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Perdición
En una noche del verano de 1965, Ray, Tim y Jennifer están pasando el rato, bebiendo cervezas en el lago Turner, cerca de la ciudad de Sparta. Es una noche más hasta que Ray decide que va a matar a dos amigas que han acampado en las cercanías del lago, porque sí, porque le da rabia que sean niñas pijas, que tengan dinero, que se estén consolando la una a la otra. Tim, su mejor amigo, y Jennifer, su novia, serán testigos, atónitos, del brutal asesinato. Ray sabe que a partir de ahora los tendrá a su merced.
Sparta, 1969. Estados Unidos está cambiando y esta pequeña ciudad a las orillas de un lago, no es ajena a esos cambios. Lso crímenes de Lisa Steiner y Elise Hanlon aún siguen sin resolver, a pesar de todos los esfuerzos llevados a cabo por los policías Ed Anderson y Charles Schilling.
Ray, impune, no deja en presionar a sus amigos para conseguir lo que quiere en cada momento. Pero sus encantos no dan resultado con Sally y Kath, dos chicas jóvenes que aparecen en su vida y a las que desea. Tampoco Jennifer está dispuesta a seguir aguantando las continuas vejaciones a las que la somete Ray continuamente. Todo esto, sumado a la presión del teniente Schilling, llevará a Ray al límite.
Una espiral de violencia y abuso que nadie se vio venir.
Sparta, 1969. Estados Unidos está cambiando y esta pequeña ciudad a las orillas de un lago, no es ajena a esos cambios. Lso crímenes de Lisa Steiner y Elise Hanlon aún siguen sin resolver, a pesar de todos los esfuerzos llevados a cabo por los policías Ed Anderson y Charles Schilling.
Ray, impune, no deja en presionar a sus amigos para conseguir lo que quiere en cada momento. Pero sus encantos no dan resultado con Sally y Kath, dos chicas jóvenes que aparecen en su vida y a las que desea. Tampoco Jennifer está dispuesta a seguir aguantando las continuas vejaciones a las que la somete Ray continuamente. Todo esto, sumado a la presión del teniente Schilling, llevará a Ray al límite.
Una espiral de violencia y abuso que nadie se vio venir.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2001
About the author
Jack Ketchum
197 books2,751 followersDallas William Mayr, better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels included Off Season, Offspring, and Red, which were adapted to film. In 2011, Ketchum received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award for outstanding contribution to the horror genre.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
November 11, 2019
I had an epiphany when I was reading this book.
I've turned into a reading-slut!
Just give me a moment to explain:
A few years ago, I was fairly committed to 400+ page books, mostly in the crime and thriller genre. I would read before I went to bed and over weekends, or when nothing was on TV that interested me. Books were usually a week or so commitment.
About two and a half years ago I got a Kindle as a gift. It opened up my world - I mean in a huge, huge way. There are so many brilliant authors out there that I'd never heard of before, and so many books available, I couldn't believe how long I've been missing out on everything.
Earlier this year, I felt a little burnt out on thrillers and decided to give them a break. With my Kindle and the app on my phone, I had more than enough stories I wanted to delve into.
So, here comes the slutty part - Whenever I get a chance, I whip out my phone and read a little. Anyplace, anytime...whether it is standing in line in a shop or taking a tea break at work, I will read even if it is just a paragraph.
And it suddenly hit me - you can't appreciate a slow burn if you read in such short bursts. You have to take the time, let's call it a little foreplay, to really appreciate what the author is giving you. The slutty way is wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am - and I think that is why I've been more into shorter books this year.
Which brings me to this thriller by Ketchum. This guy has a solid reputation (even though he is no longer with us) as a brilliant writer. And, while I've read some of his work in the past, this book felt like it was badly edited in the beginning. The sentences are so long and felt somewhat drawn out - I was thinking that maybe the editor did a piss-poor job with this book.
And then I had a little time to read a few dozen pages...and the damnedest thing happened. I got it. I finally understood. The way Ketchum wrote this book had a certain flow to it, a rhythm of words like a complicated song coming together. I felt the 'music' he was making, and I'll be damned if I didn't dig it.
