Customer Reviews

Michael McDowell's Blackwater III: The House

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
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For those who are tired of horror novels and stories that are nothing but superflous sex, spewing entrails and heads lopped off, this is your horror novel. It's subtle, thought provoking, emotionally compelling and still a wonderful horror read full of ghosts and nonhuman creatures. It follows a family through several generations, and often reads like a daytime soap opera, then, seemingly out of nowhere, the horror or supernatural enters. This a a wonderful read.

In book 3 of this 6 book series, Miriam is growing up completely spoiled by Mary-Love, while Frances develops an overwhelming fear of the closet in the spare room. Carl Strickland returns to Queenie and beats her, whereas Elinor takes it upon herself to dispose of Carl in her own way. The depression hits, and when Oscar asks his mother for the money to save him from default, she refuses in an attempt to control him and bring him back from the influence of Elinor. But Oscar severs his ties with her, borrowing the money from his uncle instead, leaving Mary-Love out of favor. James' daughter Grace returns from college in defeat, and takes little Frances on a trip up the Perdido river to its source, where Frances falls deathly ill. Only Elinors baths help her through her crippling illness.
When she is better, the family decides to take a vacation all together, but just before leaving Elinor and Mary-Love have a final show down; Elinor confronting Mary-Love with all of her underhanded and mean tricks.
Just as they are ready to leave at the train station, Mary-Love falls quite ill, and Elinor stays home to care for her. But Mary-Love dies mysteriously anyway, and Sister returns home, abandoning her marriage to take care of Miriam.
Don't miss this series, you will have to find them in the used book stores but they are worth the search. Creepy, languid tales of the old south told in such flowing prose that you feel the heat and humidity, along with becoming a part of the small town and its gossip.

this is truly it-the great american novel. simultaneously terrifying and heartbreaking. elinor caskey is the greatest female character in american literature. the book is a miracle.

I think that is the ultimate question that must be asked about this serial novel. It is a work extraordinary for its characters and subtlety, as well as a plot that engages readers through the end of book 6 and leaves them wanting more.

I read horror fiction occassionally, but I believe this is more Southern Gothic than horror. While Elinor is a disturbing beast/creature, the reader identifies with her much better than with the human matriarch, Mary-Love. Likewise, the love that is described between Oscar and Elinor is touching and, other than his ghastly death, is rather sedate in its course.

Truthfully, when the last book is done, you don't long for another grisly death, but merely another window into the the lives of this family. When I closed book 6, I missed Elinor, I missed her family, and I wanted to know what was next for Lilah, Billy Bronze, Tommy Lee, and all the others.

Their story is haunting, and it stays with you. Ask around - those who have read this series will remember the characters, and will recall them fondly, even if they'd rather not meet up with them in the water . . .

'The House' is the third installment of Michael McDowell's southern gothic novel series. Actually, it seems to me all these books are literally part of the same book but for whatever reason the publisher divides them into small chunks. There is literally a seamless transition moving between books.

If you are reading this review I trust you have read the preceding two books in the series. If not, go directly to the first in the series ('The Flood') and get started! Otherwise ... what can I say? 'The House' is exactly what you'd expect. Great characterizations, atmospheric, with a slow but infectious story. It seems that women wear the pants in this series; perhaps this is a statement of life in the old South?


Bottom line: Blackwater III doesn't disappoint. Recommended.