Customer Reviews

The Living One: A Gothic Thriller

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book covers it all. It does a great job of developing each of the characters. Through Gannett's use of characters' notes, diaries, internal diologues, and their observations of eachother, each of them comes alive (metaphorically, of course).
The novel involves history (whether real or imagined); the paranormal; psychic animals; mystery; varying sexual identities and preferences and the issues that arise from them; varying age related/based perspectives and the feelings around old age as opposed to youth, and the longing for eternal life as opposed to the ability to just enjoy life; etc.
This was just a really good, well written novel. I could hardly put the book down. I've already rated it right up there with Anne Rice, and Kelley Armstrong.

The Living One begins with the twisted history of a father and son conflict, of heirs and deceit and continues on with the struggle of the many witness to the strange happenings around one certain area. I recommend that you read on for yourself and find out the crimson world this story was based on. This was written in a style of a journal which consists of entries from the witnesses. At first, I was having a conflicting time determining wether this book is a work of fiction or nonfiction. And the conclusion, I will not reveal.

Being a new member to the internet world and an avid reader of mystery, one of the first things I did was go to amazon.com. Upon arriving at the site, I immediately began searching for the title "The Living One" in hopes of remembering the author's name. It has been about 3.5 years since I read this novel and I can't get it out of my mind and want to read more by Gannet. I have had no luck finding other books until now. Enjoy!!

Despite what a previous reviewer said, this book does *not* read like a thesis project. It is an interesting, engrossing take on an the age-old themes of Vampires, Hounds of Hell, and the like. It offers engaging characters in an interesting setting and takes legend to a new place. The Chapter by Chapter journal entries are *not* a rip-off of Stoker, but read rather as an homage. (If using something Stoker used were a rip-off, everyone who has ever written about Vampires would be rip-off artists). While I agree that the end of the book gets a bit muddled and requires *very* careful reading, I enjoyed it enough to pick up "Magazine Beach." Though "The Living One" doesn't come near to touching the likes of Poppy Z. Brite, Dan Simmons, or Stephen King, it is a tale well told, worth telling, and will stick in your mind years after you read it. (If I could, I would give this a 3.5 star rating as it is definately above the average book in the gennre. But, my choices were 3 or 4.)

It's been a massive number of years since I read this book the last time, but it is one which despite a very muddled ending, has always remained in my mind. The younger Spoor--standing on the cusp of manhood--contracted with the image of his his father Malcolm Spoor who is falling into madness is a really interesting dynamic and a rather fresh way at looking at vampirism.

This is an epistolary novel, done as homage to Stoker's Dracula, and for the most part it works, switching from the perspective of the younger Spoor to his teacher. Gannet manages the multiple POVs well and even delves into issues of coming out, growing up, strained familial relationships and less than honest and forthright teachers.

The characters are all very well rounded and the author manages to maintain a creepy almost voyeuristic tone to the novel that fits it well. Not so many scares in this one, but it is a really interesting character study and though it is not a YA novel in any respect, I think for young people it deals pretty honestly with the issues of growing up awkward, being a bit of an outcast, and having parents you just can't understand.

Only near the end does it get muddled, but for me, the story was enough for me to forgive the sloppiness at the end.

For me, this book shares its literary pedigree with Wilde
if not Stoker. Think Dorian Gray and whatever wickedness
can be done with a mirror. The Living One is definitely
highbrow and gleefully arch. Years ago, I bought
The Living One in a brick and mortar store, but it's
on my re-read until the cover falls off list.

I do sooo appreciate an excellent villain and I'm one
of those twisted souls who wanted to see Malcom Spoor
live to see another day. I hoped for a sequel to see
what happened next. And no, the Grislies did not put
me up to writing this. I've actually long wanted to
have my ancient copy autographed by the author.

The Living One: A Gothic Thriller

Incredibly delicious...never wanted the story to end yet couldn't wait to find out the outcome...I read this book when it first came out and I was lucky enough to get a autographed copy. How I wish Gannett how continued this bizarre story into other realms....just found Amazon.com and am excited to finally get my eyes, teeth and hands onto another of Gannett's novels....although I am confident it will never rank with "The Living One"...one of my favorites of all times...if you are allowed only one book to read the rest of your days...let this be the one! Thank me later for the recommendation...you'll love it.

It's been a few years, but having just finished Gannett's only other novel, "Magazine Beach", I'm reminded of how great "The Living One" is. If you're a fan of Clive Barker or Steven King, you'll love this one. To say much more is to spoil it. This book stuck in my mind for a long time.

I read this book about two years ago and still remember it well. I came to this site looking for another book by the author. If that tells you anything?! The style of the book takes a bit getting used to but hang on because it realy adds to the suspence. For the gay reader, it is a refreshing use of a gay character were his sexuality is not the main focus of the story. This is a chalenging book for all and it kept me guessing which not too many books do these days. Your assignment, should you choose to except it is to read this book then wait paitiently like my self for Gannet's next. I hope it comes soon?!!

Well, I liked this book a lot, but I got through it slowly. i do recomend it however, because it is a well written, strange, sometimes erotic piece of fiction. Opium Poppy Fields