The Girl Next Door
7 journalers for this copy...
Two girls, Meg and Susan, move next door to David to stay with their aunt Ruth. David and his mates think Ruth is great, but she has very specific ideas of how a girl should behave and is willing to go quite far to enforce that behavior on Meg.
This book is seriously creepy and disturbing. The increasing intensity creates a believable picture of how normal people can too easily become monsters. I just had to put this one down from time to time to avoid getting too deeply sucked into the world. But if you can handle it, this is well worth the read.
This book is seriously creepy and disturbing. The increasing intensity creates a believable picture of how normal people can too easily become monsters. I just had to put this one down from time to time to avoid getting too deeply sucked into the world. But if you can handle it, this is well worth the read.
Like a magpie, I always end up picking books with brand new & shiny covers at meets. This clearly falls into that group, plus it was decorated with a fascinating picture of a tree that seems totally out of proportion. At first it seemed like children's lit, but at a closer look, I don't think blurb words such as crippled, madness and torturous deaths appeal to particularly young readers (unless they have a sick taste for horror from the start, of course)!
Being a responsible grown-up, I'll give it a try.
Being a responsible grown-up, I'll give it a try.
Oh, man.
What can you say about this? What is there to be said?
I don't know where these things come from or where they are going. I guess nobody does. It's beyond any description. What is worse, it's the real world out there. Only the names have changed. We might as well be talking about the Gertrude Baniszewski (& co.) vs. Sylvia Likens case. Or who even knows how many others and how often, since there seems to be no end to the evil that (wo)men do.
You can easily skip parts in this book. You probably even should, because devouring all the details will hardly do anyone any good. Why are people always so keen on knowing, anyway? Does knowing really make one bit of difference..?
If this fascinated you, try watching a version of Haneke's Funny Games or An American Crime. At least they'll help you find out where you stand when it comes to witnessing violent madness.
What can you say about this? What is there to be said?
I don't know where these things come from or where they are going. I guess nobody does. It's beyond any description. What is worse, it's the real world out there. Only the names have changed. We might as well be talking about the Gertrude Baniszewski (& co.) vs. Sylvia Likens case. Or who even knows how many others and how often, since there seems to be no end to the evil that (wo)men do.
You can easily skip parts in this book. You probably even should, because devouring all the details will hardly do anyone any good. Why are people always so keen on knowing, anyway? Does knowing really make one bit of difference..?
If this fascinated you, try watching a version of Haneke's Funny Games or An American Crime. At least they'll help you find out where you stand when it comes to witnessing violent madness.
Journal Entry 4 by LaPitchoune at Ravintola Kaisaniemi in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, June 9, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/10/2008 UTC) at Ravintola Kaisaniemi in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Somebody take this. I don't want it lying around in my house...
Somebody take this. I don't want it lying around in my house...
Journal Entry 5 by lottuli from Pieksämäki, Etelä-Savo / Södra Savolax Finland on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Miitti olikin sitten mokoman yksityistilaisuuden vuoksi Cafe Caisassa.
Tämä oli ainoa mukaani ottama kirja, toivottavasti luen pian, vaikuttaa ihanan karmivalle.
Tämä oli ainoa mukaani ottama kirja, toivottavasti luen pian, vaikuttaa ihanan karmivalle.
My previous comment was that this book seems "lovely horrible"... I like good horror stories every now and then, but this book actually made me feel sick at times, no way I could have read in in one sitting, I guess it took my well over month to read the whole book.
This book can also make you think, the neighbours or even the police did not take seriously what this little girl was saying and the end was sad. Maybe reading this might give courage you to take action, if someone in your neighbourhood asks for help.
I'm not releasing this to wild, I can't figure out spot, where it would never go to hands, that can't take this story.
This book can also make you think, the neighbours or even the police did not take seriously what this little girl was saying and the end was sad. Maybe reading this might give courage you to take action, if someone in your neighbourhood asks for help.
I'm not releasing this to wild, I can't figure out spot, where it would never go to hands, that can't take this story.
I read parts of the book on the train and I think I can't take much more. The story contains too much evil. I don't like to read horror stories - fiction or non-fiction.
I'll take the book to the PKS meet-up. If somebody takes it - good! If nobody does I'll take the book to Kamppi.
I'll take the book to the PKS meet-up. If somebody takes it - good! If nobody does I'll take the book to Kamppi.
Oh, wow. I surprised myself picking this up and grabbing it till the end of the meetup, so the book is now with me... What was I thinking? Did somebody put something to my orangejuice? I remember this from our earlier meetups, some brave bookcrossers have already read this, it seems it's now my turn to feel sick and be scared. Looking forward to it...
I actually read it. Some pretty sick stuff. And the most disturbing thing is that the book is based on a true story. How dark and empty mind one has.
This one arrived today. Thanks Niksu! Glad it's out of your house? Sounds very gruesome. We'll see! Expecting the worst.
I've read parts if this book, but I don't think I want to read anymore. The great lines are clear to me. It's horrible enough. And since I have a daughter, I can't take such sadness anymore.
I already have a new reader, chucklesthescot, who asked for more Jack Ketchum books on the forum.
I already have a new reader, chucklesthescot, who asked for more Jack Ketchum books on the forum.
Traveling to chucklesthescot as she wished to read more of Jack Ketchums books. I hope you'll enjoy this one too!
Thank you so much for sending this book my way! I really appreciate it. If I can ever help you with anything, don't hesitate to ask x
Journal Entry 15 by Chucklesthescot at Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, February 9, 2013
My dad has read this one and he loved it. He liked the way the story was constructed and despite the disturbing nature of the plot, he liked this as a well written horror story. I hope to be reading it as well soon.
Journal Entry 16 by Chucklesthescot at Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, October 29, 2016
The actual book was well written and features the kind of torture and humiliation that you expect with Jack Ketchum. But I could have strangled the MC for just sitting back and allowing all this abuse to happen to the girls, even lying to his parents and police when reports of the abuse first surface. I hated the little snot nose! Decent enough read but not Ketchum's best book.