TITLE: Faces of Fear
AUTHOR: John Saul
DATE: August 2008
GENRE: Horror
RATING: 2 stars
Wow! this will be my second two star rating this week. I seem to be on a very unlucky book streak.
I have read each and every one of John Saul's books. Actually, I remember, very clearly, reading them as a teenager and how scared they use to make me.
So, John, I ask you! where is the fear? where is the horror? where is the good writing?????
I have read each and every one of John Saul's books. Actually, I remember, very clearly, reading them as a teenager and how scared they use to make me.
So, John, I ask you! where is the fear? where is the horror? where is the good writing?????
Faces of Fear starts off very slowly - Saul introduces us to a bunch of characters and it takes forever to figure out how they will all eventually manage to merge into a cohesive storyline. We are introduced to our main characters, Risa the mom, Alisson the daughter, Conrad the doctor (you can already see where this is going) and Margot, Conrad's beautiful wife - who is Conrad's masterpiece, after all he is the best plastic surgeon around!
Saul likes to involve young adults into his storyline and this is no exception. I have no problem with this, but I have to say that usually his young adults are just more with 'it' than Alisson seems to be, which, to me, makes her a weak and somewhat boring character. Risa seems like she floats around her life - constantly searching for something and Conrad simply thinks he is god's gift to the world.
This novel is set in the world of the rich so we get lots of descriptions of beautiful mansions and private schools. I wish the characters had been as detailed as the descriptions of the mansion.
But, I could have gotten past all of that IF this storyline was in the least scary, suspenseful or engaging. By page 40, when no action was evident, I started counting how many pages I had left to read (always a bad sign for me). There is no suspenseful build up here, there is not dark, scary places (read Manhattan Hunt Club for a good example of how good a story Saul can write). In the end it ends up being a Frankenstein storyline - boring and totally predictable.
This book is slow, slow, slow and boring!
I am sorry to have to write this poor review - I know that each author pours their heart into their novels, but this book is just boring beyond belief.
This book is slow, slow, slow and boring!
I am sorry to have to write this poor review - I know that each author pours their heart into their novels, but this book is just boring beyond belief.
I am grateful that I got this one at the library.
2 comments:
Saul's books used to creep me out when I was younger also, but honestly I haven't enjoyed the last 4 or 5 books he has written.
Thanks for the honest review of John Sauls book. I recieved an email from him today singing the praises of his book. I haven't read any of his books in a few years but was almost tempted to buy this one. I think I will take a pass. Great review.
Kathy
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