Okay, this story takes place in the sixties and it starts with murder right off the bat. And then it slows down - the word slow burn comes into play for about 300 pages before the action truly begins. From there, it is pretty awesome.
If I can give you some advise - if you commit to this book, you have to spend some time with the author. Foreplay is very important for this story. It is not meant to be read in short bursts, it will bore most people. But in the end, the commitment will pay off.
This is not a horror.
If I could have gotten into it sooner, I might have given it 5 stars.
I've turned into a reading-slut!
Just give me a moment to explain:
A few years ago, I was fairly committed to 400+ page books, mostly in the crime and thriller genre. I would read before I went to bed and over weekends, or when nothing was on TV that interested me. Books were usually a week or so commitment.
About two and a half years ago I got a Kindle as a gift. It opened up my world - I mean in a huge, huge way. There are so many brilliant authors out there that I'd never heard of before, and so many books available, I couldn't believe how long I've been missing out on everything.
Earlier this year, I felt a little burnt out on thrillers and decided to give them a break. With my Kindle and the app on my phone, I had more than enough stories I wanted to delve into.
So, here comes the slutty part - Whenever I get a chance, I whip out my phone and read a little. Anyplace, anytime...whether it is standing in line in a shop or taking a tea break at work, I will read even if it is just a paragraph.
And it suddenly hit me - you can't appreciate a slow burn if you read in such short bursts. You have to take the time, let's call it a little foreplay, to really appreciate what the author is giving you. The slutty way is wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am - and I think that is why I've been more into shorter books this year.
Which brings me to this thriller by Ketchum. This guy has a solid reputation (even though he is no longer with us) as a brilliant writer. And, while I've read some of his work in the past, this book felt like it was badly edited in the beginning. The sentences are so long and felt somewhat drawn out - I was thinking that maybe the editor did a piss-poor job with this book.
And then I had a little time to read a few dozen pages...and the damnedest thing happened. I got it. I finally understood. The way Ketchum wrote this book had a certain flow to it, a rhythm of words like a complicated song coming together. I felt the 'music' he was making, and I'll be damned if I didn't dig it.
Okay, this story takes place in the sixties and it starts with murder right off the bat. And then it slows down - the word slow burn comes into play for about 300 pages before the action truly begins. From there, it is pretty awesome.
If I can give you some advise - if you commit to this book, you have to spend some time with the author. Foreplay is very important for this story. It is not meant to be read in short bursts, it will bore most people. But in the end, the commitment will pay off.
This is not a horror.
If I could have gotten into it sooner, I might have given it 5 stars.
May 28, 2023
¡Una conjunta muy bestia! 🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝
Brutal es poco, me ha dejado sin palabras. Pero intentaré hacer una reseña en condiciones.
Para este mes de mayo me tocaba a mi escoger la lectura conjunta que hacemos todos los meses junto con #DevoradoraDeLibros, no lo dudé, tenía desde Reyes lo último traducido de un autor que me encanta y no dejo pasar ninguna novela suya con la que me cruzo, que lamentablemente son pocas las traducidas, pero confío en que la editorial #LaBibliotecaDeCarfax se ponga a ello 😊 Y no es otro que Jack Ketchum; un autor que emplea un lenguaje directo, y unas historias rebosantes de adrenalina, y es por ello que soy una fan absoluta. Solo una de sus novelas; "Al otro lado del río", no me entusiasmó, de hecho ya no recuerdo nada de la trama pero de resto tanto "La chica de al lado" como "Joyride" y esta que les traigo hoy, me parecen novelas sublimes, a la que no les sobra nada, muy duras y sangrientas. A destacar La chica de al lado, es de las novelas más duras que he leído, de tener que apartar la vista por la dureza de los hechos que se describían.
No me enrollo más, ahora le ha tocado el turno a "Perdición", la cual a Patri Devoradora de libros por lo que me ha ido contando le está pareciendo lenta, que no pasa gran cosa. Veremos si cambia de opinión con el final 😏
Pero en mi caso la he disfrutado de principio a fin, desde las primeras líneas me he sentido como una habitante más de esa pequeña localidad, Sparta.
