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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
This wasn't really horror so much as weird slightly poorly written magical realism stories that happened to revolve around death. The first story was really the only one that came close to "horror" in that it was vaguely unsettling in an uncomfortable way, but that's it. The best story was The Ex Box, not that it was in the slightest bit related to horror, but because it didn't go where I was expecting it to and it was an intriguing take on vampires. I'd read a whole novel about a morally grey human girl and a vampire falling in love and doing Bonnie and Clyde shit together
This is a creepy collection of fast paced short stories that mostly center around revenge or murder. The tales reminded me of the quick and spooky stories that Alvin Schwartz made popular when I was a kid, with the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series.
There is not much character development or descriptive language to help paint a picture of the narrative. The text is mostly used to move the plot quickly along to some sort of twist ending. You can almost picture a pre-teen narrating these stories at a sleepover full of friends.
Despite the cleaver warning at the beginning, this book is probably best suited for middle or reluctant high school readers. Most young adults will find the stories too predictable. I would recommend this book for middle school students that are ready to graduate from series like Goosebumps and American Chillers and perhaps want something a little darker to read. I have not read any of Lumbar's other books, but I imagine his fans will also enjoy this collection. Overall, nice collection of scary stories!
I received an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
There is not much character development or descriptive language to help paint a picture of the narrative. The text is mostly used to move the plot quickly along to some sort of twist ending. You can almost picture a pre-teen narrating these stories at a sleepover full of friends.
Despite the cleaver warning at the beginning, this book is probably best suited for middle or reluctant high school readers. Most young adults will find the stories too predictable. I would recommend this book for middle school students that are ready to graduate from series like Goosebumps and American Chillers and perhaps want something a little darker to read. I have not read any of Lumbar's other books, but I imagine his fans will also enjoy this collection. Overall, nice collection of scary stories!
I received an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
After months of being underwater with various assignments and projects (that's what you get for taking all honors classes), I decided to come up for air and finally read a book that wasn't assigned to me by my teacher. That book ended up being "Extremities".
I was expecting a well-developed collection of horror stories. But what I got was a disappointingly kiddish book of tales. Almost all of the "horror" present was fairly predictable, and to be frank, a bit boring. I was expecting more out of this book than the dull mess I did get.
Yes, there was blood and gore, that wasn't the problem. The issue lay in the fact that all the characters in each of the stories acted most erratically. Whenever they didn't like someone, they felt as if their only option was to kill them. That was the formation of the entire plot. For all of the stories.
Still, that isn't to say that the book was a complete waste. Lubar did have some creative ideas here, but it just seemed as if he was unable to implement it correctly. "Extremities" may not be something to read with a flashlight under the covers, but it is a book enjoyable enough if one has some extra time on their hands and desires a little lightheartedness mixed with some morbidity.
I was expecting a well-developed collection of horror stories. But what I got was a disappointingly kiddish book of tales. Almost all of the "horror" present was fairly predictable, and to be frank, a bit boring. I was expecting more out of this book than the dull mess I did get.
Yes, there was blood and gore, that wasn't the problem. The issue lay in the fact that all the characters in each of the stories acted most erratically. Whenever they didn't like someone, they felt as if their only option was to kill them. That was the formation of the entire plot. For all of the stories.
Still, that isn't to say that the book was a complete waste. Lubar did have some creative ideas here, but it just seemed as if he was unable to implement it correctly. "Extremities" may not be something to read with a flashlight under the covers, but it is a book enjoyable enough if one has some extra time on their hands and desires a little lightheartedness mixed with some morbidity.
This will be a relatively short review because it was a collection of short stories. And I flew through it in about an hour. At work. Hiding in the back of the frame shop so I could steal a few stories in between customers. Holy crap. This book was terrifying.
And not in an "Are-You-Afraid-of-the-Dark-"ghost-terrifying. In a these-are-real-people-who-were-pushed-over-the-edge terrifying. Sure, there were a few paranormal stories, my favorite of which involving a girl who meets a guy and they go on some dates at a diner and she finds out a secret. But it's the last page of each story that makes it the creepiest. It's not the paranormal that's the scary part, it's the last three lines of what they're going to do about it.
I didn't know this going in. And the first story about the girls and their gym teacher blew me away. Wow. My eyes I'm sure were so wide open by the end.
This one comes out in about a month, definitely put it on your radar for nighttime campfire ghost stories. Seriously. They're perfect for them.
And not in an "Are-You-Afraid-of-the-Dark-"ghost-terrifying. In a these-are-real-people-who-were-pushed-over-the-edge terrifying. Sure, there were a few paranormal stories, my favorite of which involving a girl who meets a guy and they go on some dates at a diner and she finds out a secret. But it's the last page of each story that makes it the creepiest. It's not the paranormal that's the scary part, it's the last three lines of what they're going to do about it.
I didn't know this going in. And the first story about the girls and their gym teacher blew me away. Wow. My eyes I'm sure were so wide open by the end.
This one comes out in about a month, definitely put it on your radar for nighttime campfire ghost stories. Seriously. They're perfect for them.
Maybe I was just in the mood for these creepy stories, or that there's a certain sensibility here that I responded to but, well, this collection was so much fun to read! The creepy factor isn't so high that you can't read this late at night (well, for me, anyway, but I have a high tolerance for these things), but it's definitely there. Some of the stories reminded me of urban legends (or vague remakes of, say, The Haunting of Hill House), albeit ones with a little twist that made them uniquely Lubar's.
This was really enjoyable. I read this with my Mom and we're both bummed it's over.
I'm sorry to say I thought this book was a huge disappointment. I read it in one sitting and was just bored. The stories are not scary! They read like they're meant for 4 year olds but there's nothing scary about them. Some of them felt straight up stupid. There was only one that felt
Mildly interesting. I wish I could give this book a 0 because that's what it deserves.
Mildly interesting. I wish I could give this book a 0 because that's what it deserves.
i loved this collection of short stories! deliciously presented and horrifically satisfying. i gorged on these stories and i could not put the book down. well done, mr. lubar! well, done!
This is a group of short stories for individuals who aren't ready to read something heavier and gorier like Stephen King, but are tired of pansy ass kids horror stories as well.
I am usually a fan of horror considering my mother use to read Stephen King to me as a child. I grew up on the horror novels of him and Dean Koontz so while most people might find these stories suspenseful and scary it just wasn't for me as I am use to horror and throughly enjoy the gorier, grittier writing that I am use to.
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I am usually a fan of horror considering my mother use to read Stephen King to me as a child. I grew up on the horror novels of him and Dean Koontz so while most people might find these stories suspenseful and scary it just wasn't for me as I am use to horror and throughly enjoy the gorier, grittier writing that I am use to.
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
