Shadowland

Rating:
Summary: High-end horror
Review: Shadowland, by Peter Straub, is a piece of really excellent high-end horror. The book begins in a private prep school for boys. In this school, Del and Tom, two freshmen boys fascinated by magic, find each other and form a strong friendship. Together, they learn card tricks, try to figure out why the whole school is having nightmares, dodge the crazy headmaster of the school, and do the sort of pal-around that only boys of a certain age can do. Their school year culminates with a big talent show in which Del and Tom plan to perform a magical exhibition. Circumstances in the story keep this from happening and the boys retire for the summer to the estate of Del's uncle, Shadowland.

Del's uncle is a half-crazy, alcoholic, retired magician. He sets about teaching the boys magic. His magic, though, consists of more than tricking the eye with a slight of hand. At Shadowland, nothing is as it seems. An hour can feel like all day. The sun can set at 11am. You can find yourself suddenly half-way across a continent, just to find that you haven't moved from your spot at all. There are others living at Shadowland that are unseen, and whose existence is denied. There are rules that are made in the hopes of being broken. As Del's uncle spends the summer recounting his life, in all it's horror, to the boys Tom realizes that the horror is only starting. As he sees things that can't be real, but are, and he sees the immediate horrors being committed at Shadowland, Tom realizes that he has to leave, and Del must come with him. Unfortunately, for Tom and Del, Uncle Collins has realized something about Tom that even Tom doesn't yet know - and he wants it for himself.

In Shadowland, Peter Straub has written a brilliant piece of fiction. There are plots, subplots, and subplots within those. Nothing in this book is without purpose to the story. Straub's writing, which has a definite British bent, despite the story being set in the United States, is very literary and rich. More complex than Stephen King, Straub is still very readable, especially to those who like a thicker story. No one who enjoys literary horror will be disappointed for having read this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book of Magic and Mystery
Review: Peter Straub has been called the thinking man's Stephen King. I think that he is the thinking man's Peter Straub. Mr. Straub has once again written a novel that has a plot too complicated to sumerize, but is an incredible work to read. Like his two best books, GHOST STORY and KOKO, SHADOWLAND is filled with interesting and very realistic characters. Like his other books SHADOWLAND at first seems utterly confusing, but by the end everything comes together in ways that will amaze and delite.

Rating:
Summary: Before Harry Potter there was...
Review: This was a favorite book of mine when it came out (I was in junior high when it came out in paperback the first time). It is creepy, full of magic & menace, and quite well written. (As an adult, I did notice a glaring point of view problem in the first part of the book--see if you can find it). It's the story of two boys who become friends at a private school amidst strange goings on. They spend the summer together in New Hampshire with the uncle of one of the boys who happens to be the world's greatest (sinister) magician. This is one of Straub's best to date and probably one of his two or three least known books. Give it a try!

Rating:
Summary: TOO MANY SHADOWS
Review: "Shadowland" is two stories in one book. The first is set in a strict prep school, the second is set in the confined house of a madman. Though this book had strong imagery and allegory, I found the story to be too complex. Straub tried to tackle too many issues at once and just barely scraped by. The characters are developed well, but I was unable to grasp the emotion of the love between Tom and the mysterious "Rose." If you'd like to read a book with a well-written love affair that is also black with horror I recommend reading "Wizard and Glass" by Stephen King. Overall, I found Shadowland to be too long, and the ending is unsatisfying and abrupt.

Rating:
Summary: FLAWLESS
Review: Rates in my top five all-time favorite books. This one delivers it all. Caught somewhere between a fever dream and the cool, longing whisper of a childhood memory, this book does what so few can: creates a narrative that is truly unique. As a film director, I have watched and read--"absorbed"--so many stories, that it is impossible not to see lazy "cookie-cutter" storytelling in almost everything. How often have I picked up a book or watched a movie with an interesting premise only to find that it is just like every other book or movie. Not so with Shadowland, which kept me forever off balance--but not enough to lose me. I was lost and riveted at the same time.

With absolute precision, Straub brings to life the adolescent's journey into manhood; how even everyday life can be a wonderous, terrifying mystery. By reframing this subtext within the confines of Shadowland itself--the magician's mansion--Straub creates a level of uncertainty and terror that you will feel lingering with you long after you've closed the book.

I can't imagine that this book will suit everyone's taste; but for anyone who likes their fiction to remain elusive, revealing, suprising, this is a book that will haunt you for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Easily the deepest book I have ever read
Review: I have been reading since a young age, and this is quite simply my favorite book. Some books tend to meander all over the place; others tend to load up on the details to try and fill out a sparse story wihch would be better off a short story. Not so with Shadowland, a truly monumental literary accomplishment which is completely under-rated. The massive amount of details in the story help to bring the story to life, to bring the reader closer into the story.

Shadowland is not for everyone. But if you are on the same wavelength as the story you will find what is easily the finest piece of writing in existance. The magnitude and depth of the story, the only other books I can think of comparing would be Tarot by Piers Anthony or the Dark Tower series by Stephen King; IF he gets the totally extraneous side plotline books out of the way!

It is a true shame that Straub's other works get more attention, I consider Shadowland to be his absolute finest masterpiece. This book really does belong to the ages.

Rating:
Summary: Before Harry Potter there was...
Review: This was a favorite book of mine when it came out (I was in junior high when it came out in paperback the first time). It is creepy, full of magic & menace, and quite well written. (As an adult, I did notice a glaring point of view problem in the first part of the book--see if you can find it). It's the story of two boys who become friends at a private school amidst strange goings on. They spend the summer together in New Hampshire with the uncle of one of the boys who happens to be the world's greatest (sinister) magician. This is one of Straub's best to date and probably one of his two or three least known books. Give it a try!

Rating:
Summary: Scariest book I ever read
Review: This got me started on Peter Straub. I read Ghost Story, Koko, Mystery, and If you could see me now all because of Shadowland. I could not put this book down. It is easily the most unsettling book I have ever read and I don't think Straub has reached this level of intensity ever again.

Rating:
Summary: Shadowland...
Review: I read this book in high school and had no trouble understanding it. Those reviewers who suggest a Stephen King novel over Shadowland obviously have problems with stories that have depth and plots that you are not smacked in the face with.

This is an amazing story about friendship, and leaving your childhood behind. It made me laugh, cry and streched my imagination in the most wonderful of ways.

So far though, no one has mentioned poor Skeleton Ridpath who I remember feeling sorry for...Guess I've got to re-read this and perhaps I'll feel differently.

Fans of Clive Barker will definitely enjoy Shadowland, Ghost Story and Julia

Rating:
Summary: Good writing to get lost in
Review: If you are a fan of Stephen King or J.K. Rowling and have read all their stuff too many times, this is a fair substitute. The plot isn't as strong as it could be, but sometimes, you just gotta read for the writing. And Peter Straub has a pretty good imagination.