Customer Reviews

Doomed to Repeat It

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wonderful book. Goldberg's story is well-written, mature, intelligent, and suspenseful. "Doomed to Repeat It" is a modern ghost story, that is free of cliches. You cannot guess where it is going, which makes the journey all that much better. Layla is a flawed character, yet still one easy to identify with. You feel her pain and her fears. My only regret is that there aren't more Goldberg books.

In Charlotte, North Carolina Layla MacDonald hates her job as a receptionist clerk and also struggles with her personal relationships, recently breaking up with her boyfriend after he hit her. She cannot turn to her murdered mother killed by her lover's angry wife fourteen years ago or her drunk of a father. Her only solace lies with her best friend Matt who is more like a younger brother than a friend and the two Jasons.

Over the years Layla has sensed her mother as if she was near by, but has always written that off as wishful thinking. However, this time she does not just sense an otherworldly essence but she sees the ghost of Ian MacGregor is in her room. Ian insists he has "lived" three centuries looking for vengeance, but feels an obligation to keep his stunned hostess safe. Suddenly, death surrounds Layla because Ian, using eighteenth century logic and ire, begins eliminating anyone who causes harm to her, which makes her the police's prime suspect.

Though DOOMED TO REPEAT takes a bit too long to accelerate, once the story line shifts into a supernatural gothic crime thriller, the plot becomes worth the wait as it never slows down until the final climax. Much of the book provides insight into Layla's character and what has environmentally nurtured it. The first half of the plot also hints at the motives of other players but mostly through their interaction and behavior towards the lead protagonist or filtered by Layla including Ian who yields an anachronistic brand of justice. Fans of a character driven otherworldly crime drama will want to read D.G.K. Goldberg's strange chiller.

Harriet Klausner

I read "Skating on the Edge" first and then "Doomed to Repeat it" and the two books are so different I can't believe the same person wrote them both. Doomed had drama, intrigue, mystery, love, ghosts, etc... even a little erotica. Being familiar with Charlotte as I read the book I visualize all the places that are talked about. D.G.K. Goldberg's writing has a way of getting in your head so that even when you are not reading the book the book is running through your head. I find myself thinking like the characters do in her book. Few writers can cause you to do that.

Punk cowgirl Layla has had a hard life with her mother's murder and her father's drinking, so when she meets Ian the ghost, who becomes her soulmate and friend, it only seems another step in her confused, torn life. Goldberg creates an intriguing plot packed with very unusual characters and circumstances.

I just could not get into this book. It is not that it was bad, it just did not do "it" for me. The main character was just flat out annoying. Yea yea, that sounds mean but I could not connect with her on any level. She was a victim's victim that just seemed to be looking for more punishment. However, I don't discourage the reading of this book. It was not lack of quality, plot or editing that I did not like, it just was not my cup-o-tea.

This is the story of Layla: a chain-smoking, lazy, self-educated, loyal, very real character. The story has been outlined in the other reviews, so I'll skip that.

I found the character of Layla to be oft-times annoying. I wanted to yell at her - just DO something. Yet, as I got to know the character, the position she was in was more and more understandable. She's a pretty strong chick.

There are great gothic qualities to this story, but the only romance, really, is between other characters in the book. The story is so rich, and the characters are fantastic.

One thing that let me down was the ending. I really didn't understand it at all. But it didn't really matter. It was such a fun ride.

(*)>

This was one of the most enjoyable and original horror novels I have ever read. Scratch that - one of the most enjoyable books period. I am anxious for the next novel by this author.