Rating: Summary: Don't Believe the Reviews on the Cover! Review: After a promising first hundred pages, "The Uncanny" degenerates into a utter waste of time. The characters are both one-dimensional and underwritten. The only suspense this book generated what whether or not I would burn it before I finished reading it. Do yourself a favor, do not go anywhere near this book!
Rating: Summary: another uncanny Klavan Review: Andrew Klavan has, for some years, been writing some of the best genrefiction around. His True Crime was atour de force of suspense. He followed that up with Agnes Mallory(published only in England thus far)which was a lovely book, and now hegives us The Uncanny. As usual, it'swell written with terrific charactersand dialogue. And the ghost storiesare truly atmospheric and creepy. Thebook's invention never flags. If you're a fan of Klavan you'll enjoythis thoroughly. If you're not a fan, this book may convert you.
Rating: Summary: A Pale Ghost Review: Andrew Klavan is a talented writer who has given us two really exceptional books: "True Crime" and "The Animal Hour." In those books, Klavan created characters and situations that were complex, puzzling, interesting, and original. With "The Uncanny," Klavan attempts to revamp the traditional ghost story by setting it in modern times and giving us "hip" characters like Richard Storm and Sophia Eberling. Somehow, for me, it just didn't work. The setting at the "Bizarre" magazine was novel, but not all that interesting. The ghost story itself was lame and poorly conceived. Although the book has flashes of brilliance, they are far too few, and overall, you're left with a rather unsatisfying ghost story. Read Peter Straub's "Ghost Story" for better chills!Michael Butts
Rating: Summary: A Pale Ghost Review: Andrew Klavan is a talented writer who has given us two really exceptional books: "True Crime" and "The Animal Hour." In those books, Klavan created characters and situations that were complex, puzzling, interesting, and original. With "The Uncanny," Klavan attempts to revamp the traditional ghost story by setting it in modern times and giving us "hip" characters like Richard Storm and Sophia Eberling. Somehow, for me, it just didn't work. The setting at the "Bizarre" magazine was novel, but not all that interesting. The ghost story itself was lame and poorly conceived. Although the book has flashes of brilliance, they are far too few, and overall, you're left with a rather unsatisfying ghost story. Read Peter Straub's "Ghost Story" for better chills! Michael Butts
Rating: Summary: A Pale Ghost Review: Andrew Klavan is a talented writer who has given us two really exceptional books: "True Crime" and "The Animal Hour." In those books, Klavan created characters and situations that were complex, puzzling, interesting, and original. With "The Uncanny," Klavan attempts to revamp the traditional ghost story by setting it in modern times and giving us "hip" characters like Richard Storm and Sophia Eberling. Somehow, for me, it just didn't work. The setting at the "Bizarre" magazine was novel, but not all that interesting. The ghost story itself was lame and poorly conceived. Although the book has flashes of brilliance, they are far too few, and overall, you're left with a rather unsatisfying ghost story. Read Peter Straub's "Ghost Story" for better chills! Michael Butts
Rating: Summary: An intellegent,well crafted, journey. Review: as an avid and discerning reader I have to rank this as a far cut above . Well paced and smart in plot, I was held firmly in tow to the end. The book , it's characters, came alive before me. As with any GOOD book it's major flaw was in leaving me wanting more. Mr. Klavan please disregard any other areas of interest and and correct this problem.
Rating: Summary: Like the cover praise states: "An upscale X-Files." Review: Good story, characters and development. Somewhat of a stretch to believe though, and while not the greatest read, an entertaining plot that reads like a TV movie of the week.
Rating: Summary: Ultimately, Who Cares? Review: I finished "The Uncanny" last night. After a promising start the book became long, mysterious (not in a good way), muddled, and boring. Although there were flashes of good descriptive writing, I didn't feel that the story held together. The characters were vague and uninteresting people. And no final, acceptable explanation of the "why" behind the mystery emerged. Who was Iago? How/why did Storm's movie create him? How did he react when the triptych burned?? Who--or what--was "the Uncanny?" I was left feeling like I'd walked into a private conversation and was never included in what was going on, and ultimately I grew tired of reading and didn't care. Klavan needs to be a little less mysterious in future efforts to hold me as a reader.
Rating: Summary: Is this the same guy who wrote "True Crime"? Review: I finished "The Uncanny" last night. After a promising start the book became long, mysterious (not in a good way), muddled, and boring. Although there were flashes of good descriptive writing, I didn't feel that the story held together. The characters were vague and uninteresting people. And no final, acceptable explanation of the "why" behind the mystery emerged. Who was Iago? How/why did Storm's movie create him? How did he react when the triptych burned?? Who--or what--was "the Uncanny?" I was left feeling like I'd walked into a private conversation and was never included in what was going on, and ultimately I grew tired of reading and didn't care. Klavan needs to be a little less mysterious in future efforts to hold me as a reader.
Rating: Summary: Ultimately, Who Cares? Review: I finished "The Uncanny" last night. After a promising start the book became long, mysterious (not in a good way), muddled, and boring. Although there were flashes of good descriptive writing, I didn't feel that the story held together. The characters were vague and uninteresting people. And no final, acceptable explanation of the "why" behind the mystery emerged. Who was Iago? How/why did Storm's movie create him? How did he react when the triptych burned?? Who--or what--was "the Uncanny?" I was left feeling like I'd walked into a private conversation and was never included in what was going on, and ultimately I grew tired of reading and didn't care. Klavan needs to be a little less mysterious in future efforts to hold me as a reader.
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