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The stories show the conflict between locals and "summer people"; between wealthy people and poor; between black people and white; between old and young; between gay and straight. Some stories show the difficulties of aging or illness.
I agree with the previous reviewer who praised "Detour". It's a great story about a childless man who tries to protect a little girl from her unstable family members.
"Uncle Cub at Paradise Fair" is very funny at times. The behavior of some of the characters is so appalling that it's also darkly funny.
"The Tip" is an affecting story showing the same event from two different points of view. It probably should seem corny or preachy, but the author manages to avoid those pitfalls.
You might be surprised how much tension there can be in a story set in Maine (particulary since they lack supernatural elements). "The Best in the World", "Detour", "A Clock in San Diego", and "Holly Point" stand out in my mind as tense stories.
The book is a very nicely designed trade paperback with comfortably sized print. My only complaint is that some pages were missing from my copy. It jumps from page 22 to page 27. Fortunately the missing pages were the beginning of a story rather than the *end*. Also, I was lucky it was one of the stories I had read already in another book. (The story is "The Glow of Copper".)
I enjoyed the book. Hopefully it will be followed by an anthology of fantasy and suspense stories. I'd also like to read another of the author's suspense novels.
The stories show the conflict between locals and "summer people"; between wealthy people and poor; between black people and white; between old and young; between gay and straight. Some show the difficulties of aging or illness.
I agree with the previous reviewer that praised "Detour". It's a great story about a sterile man (?) who tries to protect a little girl from her unstable family members.
"Uncle Cub at Paradise Fair" is very funny at times. The behavior of some of the characters is so appalling that it's also darkly funny.
"The Tip" is an effecting story showing the same event from two points of view. It probably should seem corny or preachy, but the author manages to avoid those pitfalls.
You might be surprised how much tension there can be in a story set in Maine (particulary since they lack supernatural elements). "The Best in the World", "Detour", "A Clock in San Diego", and "Holly Point" stand out in my mind as tense stories.
I enjoyed the book. Hopefully it will be followed by an anthology of fantasy and suspense stories. I'd also like to read another of the author's suspense novels.
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The characterizations of the boy, Jonathan Petrie, and his father, Doug, are particularly well done. Jonathan is in conflict with his parents, teachers, and the school bullies. First he uses his ability only as a temporary escape, exhilarated by the sensation of flying. Then he uses it in self-defense, and eventually for revenge against those he feels have hurt him.
The story is fast-paced and engrossing with a large cast of characters.
This novel would probably make a great gift for anyone who was a fan of the young-adult horror novels of R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike but has since outgrown them.
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After many years working as an insurance salesman, Peter Willis is denied the promotion he obviously deserves. This triggers a sort of mid-life crisis for Peter and he literally tells his boss to take his job and shove it. He decides to move (with his family), open his own business, and sculpt in his spare time.
Unfortunately, the unscrupulous real-estate agent hid the fact that many people had died on the property. Peter finds Satanist 'paraphernalia' there (a Satanic Bible, a ritualistic robe, a shrine, the previous owners' journal -- and some very gruesome things which I won't mention and spoil the story for you). Afterward, he struggles with his business and the restoration of the house. Peter becomes obsessed with the journal. Tensions run high among Peter, his wife, and his son. Some sort of explosion seems inevitable.
Fahy's story was unpredictable, particularly during the first half. Fahy keeps alive the mystery about just what is happening to the Willis family for a good part of the novel. There is also a very tense, suspenseful chase during the climax.
Fans of Stephen King's "The Shining" would probably enjoy this book a lot. (Don't worry. Fahy's novel is not a clone of King's novel. "Dream House" is similar to "The Shining" to the extent that King's "Salem's Lot" is similar to Bram Stoker's "Dracula".)
I almost gave the story 4 stars (rather than 3), but it's probably just a little too long.
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This novel is pretty funny (in the Mark Twain sense, not the Adam Sandler sense). It is also surprisingly touching at times.
Be patient through the first 20 or so pages. They are confusing because the narrator refers to characters and events that occur later in the book without any explanations. The narrator is very confused at the beginning. Once the narrator's mind clears, after the first chapter, the storyline is perfectly clear and very entertaining.
I eagerly await the publication of "Fever 42", the novel mentioned in the 'About the Author' section of this book.
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(I'd like to give a more detailed review, but it's been too long since I read the book.)
The characterization of the kidnapper is particularly interesting.
On the downside, the author seemed to get stuck at times. Most of the story focuses on just two characters on a small island. Stephen King managed to write a great novel about a celebrity and his kidnapper ("Misery"). Fahy's novel isn't quite as well-paced.
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It's been eight years so I can't give a detailed description of it without skimming through my used copy. I don't want to do that. I'm *glad* I'm forgetting the story. It will make it more fun to read again. I wish I could forget everything about the story so I could enjoy it again as much as I did the first time.
It's more of a Robin Cook style medical thriller than a horror novel. There is nothing supernatural in the book.
If you can find a copy, read this book. The book should have been a bestseller. The only thing I didn't like about it is the title. Anyone who likes action and doesn't mind a little gore should like it. Horror or medical thriller f! ans will love it.