Los hechos que se relatan van desde el año 1965 hasta 1969, y en ese intervalo de tiempo veremos como por diversas circunstancias Ray es una bomba a punto de estallar 💣
Seremos testigos de su particular descenso a los infiernos, escopeta y pistola en mano.
Enfermizo y retorcido son dos adjetivos que describen a la perfección a este personaje.
La historia se cuece muy poco a poco.
Empieza fuerte para luego ir metiéndote muy sutilmente en la mente de Ray, tremendo personaje.
No es una historia que derroche acción, salvo al inicio y su tramo final, ni nos cuente nada nuevo ni excesivamente sorprendente pero yo me he quedado maravillada.
Nos va metiendo en la vida de cada personaje, donde los conoceremos muy bien en cada capítulo ya que cada uno lleva el nombre de los distintos personajes que nos encontraremos a lo largo de la novela.
Unos personajes fuertes, trazados y diferenciados a la perfección.
Y un malo malísimo disfrazado de tipo guapo con el que preferirías no cruzarte en su camino, sobre todo si eres mujer.
Y cuando te das cuenta de lo acertado del título no haces otra cosa que aplaudir la maestría de Ketchum al crear otra historia imprescindible, muy potente y con un final redondo.
De esos libros que te da mucha pena acabar. Así me he sentido.
💫 Y es que cuando todo está perdido, ya nada importa.
Grande Ketchum🔝💜
Una pena que nos haya dejado tan pronto. Nos hubiera dado muchas más buenas historias. Estoy segura.
💣 "Sentirse inútil ante la muerte, en presencia del vacío y la pérdida de otro ser humano, y desear fervientemente no serlo no era uno de los grandes favores que dios le había hecho al hombre."
📖 Próxima lectura:
"Knockemstiff" - Donald Ray Pollock.
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚
Brutal es poco, me ha dejado sin palabras. Pero intentaré hacer una reseña en condiciones.
Para este mes de mayo me tocaba a mi escoger la lectura conjunta que hacemos todos los meses junto con #DevoradoraDeLibros, no lo dudé, tenía desde Reyes lo último traducido de un autor que me encanta y no dejo pasar ninguna novela suya con la que me cruzo, que lamentablemente son pocas las traducidas, pero confío en que la editorial #LaBibliotecaDeCarfax se ponga a ello 😊 Y no es otro que Jack Ketchum; un autor que emplea un lenguaje directo, y unas historias rebosantes de adrenalina, y es por ello que soy una fan absoluta. Solo una de sus novelas; "Al otro lado del río", no me entusiasmó, de hecho ya no recuerdo nada de la trama pero de resto tanto "La chica de al lado" como "Joyride" y esta que les traigo hoy, me parecen novelas sublimes, a la que no les sobra nada, muy duras y sangrientas. A destacar La chica de al lado, es de las novelas más duras que he leído, de tener que apartar la vista por la dureza de los hechos que se describían.
No me enrollo más, ahora le ha tocado el turno a "Perdición", la cual a Patri Devoradora de libros por lo que me ha ido contando le está pareciendo lenta, que no pasa gran cosa. Veremos si cambia de opinión con el final 😏
Pero en mi caso la he disfrutado de principio a fin, desde las primeras líneas me he sentido como una habitante más de esa pequeña localidad, Sparta.
Los hechos que se relatan van desde el año 1965 hasta 1969, y en ese intervalo de tiempo veremos como por diversas circunstancias Ray es una bomba a punto de estallar 💣
Seremos testigos de su particular descenso a los infiernos, escopeta y pistola en mano.
Enfermizo y retorcido son dos adjetivos que describen a la perfección a este personaje.
La historia se cuece muy poco a poco.
Empieza fuerte para luego ir metiéndote muy sutilmente en la mente de Ray, tremendo personaje.
