The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.83 You Save: $3.16 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.47 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Girl Next Door
Book Review: The True Nature Of Horror
Summary: 5 Stars
Had it not been for the movie's release, I probably wouldn't have found out about this book, nor the author. But I wanted to check it out before I saw the movie and read some good reviews.
As many people have said it's a disturbing book. Not so much violent with raw gore and blood but just really gets to you, deep. Ketchum did a great job of taking the reader along on a ride that most people wouldn't go voluntarily. And I'll admit that I was tempted to put the book down almost halfway through the story. Not from the presence of violence, but because of the reactions of the protagonist. To me, that was the most disturbing aspect of it.
The writing style reminded me much of Stephen King's style in the 80's, especially `It' since it centered around children. It was a quick and easy read and I finished the book in 2 days.
Really nothing bad to say about this book. It was the first from Jack Ketchum that I've read and certainly won't be the last. Highly recommended.
Book Review: ***
Summary: 5 Stars
It's "funny" how most people that give this a bad review seems to do so because it's graphic and it doesnt have a happy clappy Hollowood ending.
Come on, in real life those endings rarley happens...I think that if someone dares to go the whole way, to acually write what sadly many children (if not in exactly this way) has gone through and how they died before anyone could or in some cases wanted to help them, that writer should have praise.
Graphic doesnt mean bad, unless you read this for pleasure in which case GET HELP! But if you're normal you'll read this and want to do something for victims of abuse. Which Im not sure was Jacks idea but I hope it was...
Its almost like you're the first person in this story, that watches but only help Meg when its too late and in real life people dont want to see things. They might not be in basements watching teenage girls getting tortured but they see far more things then they admit too. If more people spoke up, less children would get hurt!
Book Review: Disturbing and compelling.
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered "the girl next door" book and DVD at the same time so decided to watch the film first which I thought was brilliant and brought me to tears at some points. The book I read some time later and it was breathtaking.
Although the content is about as disturbing as it can get, I found that I was drawn in and sympathised not only with Meg but with David as well. One can only imagine what he went through being exposed to such evil at such a young age and I was really hoping Meg would live through the ordeal (although she didn't in the film).
At some points I had to close the book and rest, it was so compelling, and I was hesitant in many points to keep reading.
Very well written, Jack Ketchum is obviously a good writer and I look forward to reading more of his books.
For those who say this should be banned, wake up. The atrocities in this book pale in comparision to real life crimes against children.
Book Review: Disturbing, yet captivating
Summary: 5 Stars
I like a good psychological thriller now and again and Ketchum delivered with this disturbing fictionalization of an actual event. During the summer of 1958, David is witness to the brutal torture of Meg, a girl who has been placed in foster care of his next door neighbor, Ruth. Meg and her sister Susan are shamelessly abused as Ruth and her sons test the limits of Meg's resolve and her body. Soon other neighborhood children participate in the cruelty, and David cannot help but watch. He is a passive observer, never inflicting harm, but unable to put a stop to it. He is consumed by a morbid curiosity in addition to an overwhelming guilt that eventually puts him in Ruth's sites. Ruth's growing insanity and mental deterioration affect her own sons who succumb to the devious notions she presents to justify her treatment of Meg. Reader be warned: the descriptions of physical abuse are graphic and disturbing, but the novel is an interesting study of group mentality.Book Review: Wow...just wow.
Summary: 5 Stars
Did you know this was not only a book but a movie? Well it is, and the movie doesn't do the book justice. But isn't that always how it is? This is a twisted, morbid, tale...that I loved to hate. But, if that's what your looking for in you crazy horror world then this is for you. I love Ketchum, Ed Lee, Richard Laymon, Brian Keene, Jeff Strand, Gonzalez...and the list goes on, forgive me if I forgot your name...oh yeah, and Monica O'Rourke. Anyway, this is sick and twisted, and really shows the backward thinking of parents, of children and people who choose "not" to get involved, well...and the people who choose to get involved. A great book by Ketchum, in fact one of my favorites. I think I liked this because I like horror that is more realistic. That's because it scares me worse than anything else. This scared me! I want to keep my kids closer and really, really know who they are friends with.