Here it is, my first review. Aren't you all excited?
I chose Come Closer, by Sara Gran, as my first review because it was my most recent read. Actually, I read it in about 2 hours last night. The book came highly recommended by two brilliant book bloggers. So, naturally, I was excited to start this book.
I was pulled in immediately by Gran's forthright, almost clipped language. There was nothing unneccessary in the story. No subplots. No pretty prose. It went from Point A to Point B in a scant 192 pages. I found it refreshing.
The story itself was suspenseful, psychological. Was the main character, Amanda, losing her mind? Or was she, in fact, slowly being possessed by a demon? What is that tapping she hears? Why is she losing hours out of the day?
Amanda's story was sad and deeply horrifying. I found myself fearing for her, hoping for a happy ending. Don't read this book if you're looking for a happy ending. Read it if you want to be creeped out, and if you don't mind saying your prayers before bed.
I felt only a mild let-down when I finished the book. It's been years since I've been truly scared after reading a book (Gerald's Game, for instance. *shudders*), and based on the others' reviews, I had expected to be genuinely freaked out after reading it. I wasn't. It wasn't until later on in bed, when all the lights were out and the tapping started, that I truly became terrified. That's when the story's horror began to sink in. Lucky for me, I realized it was just my new box fan that was causing my bulletin board to tap against the door.
Whether you believe in demons and evil or not, Come Closer entertains. You'll only regret reading it after the lights go out. I give this stripped-down, bare bones horror story 4 stars.
