Ghost Story by Peter Straub - Book Review - Classic Supernatural Horror

[@johnwhiteX]

Read hell house! It’s another classic horror book that every horror fan should try once

[@ItsMikeysMind]

Have ordered this 👍

[@channelmeaspirit]

Damn right it's a real SLOG, a total grind. Great Review 😀

[@madahad9]

I've read Ghost Story when it was initially published in '78, grabbing a copy from the local library. I cannot recall what my reaction was but it must have been somewhat positive since I would reread it every few years (currently reading ). In regards to the pacing it, like many other Peter Straub books I have read, is a slow and methodical burn as we are immersed in the lives of these old men, their town, and the evil that is haunting them. In one sitting I breezed through 70 pages. Straub is the opposite of Stephen King and a vastly better writer. It was actually Salem's Lot which encouraged Straub to take on this story with a vast cast of characters and plotlines that wove throughout the novel. I've never had any problems following the various threads as they all tie together with the malevolent Eva Gali, or one of her incarnations, aided by Gregory and Fenny Bate. The movie version strips away all the subplots and over simplified the story. It has several very effective scenes,especially when involving the work of make up legend Dick Smith. It was, I believe, his last film work before retiring. The ending of the film is marginally better than the novel. The end of the has always bothered me. It is very underwhelming after what had come before. If you can find a photo of the original dust jacket the ending is given away on its cover. It is the one big flaw about the novel. A big battle between Wonderly and the evil spirit would have been silly but the one we are given is just anti-climatic. But that is my sole criticism of the novel. A Peter Straub novel is like a rollercoaster ride --- that first hill is a bit long but once you're over it you find yourself flying along. Perhaps editing would have benefited. He seems to have caught the same literary bug that Stephen King suffers from and stretches and story beyond its limits and might have been more effective with about half the book cut out, streamlining characters and plot.

[@lesliegordon2313]

I do agree with you, Greg. Straub, compared to King, is the better writer - although early King takes some beating. But Straub has a strongly cadenced and literary style, which is rare in horror. I feel that this is why he never achieved the success which King did - the general readers of horror didn't quite know how to take him. King's style changed decades ago when he sobered up - for the worse, I might add. He became less sharp, less chiselled. I feel he is now trying a more literary approach, rather like Straub, and failing miserably. A nice little essay, by the way.

[@joemajor2553]

I read this right after “carrion comfort” which was also a mammoth horror/thriller that was pretty audacious but might’ve bitten off a tad more than it could chew. Would definitely recommend both to anyone looking to really immerse themselves in a story.

[@mohammedakram4529]

It's exactly as you describe it. The plot and characters are intertwined. I had to read several times over certain chapters to grasp on what was going on . Then you got the story jumping on and off to different things. But the book is a well written classic with so many layers. I found the very first chapter / prologue disturbing and unsettling.

[@danecobain]

This is on my list of books I want to get to eventually!

[@ItsMikeysMind]

Yeah dude, it sat in my collection for years before I picked it up! I think it's hard to categorise, I think the blurb would have been hard to write and may never do the breadth of the book justice. Challenging and decent read. Thanks for checking in!

[@danecobain]

@@ItsMikeysMind I'll probably get to it at some point soon!

[@maharal9]

@@ItsMikeysMind The review for "Ghost Story" at the time was "Guaranteed to succeed in the English Department and at the checkout counter."

[@maharal9]

@@ItsMikeysMind Sorry. The actual blubr for Ghost Story was "What it the worst thing you have ever done? I won't tell you that, but I will tell you the worst thing that ever happened to me. The most dreadful thing." That was the blurb. I have the first edition.

[@jimfaust6342]

It's Stephen Kings favorite.

[@KittyToothSalad]

I read this book in my teens and again in my 20s. I was a big Stephen King fan at the time, owning every book from Carrie to Gerald's Game at the time. But Ghost Story scared the hell out of me! It was King's own rave review at the front of the paperback I bought that convinced me to stick to it. I believe he said it was "the most terrifying book I've ever read." It was a bit tough to read at times. Had to take it slow and keep track of lots of names. It covers several characters over the course of several decades. Much told in flashback, and lots of scene changes with characters coming and going. But I was already a fan of the movie (which pales in comparison) so I had some frame of reference to rely on... although the storybook is far more detailed and differs on several key events than the movie. Honestly, the movie seemed cheesy to me after reading the book. But if you haven't read the book, seeing the movie might be of some help (and is definitely scarier when you don't yet know how much better the book is)...I've always preferred supernatural horror over the other stuff. If you're the same, then this book is worth your time.

[@Cameroo]

Sounds a bit like Floating Dragon where the narrative keeps moving between different things. It's a really strange style of writing. That said I liked a lot of aspects in Floating Dragon just wish is was a bit more cohesive in it's story arc.

[@ItsMikeysMind]

If you're interested in Ghost Story by Peter Straub, whether you're reading it, plan to read it - or plan to watch the film adaptation - I recommend watching the video below - Regina's Haunted Library walks you through the film. It sure helped me understand the story better. The film looks wild. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZzNeIKniMd-gMU

[@vajidalishah3595]

I'd love for your review on the first harry potter book and the name of wind.

[@ItsMikeysMind]

Hey! Thanks for your support on my channel. There is a review of The Philosopher's Stone on my channel. As for The Name of the Wind - that's a book I've been meaning to read for a long time!

[@mich_writes_fiction]

I just finished reading this book tonight and am still reeling from the intricately woven supernatural tale that brought together a multitude of characters and plots and subplots that all seemed to be satisfactorily resolved in the end. I enjoyed the book immensely and can't wait to get my hands on other Peter Straub novels. He's an amazing writer who understands brilliant characterization and character development without making things too obvious for the reader. [SPOILER ALERT] Am I correct in assuming that in the end the woman in San Francisco that Don Wanderley needs to see is Florence de Peyser?

[@mikekannely2286]

I was a fan of the movie for a few decades, but my Wife's Book Club decided to read it so I did too. WOW! The book is a hundred times better than the movie.

[@charleswerneth4284]

I struggled with this book. I’m not sure why, but it didn’t scare me much.

[@shiv6091]

Stephen king is surely overrated

[@ItsMikeysMind]

What makes you say that? What do you feel?

[@shiv6091]

@@ItsMikeysMind I don't find depth in a lot of his writings.

[@ItsMikeysMind]

@@shiv6091 ay, fair enough. For me that came from The Shining, Carrie, and most of all The Green Mile. Perhaps for psychological depth. I felt that Joyland had some emotional depth to it. Pet Semetary too for its big question about loss and grief. I'm still working out which Kimg I like tbh.

[@juaneliascampastri732]

You should try 11/22/63 from King…by far one of his best works

[@caliinthevalley24681]

Thank you. I’m listening to the audible version and I’m over half way through and I got so lost at times I thought I was losing my mind. I can’t explain it. I know I don’t hate it but it is very hard to follow.

[@ItsMikeysMind]

I completely get where you're coming from. Sort of book you have to work hard to follow as much as you'd like. I knew I was going to live alongside these characters for a long time during the reading and always felt the need to keep notes! It's an epic almost. Although I always forget a lot of the content of the books I read, I've not forgotten reading this. I'd imagine an audio book makes it more like a complex and meandering drama.

[@NeonBluePastaChef]

It was a bit daunting at first. The re-read is a reward, thereby. Loved that I got to read it again and have a "new" experience. In my top 5 favorite books!