No es una historia que derroche acción, salvo al inicio y su tramo final, ni nos cuente nada nuevo ni excesivamente sorprendente pero yo me he quedado maravillada.
Nos va metiendo en la vida de cada personaje, donde los conoceremos muy bien en cada capítulo ya que cada uno lleva el nombre de los distintos personajes que nos encontraremos a lo largo de la novela.
Unos personajes fuertes, trazados y diferenciados a la perfección.
Y un malo malísimo disfrazado de tipo guapo con el que preferirías no cruzarte en su camino, sobre todo si eres mujer.
Y cuando te das cuenta de lo acertado del título no haces otra cosa que aplaudir la maestría de Ketchum al crear otra historia imprescindible, muy potente y con un final redondo.
De esos libros que te da mucha pena acabar. Así me he sentido.
💫 Y es que cuando todo está perdido, ya nada importa.
Grande Ketchum🔝💜
Una pena que nos haya dejado tan pronto. Nos hubiera dado muchas más buenas historias. Estoy segura.
💣 "Sentirse inútil ante la muerte, en presencia del vacío y la pérdida de otro ser humano, y desear fervientemente no serlo no era uno de los grandes favores que dios le había hecho al hombre."
📖 Próxima lectura:
"Knockemstiff" - Donald Ray Pollock.
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚
January 25, 2023
"La muertes estaba en todas partes.
Tan solo estaba escondida."
¡¡Qué bestialidad de historia!!
Tan solo estaba escondida."
¡¡Qué bestialidad de historia!!
February 11, 2018
This hard cover is one of 1500 copies published and is signed by Jack Ketchum.
The book was made into a film in 2006 produced by Lucky McKee, Ketchum's sometime writing partner.
In "The Lost", the year is 1965, the place is the New Jersey lakes region and 19 year old Ray Pye tries to thrill kills a couple of girls out camping by shooting them, due to assuming they are a lesbian couple. One dead one on life support. His sheeple friends, Jen and Tim, help him cover up the crime.
We take up four years later and cop Charlie Schilling can't sleep at night. When the second girl finally dies. Charlie is convinced Ray did it, now he must prove it.
Hardcore Horror at it's best.
The book was made into a film in 2006 produced by Lucky McKee, Ketchum's sometime writing partner.
In "The Lost", the year is 1965, the place is the New Jersey lakes region and 19 year old Ray Pye tries to thrill kills a couple of girls out camping by shooting them, due to assuming they are a lesbian couple. One dead one on life support. His sheeple friends, Jen and Tim, help him cover up the crime.
We take up four years later and cop Charlie Schilling can't sleep at night. When the second girl finally dies. Charlie is convinced Ray did it, now he must prove it.
Hardcore Horror at it's best.
November 21, 2022
4.5🌟
BRUTAL.
Jack Ketchum inventa unas historias sangrientas y muy terroríficas a su modo. Es cierto que se me ha hecho un pelín larga pero todo lo que cuenta es necesario para conocer el desarrollo del personaje principal.
.
BRUTAL.
Jack Ketchum invents some bloody and very terrifying stories in his own way. It is true that it has been a bit long for me but everything that counts is necessary to know the development of the main character.
BRUTAL.
Jack Ketchum inventa unas historias sangrientas y muy terroríficas a su modo. Es cierto que se me ha hecho un pelín larga pero todo lo que cuenta es necesario para conocer el desarrollo del personaje principal.
.
BRUTAL.
Jack Ketchum invents some bloody and very terrifying stories in his own way. It is true that it has been a bit long for me but everything that counts is necessary to know the development of the main character.
December 3, 2024
¿¡Pero qué clase de locura fue esta!?
No sé ni por dónde empezar, estoy anonadada. Al principio, todo era lento, incluso llegué a sentirme aburrida, pero de repente todo se va al garete de una manera caótica y horripilante. En esta novela, nadie se salva; todos los personajes son tan grises. Bueno, hay uno en específico que es un monstruo desalmado, egocéntrico, manipulador y con un temperamento irracional, que le arrebató la vida a casi una docena de personas. Lo odio. De verdad, como mujer, me duele y me llena de impotencia cómo un hombre, que se cree machito, puede sentir que tiene derecho a quitarle la vida a una mujer solo porque ella dice que no o porque se cree amo y señor de la vida de esta persona.
