One of the darkest books I have come across

It was discussed in paperbacks from hell and I figured I should read/listen to it as it’s is discussed like a kind of rite of passage for horror fans of a certain vintage before mine. The book was published in 74 and could not be have written in another decade it is a clear blueprint or precursor to kerchum’s girl next door but if it is possible to be a more sleazy unpleasant version of it. It is not a pleasure to enjoy more an endurance of an ordeal, but worth the time if you are of such a mind set.

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Hard to praise, hard to hate

Let's Go Play At the Adams has a reputation. It's the sort of book you hear stories about people burning after reading. This isn't something light and fun like Stephen King or James Herbert. It's not even comparable to splattergore stuff or "literary" dark fiction like Palahniuk or Welsh. This is book that looks straight into the eyes of evil and reality of suffering with no shock gore or glib satire to lessen the impact. It's pain. Pure and simple.
But it's not like there's no story. The story and characters are given serious focus. They are given dimension and variation. It wants to draw you into it's world. Where other books would go into as much detail as possible, making the cruelty near pornographic, this book steps back. Focusing on the characters as people, rather than dragging the misery out forever. It ends up making the book more awful in the end, because you do really pay attention to each new development in the plot wanting to see where it will go next.

Is this praise, or a warning? I don't know. It is clearly well put together on a technical level. But I can't imagine wanting to read it again. I feel like giving it a good or bad rating is a bit of of a distraction. It's not a "Good" book or a "Bad" book. Just a brutal one. And odds are you already know if you want to read a brutal book or not. But I'm leaning towards the positive in the rating, because this is not a sloppy or lazy book. No cheap shocks or trite prose. It's expertly put together. But even if you go for it, you might only read it once.

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Wow

A true classic, turmoil and suspense, a brilliant performance that keeps you hanging on every word

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Disturbing yet compelling

This is truly a disturbing story of the lost innocence of youth and the cruel nature of human kind. While I found it difficult to listen to (on audio book) I was compelled by the complex emotions that are casually strewn throughout the whole book. I can’t imagine anyone reading or listening to this story and not walking away at the end with it sitting uncomfortably in the back of their minds. Because what it boils down in the end is do we ever really know what anyone is capable of, and that’s a terrifying thought. The story itself is well told, fast paced and in a weird way hard to put down (or in this case pause) because although it’s subject matter is so unfathomable, it’s narrative is utterly believable and the need to know how it’s going to end out weighs the disgust and bitterness it leaves in you mind. Which I assume was the writer’s intention, so I think it’s fair to say mission accomplished. This will stay with me for a very long time, somewhere in the recess of my mind. You can’t say that of many books.

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know what you getting in for

Ok yes this is dark and alot of people won't handle or like it but if you know what your getting and by the front cover and a little description you should get the idea .
A group of children in prison and torture there baby sitter over a week gradually getting more and more sadistic.
I thought it was really well done .
The darkness of human behaviour explored and the curiosity and innocents of the children come through as they commit horrible acts .
It was well written and held my attention and kept me glued to it .
The righter apparently only got this book published but wrote a few more all of what were passed by by publishers and then he died a few years after ,
I would be interested what his other books were and if they were as dark .

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The product of a disturbed mind

I first came across the book years ago... I only read part of it, meaning to finish it later. However, the book went missing and I couldn't find a replacement. I looked on and off over the years but I came to be under the impression that it had been banned. Eventually, just out of interest I searched on Kindle and saw there was an audible version so I downloaded it. I regret having done so! I should have left this novel where it was, in my distant memory. It is one of the most disturbing things I have ever listened to. I've done Dracula, most of Lovecraft, Poe, Dunsany and been satisfyingly shocked. I've even read The Execution of Damiens and seen films like Eden Lake and The Last House on the Left but NEVER have I been so sickened by this exercise in twisted writing. Mendal Johnson is a SADIST by proxy.

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Heartbreaking. Well read

Tamer version of Jack ketchum girl next door. Great story but very sad.
Really well read.

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That ending!?!?!?! Wowza

This was a great (but hard) listen. I'm immune to most stuff. Not much gets to me. But that ending. I felt like I could see and feel through Barbara.
Children tie up and torture their babysitter while their parents are out of town. Sounds like something that could happen in real life. It felt so real. That's a sign of a great book

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Very slow and ever vallina

Going off other reviews I really thought I'd be in for a treat with this one. But clearly my taste in books is far darker than the average thrill seaker. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't good either. Incredibly slow. And at times I found myself loosing track because there were pages and pages filled with noise and nothing more. This story could have been told in half the time. As for the parts of the books people found hard to listen to.. Honestly it's was very PG. Over all just disappointed.

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wasn't that bad don't know what the hype is about

only gd thing was Matt narrative top notch again !!! boring book tho was dissapointed badly ,onto the next I guess .......return plz !!!

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4 people found this helpful