Customer Reviews

Last Things

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Always looking for "new" horror, I read several professional reviews of this and "Ordinary Horror" that all seemed to indicate a possibility that Mr. Searcy might have what I was looking for. I cannot speak for his first book, but "Last Things" was unexpectedly pedantic, and, frankly, boring. I found myself consistently falling asleep every time I sat down to read it.
This is truly unfortunate, because there is some good language in here, and intimations of signs of what could be good psycho-surreal horror, but it never arrived.
The book begins well, though I got the feeling that Mr. Searcy's editor ultimately dropped the ball and let the author meander incessantly. Many of the sentences in this book could not be read without losing one's breath, and the voice of the narrator often clashes violently with the character being followed.
I believe that if you were in just the right mood and just the right kind of person this book might work for you, but it simply didn't for me. Perhaps his first book is better.

If you like horror books and have an open mind I think you will enjoy this book. I liked it very much, it is different from anything else I've ever read.

I'm not easily scared but I was terrified at the imagery presented in this book. The author did a fantastic job evoking moods, images, feelings. Things always leave a bigger impression when they aren't spelled out completely- let the reader fill in the blanks. It was very satisfying and unusual read.

Read this and his first novel, ORDINARY HORROR, and feel unmoved by both.

Both have a "plot" -- ORDINARY HORROR: Man buys strange plant to help prevent rodents from bothing his roses. Then...stuff happens but it's never clear. Then it's over.

LAST THINGS-- chickens and people die/disappear in a small town and an "end of days" church begins and then...stuff happens but it's never clear. Then it's over. Reminded me a bit of Peter Straub's FLOATING DRAGON. But not really!

I wish I could say both books had great and memorable characters -- but neither did. I wish both were so plot driven that I couldn't wait to turn the page. But neither is that compelling.

But I DID finish both books -- that in itself says something since we have so many reasons NOT to finish his books--dreadful pacing, long and uniwielding pacing, many loose ends. However, the reason I finished them was because I was hoping some thing would happen.

I think the problem is his books are being mis-marketed so we come in with an expectation that isn't fulfilled.

No, I won't read anymore books by him but he IS a good writer -- I'm just not clear what he's writing about.

I love this book, but I can understand how others might not like it. I am re-reading it for about the 5th time right now and I am still not really sure what is going on in a lot of the book. A good reason to read it again! If you are more into books that set a mood, you will like this. If you need something to actually happen, you may be disappointed. It is very subtle and beautiful.

On the plus side, I was intrigued with a couple of the characters. Some of the dialogue is very realistic. On the minus side, the story was (I suspect) intentionally confusing, belabored, and therefore, for the most part, pointless. Scenes began with no sense of place or person; descriptions and musings frequently interrupted the action to the point that I could not hold onto the threads and had to go back and try to pick them up again. The ending offered little reward. What was trapped? I made it this far through this book and still, what or who was trapped? PW suggests that lovers of "high end horror" will enjoy this. Does horror have to be at once both vague and excruciatingly detailed to allow it the title of "high end"? Does it have to be inaccessible to make it literary? I think Searcy has some talent with words and phrases; now he needs to fashion a coherent story with his huge imagination.

The author artfully draws us in with glimpses of gruesome, creepy images--but doesn't let us look too closely, nicely reflecting the mysteries of our world. Whatever we think we know, there's so much more that we can't access or discover. When the changes begin which signal the end of our world, will we recognize and understand them?

The chills this book provides are not of the rollercoaster sort, but are instead deliberately slow-moving, sneaking up on us while hiding in plain sight all around us. What's most frightening are the things we can't quite see. The careful, thoughtful reader will be rewarded with beautiful prose, interesting characters, and chilling images which linger at the edges of the mind long afterwards.

Mile-long paragraphs, mind-numbing descriptions, sparse, irritating dialogue, endless run-on sentences and apathetic, near-comatose characters made this book an impossible read. Not even the dogs were engaging. The only horrifying thing about this book is that I can't return it and get my money back.

I loved it. But you really need the time to concentrate. It is easy to get lost in the rambling sentences and who is saying what dialog. If you like Dick and Jane and Spot type reading, you won't like this. If you like to think a little you will. The ending did leave me with a "What?" But I believe the unseen and undescribed is more scary than a full on description, esp. if you have a vivid imagination. He also left out the obligatory sex etc. If it is needed fine but this novel delves into the characters minds and how they interpret the things going on.

Gilmore, Texas residents are becoming concerned with the weird events including the abnormal weather that seems to have engulfed the town. Scarecrows containing the rotted animals have begun to appear. When a child vanishes, the townsfolk become divided. Many believe the end of times has begun as her disappearance marks the start of the Rapture. Other feel someone more mundane and mortal is behind the events.

Loner Luther Hazlitt believes that what ever is going on has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. A bit shook from an incident that leaves him mumbling "oh sh*t" as his nirvana, Luther, accompanied by his dog Yurang, obtains the help of Agnes Peeler. They plan to catch the culprit behind the weirdness. Deputy Sheriff Willis Beagle joins the team, but none of them know what they plan to trap.

The concept underlying the story line is brilliant and most horror fans will find refreshing. The heroic quartet are as far removed as one can get from being heroes yet are believable, making them fun charcaters. The townsfolk add depth and feel that the audience has entered a remote section of Texas. With all that going for it LAST THINGS should have been great. However, the problem is that sentences and paragraphs go on forever in a mimic of The Old Man and the Sea. Other than this quibble this is a great book.

Harriet Klausner

Always looking for "new" horror, I read several professional reviews of this and "Ordinary Horror" that all seemed to indicate a possibility that Mr. Searcy might have what I was looking for. I cannot speak for his first book, but "Last Things" was unexpectedly pedantic, and, frankly, boring. I found myself consistently falling asleep every time I sat down to read it.
This is truly unfortunate, because there is some good language in here, and intimations of signs of what could be good psycho-surreal horror, but it never arrived.
The book begins well, though I got the feeling that Mr. Searcy's editor ultimately dropped the ball and let the author meander incessantly. Many of the sentences in this book could not be read without losing one's breath, and the voice of the narrator often clashes violently with the character being followed.
I believe that if you were in just the right mood and just the right kind of person this book might work for you, but it simply didn't for me. Perhaps his first book is better.