this is my first Straub novel not counting the books he does with Stephen king and I don't know if i loved it but I liked it. interesting concept all and all a good way to spend 2 days. ( )

I'm not really sure how to classify this book, part paranormal, part horror, part mystery it was an interesting read. I initially found it a bit hard to get into but after 50 of the 620 pages had passed I had a decent layout of things in my head and started to enjoy how things were unfolding. It's a bit of an odd one in that the blurb doesn't really give a good picture of what the story is really about, it's far better and complicated than the blurb would leave you to believe.

Overall, an interesting story of family history with a paranormal touch. ( )

I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Rarely do I read a book that doesn't make me want to skim the minutiae, but this is one. My favorite aspect of it, though, is the characters. Even the tiniest bit parts are interesting and colorful and not two dimensional. The ending was thought provoking. I think, if you like Clive Barker, H. P. Lovecraft, and don't insist that every book has to be horrific, you'll like this book.

(it should probably be noted - my mother did find this book gruesome and horrific, but to me it was more just a dark fantasy. And she watches a lot of horror movies. So, I guess what I'm saying is, it's probably best to read this when you are open to letting it be whatever kind of book it's going to be to you.) ( )

At heart this dark fantasy novel is about the twisted truths that lie at the heart of one's family history and whether it's better to leave secrets buried or dig them up. Peter Straub does an amazing job of unraveling pieces of information that slowly form into at larger picture. His characters are complex and fascinating, which makes the story absolutely compelling with an ending that kind of blew my mind and makes me want to go back and read it again. Fantastic book. ( )

A man troubled by flashes of precognition digs up family secrets best left buried.

Straub is an extraordinarily literate writer who occasionally produces rich, complex stories like Ghost Story and Floating Dragon, and occasionally produces muddled messes like this one. Every time I started to get into the story, something confusing would throw me right out, and the ending was a thoroughly unsatisfying twist out of left field. (And when will horror writers get over their obsession with H.P. Lovecraft?) ( )