I was excited when I found a collection of short horror stories by Peter Straub called Houses Without Doors. This was the perfect way to take a reading break from The Earthsea Quartet, which, while beautiful, was growing tiresome. Or maybe I'm lacking the ability to focus right … wha? What was I talking about?"Blue Rose" was riveting, and horrifying. I already said this, people: Don't let someone hypnotize you. Especially not your sick fuck of an older brother who delights in hurting you. Seems obvious, right?
"The Juniper Tree" is a different story. I had a sinking feeling as I guessed the trajectory of the plot, although I truly wasn't expecting things to go on as they did with "Jimmy." I thought, "He's going to murder him," or "Bet something supernatural will intervene." I know, I know, this is HORROR. Fine. It doesn't have to be something supernatural and good. I so would have taken Satan as an unlikely anti-hero. Damn it, Satan! Can you please claim this creep-o? Drag him to the pits of Hell? But no.
This is a very realistic, very detailed story about pedophilia, exploring the confusion and horror felt by the victim, and then, cooperation, if not acceptance. Followed by the lasting affects into adulthood. There's no rescuer. There's no retribution. No salvation. No … nothing. I feel dirty just thinking about it.
Sorry, Straub. As disgusting and revolting as this is, I do not consider this horror. This is filth. I realize this was written a number of years ago, in a different social climate, but as an adult and a parent and a human fucking being, no thank you. I'm done.
Maybe I'm overreacting. I've read a number of reviews of this book on Amazon and Goodreads, and no one seems as put off as myself. I don't care, though. I wouldn't recommend this book, at least that story, to anyone.
Goodreads: DNF
J. L. Dodd
No comments:
Post a Comment