I don't know exactly how to write the review for this one. Anyone familiar with Ketchum's work knows that his stories lead to very uncomfortable places, and "The Girl Next Door" is by far no exception. I am not myself very familiar with his work. I have seen the movie "The Lost" which I found more artsy than I normally enjoy, but it was decent all in all. Then I saw Jack Ketchum's name on the bookshelf in my local used bookstore, and thought to myself, "Hey, real horror maybe?" And DAMN was I right! The book takes place in the 1950's, and strangely enough, I was reminded of the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" because of the suburban neighborhood and the relations of the neighbors. A tight knit community. But shortly after the intro, though for no reason I could discern started to become uncomfortable. The main character 12 year old Davie, meets Meg, a 14 year old girl who parents have died in a car accident, and along with her weak and injured sister, must move in with her aunt and three sons. At first, Meg just thinks her Aunt and cousins don't like her, but after a short while, it is apparent that her aunt is insane (READ: Bug fuckin' Nuts), and the abuse begins in earnest. At first she enlists her 3 sons to torment their cousin, but after awhile, all of the kids in the neighborhood are in on the abuse. The main character Davy doesn't participate, though he watches it happen, and after a long while, guilt gets the better of him and he tries to help her.
This book was very very tough for me to read. I have a daughter, and it was easy to put he in places in the book and it was almost mind shattering on a small scale. Hell, half the time I felt I wanted to either scream or cry.
This book is pure gorno. Mind gorno, physical gorno, spiritual gorno. Evil. Sick. Perverted. Demented.If you can read this book and not feel some sort of revulsion, seriously do us all a favor and check yourself into a mental hospital right away. On some level, all people should connect to this book, whether you are a female who has endured some sort of abuse, a male who has been helpless to stop it, or vise-a-versa. If you have abused someone, or you have been near it happening and let it happen, guilt should hit hard. I tell ya, I don't like to tell people how they should feel, but this one is obvious.
I am not gonna head-shot this one for my review. All I have are these words of advise: If you haven't seen or read any media in a long time that makes you feel or think really deeply, read this. If you are sensitive to things that hurt, and don't want to hurt yourself, don't read it. All in all, this book is about evil and pain. TRUE PAIN. I honestly don't know if I can ever watch or read another Ketchum movie or book. I'll stick to mindless zombies if that is alright with you. And if not, too fuckin' bad!
P.S. Don't forget. If this book doesn't some how repulse you. Get help, and soon.
P.S.S. Forgot to mention that the book is based on a true story. Now THAT is fuckin' sad.
This book was very very tough for me to read. I have a daughter, and it was easy to put he in places in the book and it was almost mind shattering on a small scale. Hell, half the time I felt I wanted to either scream or cry.
This book is pure gorno. Mind gorno, physical gorno, spiritual gorno. Evil. Sick. Perverted. Demented.If you can read this book and not feel some sort of revulsion, seriously do us all a favor and check yourself into a mental hospital right away. On some level, all people should connect to this book, whether you are a female who has endured some sort of abuse, a male who has been helpless to stop it, or vise-a-versa. If you have abused someone, or you have been near it happening and let it happen, guilt should hit hard. I tell ya, I don't like to tell people how they should feel, but this one is obvious.
I am not gonna head-shot this one for my review. All I have are these words of advise: If you haven't seen or read any media in a long time that makes you feel or think really deeply, read this. If you are sensitive to things that hurt, and don't want to hurt yourself, don't read it. All in all, this book is about evil and pain. TRUE PAIN. I honestly don't know if I can ever watch or read another Ketchum movie or book. I'll stick to mindless zombies if that is alright with you. And if not, too fuckin' bad!
P.S. Don't forget. If this book doesn't some how repulse you. Get help, and soon.
P.S.S. Forgot to mention that the book is based on a true story. Now THAT is fuckin' sad.
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