Nightshade

Rating:
Summary: good reading
Review: This was a good reading. John Saul always grabs your attention right from the very beginning of his books.
Matt is a normal teenager who has a lot going for himself. Hes popular has a girlfriend and his mother joan and stepfather bill love him dearly. Then his grandmother moves in after a fire. She insists on decorating the room next to hers as a memorial to her daughter cynthia who died over ten years ago. Him and his mother then start to feel the presence of his aunt cynthia in the house and his life is turned upside down. After an accident with his stepfather every one turns against him. Things get worse after his grandmother and girlfriend go missing to. Matt keeps having blackouts and losing track of time...could he have possibly done the things he was accused of?
Though the book was kind of predictable, it was good. This book will have you on the edge of your seat. I started reading friday night was finished saturday afternoon. Its fast paced and doesnt lag at all. I never look for a happy ending when reading john saul, so i wasnt surprised with all that happened. The only thing i wanted was to know exactly what happened between joan and her father. Was it really how her mom said or was it just a figment of her imagination. Also i was disappointed with the way that cynthia died. After all the trouble she's caused joan growing up i was just waiting to read how joan gave it to her. But no it wasnt what i expected. Poor becky though and her mother got EXACTLY what she deserved. And i agree with cynthia. After everything her mother did to joan she still managed to love her.
But pick up the book and you wont be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Easy read, kept me interested
Review: This was my first John Saul novel. I had read reviews on some of his books and after finishing the book I agree on many things. John Saul doesn't twirl and shape the words in endless paragraph that extend the book another 100 pages like Dean Koontz. Nor does he create a personal story for most of the characters like some of my favorite St. King's. The writing works most of all to keep the story moving forward, sometimes a little too quick. Now I'm not saying this bothers me that much. In the specific case of Nightshade I found the first few chapters really great as Saul tells the story of this old woman with Alzheimer disease and in some parts did really touch me (like when he relates how Emily began forgetting everybody little by little till everyone seemed to be a stranger). However the book later focuses on the teenager Matt whose life just shatters after a terrible accident. Everything that comes next just seems to make Matt's situation worse and there is not the slightest hint of things getting better. In my opinion this is what's wrong with this book because in the end (I'm not gonna tell it dont worry) things kind of fix too fast, too conviniently. Still it was an easy read, nice to engage with for a couple of nights. Some graphic gorish details.

Rating:
Summary: It is dull, dark and depress...if this what you like.
Review: When I read the first 100 pages, I thought: What's wrong with all the negative review? It's a easy read,keep me turn every pages and read till I couldn't open my eyes at late night...
So it's good then, yes. And when I got this book, I first thought it's a haunted house or something about haunted. But then, when things started to happened, when Matt's dad killed...
I found out this is not a haunted story but a very depress, dark mentally murder story. At least I don't get the chill, scary feeling but I don't feel well at my stomach and not comfortable when I read it along. When all the detail, killing part, how they struggle for life...made me feel like them. So Mr.Saul wrote a good honor story then, yes. It effect reader, which they will experience the darkest things that they don't want to happen in their life. But for me, I am a haunted, ghost story fan but I have a weak stomach for murder, crime story that I always try to avoid. So this is an accident that I read this book, It made my weekend depress and I have that dull dark feeling in me when I think of going back to it. So I am not sure if I will read till the end. But If you really love murder or blood, killing story then you will love this for sure. Mr.Saul has a unique perspective of darkness for human mind.
I gave 3 stars, cause it is really a page turner and good write.
But for the story and idea, you be the judge.
If reader that can just read the story and can't affect from it at all...maybe you will read. But for those who's sensitive, I would say think twice before you read it. It effect your mind.