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David John Griffin

Autor/a de The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb

9 obres 29 Membres 4 Ressenyes

Obres de David John Griffin

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Membres

Ressenyes

The premise of this book sounded so promising: Theodore Stubbs, an entomologist who is also a master hypnotist who is lusting after his daughter-in-law who has just returned from a sanatorium where she spends two months after losing her son.

I just couldn't get into the story. I found no flow in the writing and it was a constant struggle for me to focus on the story. The idea of the book was so interesting and I love the cover. But I just couldn't find myself enjoying the story. I spent most of the time reading fighting to stay focused on the story, but the dialog and the descriptions just didn't appeal to me. It got a little better when the story moved 13 years forward in time. But, I felt that towards the end the book slipped back to being uninteresting for me.

It was just not for me. Apparently, I'm part of the minority that just didn't like the book. But if you like a quirky story is this perhaps something for you. I probably just wasn't the right reader for this kind of book.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review.
… (més)
 
Marcat
MaraBlaise | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Jul 23, 2022 |
I was drawn to this book by the amazing gothic cover of butterflies, moths and bugs and the amazing font inside further enhances the gothic atmosphere. The Stubbs are indeed a very strange family – when I say strange, I mean stark raving bonkers. I wasn’t sure what was going on or who was who for most of the book, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed the second part of the book more when Alastair appeared.

There’s a murder, or is there? Where is the body? There’s a pregnancy – but who is the father? I loved the play on words of the title as Alastair’s possession is two-fold - he is given a most unusual possession by a crazy lady but is also possessed by the spirit of Theodore. There are also some splendidly named characters in the book that added to the craziness, my favourite being Mr Fishcake.

This book really reminded me of a Tim Burton film; it’s dark and wacky but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. Unusual, quirky and a little bit wacky, it’s a book to read beside the fire on a cold winter’s night with a little glass of port and then let your imagination run away with the Stubbs.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Urbane Publications, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Michelle.Ryles | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Mar 9, 2020 |
I found the writing to be quite good- but the overall effect of the book is disappointing. There is a great deal of potential - imaginative characters- evocative setting, and a great premise- but, it bears repeating- a disappointment. In the end- I was simply glad to have finished it.
 
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HelenGress | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Sep 30, 2016 |
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

The cover is so beautiful and the premise sounded really good (a creepy father-in-law with powers of hypnosis, a dreadful secret and a mysterious boy). I started reading and then the negative reviews started to flow in.

I try not to get influenced by reviews while I'm reading a book, but since I was having trouble to stay focussed on the book, I was glad to read I was not the only one. I felt there was a lot of potential to really make this a creepy read, or at least one with more of a mystery to it. Now, it bottled down to one of clumsiest murder attempts ever, together with -surprise, surprise- revenge.

About halfway the novel, there is a 12 year jump in time, and we meet young Alastair. At first it looked like it was getting better at this point, like maybe this was the real beginning of the story, but there is a lot that remains unexplained, or is not explained enough. In the end, I just couldn't connect with any of the characters, who acted stiff throughout the whole story, and I felt a lot of potential for the story was lost somewhere. I didn't like it, it certainly wasn't for me, and I wouldn't recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
… (més)
 
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Floratina | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | May 26, 2016 |

Estadístiques

Obres
9
Membres
29
Valoració
½ 2.3
Ressenyes
4
ISBN
8