I'm a fan of full disclosure. I always struggle with the subjective-objective conundrum when trying to review something. Should I go with the gut or the more analytical approach? You get the idea.

Hence the problem here. I just wasn't much into where Tremblay was going in these stories. The second half of the collection grabbed me more than the first part. There seemed to be more character involved. However, these are really good stories. Really, really good stories that reminded me of Shirley and Ligotti.

So I gave it four stars. Definitely not just a three star collection but I held back from five because, like I said, I just wasn't that into it and it didn't grab me real hard and fast. I can understand where some people are going to give this five stars. Fair enough.

I always end up talking more about myself than the damned book. Gotta stop that. ( )

Damn, this collection is disturbing.

Tremblay--who is quickly climbing my list of favourite authors--serves up a series of bleak, dreadful stories. Some, such as the brilliant and terrible opener, The Teacher will grab you by the face and not let go. There are some other standouts, like Growing Things, the twisted There's No Light Between the Floors, and my personal favourite, It's Against The Law To Feed The Ducks that blew my mind.

Of course, like any anthology, there were others that simply didn't work as well, but that's also a tall order going up against the stories above.

An excellent collection, but one to be read a story at a time, with some reflection time in between. These stories will disturb you. In a good way. ( )

Daddy's coming home
stash some teeth in your pocket
the spiders won't mind. ( )