Black House
£2.50
A good book but could be better - After reading The Talisman (the first collaboration between Straub and King), I was thoroughly disappointed. So I was in two minds about whether I really wanted to read the sequel. I would have to say that Black House starts well...set in a small town the story starts with the disappearance of young children to a murderer known only as The Fisherman. The man in charge at the local police force is unable to keep the situation under control and asks his old friend (detective Jack Sawyer) for help in solving the case. The story develops for most of the book in a crime genre style until about 3/4 of the way into the book when we delve again into the other world which is where this murderer takes and kills these children. The story at this point starts to become a bit confusing and at times I also became a little bored. This is the point when this crime novel becomes a crime/ fantasy novel and this is what lets it down.The book would have been a good story if it had not been trying to do too many things at the same time. I felt in the end there was simply too much going on and things became unclear and I started to lose interest. Having read The Talisman prior to reading this I could follow more of the storyline but I think it would be extremely difficult for someone who hasn t read it, to understand what was going on. I haven t read The Dark Tower series but having read this book and The Talisman, I am not so sure I want to read them. All in all, a good read but I wouldn t read it again. If you are a fan of King (as I am) then you will be disappointed.
Beautiful but Flawed! - I am a great fan of both Straub and King so I was surpised I had not read this and its sequel,Black House until now. Well I am glad I did! Both books are rich in the intimate, non-apologetic attitudes and mindsets of the characters, evil or otherwise that Stephen King is known for. And Straub s elegant and dark imagination is well at play here.The problem, and reason I give both books 4 stars, is the fact that on first contact with The Talisman one gets the impression it is geared towards a younger audience. This is not so. Both these books are very, very adult. I m not talking about sex scenes, deviant or otherwise, though in Black House that is certainly an underlying flavour in the story. I found the overall subject matter mature and adult in nature and complexity in both books. These are not stories for children, beware!But if you are an adult and like getting that chill up your spine when you read a horror story then you ve come to the right place. Come and get it!
From another World - I had this book given as a christmas Present a few years back after mentioning it to a relative. I had not read any of the Dark Tower Series or the Talisman, as I had not even realised there was a connection. At first read I will admit to being slightly disappointed, barely getting through the first few chapters with any interest. However I went back to it a couple of years later deciding I hadn t given it a proper chance, I was correct! I was instantly hooked by the mysteriousness and original narration through what can only be decribed from my standpoint as a bird type creature, catching snippets of information along the way, meeting well written and endearing characters in the form of Jack Sawyer, The Marshall family and even the gruff Biker Gang down by the river. It took a lot of effort to put the book down in order to complete mundane tasks such as going to work of all things. A captivating read with imaginative settings and characters that I can enjoy again and again.
Warning! - Warning! Do not read this book unless you ve also read The Talisman and the Dark Tower series. I tried reading it before and i just couldn t get on with it... I read it after and loved it!!
Black House-Give it a miss! - Having read a few Stephen King and Peter Straub solo novels I had high expectations prior to reading Black House.However, the description on the jacket was better than the actual novel.The introduction was tiresome, there was little suspense/horror and no explanation was offered on the Crimson King , Mr Munshin etc. With decent editing the book could be reduced to half it s length and be a bit more enjoyable. The conclusion was disappointing. The usual fantasy approach-good triumphs over evil but has to make the supreme sacrifice to achieve the desired end.