, even though I do think Straub gets hung up on tangents.
Boom! Finished!Honestly, I couldn't put it down. This is going to be one of my favorites of all time. Its not too often a story has such well-drawn characters with an intricate plot that weaves in and out of time seamlessly. I felt like I could picture Milburn, each character, and the 'baddies' perfectly in my head.
What a story and I loved the ending!
Andy, my fave of the Chowder Society was Lewis. Guess I'm into bad boys :-)
Very interesting that we all relate most or like certain characters most. Sears reminded me of an uncle of mine. What was Ricky's wife's name? She was also a good one.
Stella!! I read this book well over 20 years ago and I still remember Stella and the man in the blue car.
Finally started last night. (I had 2 ILL's I wanted to get out of the way first.). Only got about 10 pages in before I fell asleep (not because of the book, but the hour).
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Just finished Ghost Story. Despite the slow start, it was superb. A five-star read.
I was reading this for the second time about 1 to 1-1/2 yrs. ago. Greatly enjoy this novel. I don't mind a slow build if I know it's going somewhere and the characters are interesting. Had no trouble recongizing early events in the story were going to tie into the end game in significant ways.However, I actually laid this down about two-thirds of the way through. Was taking Stella's character activities to heart. Maybe because of my own personal issues, but the book was actually making me mad and generally bringing me down. I think I'll pick this back up and finish with you guys tho.
This is the only Straub book I've read to date. I started Shadowland once but only made it 20-40 pgs in. Seemed like it would be a good read as well, just had too much going on at the time and if fell thru the cracks.
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I was thinking about getting back to some Straub, probably KOKO.
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I got back into it last night--very difficult to put down. :)
Finally finished this last night. I liked the book, however I found myself ready for it to be over. Just a little too long and drawn out for my taste. If it was about 200 pages shorter I probably would have given this 5 stars. By the time the threads all came together and I figured out what was going on, I was just ready for it to be done. I'm really conflicted on how I feel after reading it. It was a good book, and I'm glad I read it.The only other Straub I've read is KOKO and I really liked that one. I'll be reading more of his books in the future.
Would anyone be interested in buddy reading through the Blue Rose Trilogy?https://www.goodreads.com/series/5758...
KOKO, the first book, is incredible.
I recognise the quality of the writing during this re-read but I have to admit that the pace is a bit on the slow side for me, right now. More of an Autumn/Winter (pre-Christmas) read than a sprightly lead-in-to-Spring read.
I think I'll put it aside and pick it up again in October.