Lo que más me indigna y asusta es que esto sucede en la vida real. Personas así existen y muchas veces se salen con la suya. ¡Dios, qué frustración!
Esta novela es cruda en el sentido más puro. El autor no tuvo reparos en relatar lo que sucedía sin escatimar en detalles que pueden ser extremadamente repulsivos. Si esperas un simple thriller policíaco, prepárate, porque esto va mucho más allá, y te aseguro que no es nada agradable.
P.D.: No soy de decir malas palabras, pero Ray, eres un gran hijo de...
No sé ni por dónde empezar, estoy anonadada. Al principio, todo era lento, incluso llegué a sentirme aburrida, pero de repente todo se va al garete de una manera caótica y horripilante. En esta novela, nadie se salva; todos los personajes son tan grises. Bueno, hay uno en específico que es un monstruo desalmado, egocéntrico, manipulador y con un temperamento irracional, que le arrebató la vida a casi una docena de personas. Lo odio. De verdad, como mujer, me duele y me llena de impotencia cómo un hombre, que se cree machito, puede sentir que tiene derecho a quitarle la vida a una mujer solo porque ella dice que no o porque se cree amo y señor de la vida de esta persona.
Lo que más me indigna y asusta es que esto sucede en la vida real. Personas así existen y muchas veces se salen con la suya. ¡Dios, qué frustración!
Esta novela es cruda en el sentido más puro. El autor no tuvo reparos en relatar lo que sucedía sin escatimar en detalles que pueden ser extremadamente repulsivos. Si esperas un simple thriller policíaco, prepárate, porque esto va mucho más allá, y te aseguro que no es nada agradable.
P.D.: No soy de decir malas palabras, pero Ray, eres un gran hijo de...
August 29, 2021
Ketchum is mostly known for his gritty horror, his brutal and quick-paced violence, and his uncomfortably close exploration of deviancy. Here, all these elements are amped up to 1,000, but only in glimpses that interrupt the taut tension that runs throughout.
The narrative is rife with madness and monstrosity of a bleak kind, a diatribe against the cultural decay of its 1960s backdrop. Crowning it all, in true Ketchum fashion, there is humanity, in its imperfect grandiosity, as deformed as it is real.
Ketchum in my eyes is a true horror master, married to the subject matter, in tune with brutality, unafraid to dig his fingers through the ugliest things.
The narrative is rife with madness and monstrosity of a bleak kind, a diatribe against the cultural decay of its 1960s backdrop. Crowning it all, in true Ketchum fashion, there is humanity, in its imperfect grandiosity, as deformed as it is real.
Ketchum in my eyes is a true horror master, married to the subject matter, in tune with brutality, unafraid to dig his fingers through the ugliest things.
November 11, 2016
Right off the bat, The Lost starts with a bang (pardon the pun). Ray was a nutcase when he was a teenager and blew two girls away that were camping. His two friends, Tim and Jennifer, were sheep when they watched him do it and just stood there with their mouths open. They didn't turn him in. They didn't try to stop him. Nothing. Why did he do it? Just to see how it felt. Four years later, Ray is still just as big of a nutcase. The only difference is that he hasn't killed anyone in those four years since. Tim and Jennifer are still the loyal sheep that follow Ray's every move without question. The police were unable to pin the murders on Ray, but the officers on duty, Charlie and Ed, knew damn well that Ray did it. However, they didn't have the proof the bust him. So, for 4 years, he walked a free man. But four years is a long time and Ray has never had anyone push his buttons to see what he would really do if his temper reached critical mass...until now.
The Lost is a fantastic tale told in Ketchum's patented straight-forward way. He captures small town America. The characters are amazingly realistic and feel like you know someone exactly like them. When I say Ray is a nutcase, I mean it. On the surface, to the people that don't really know him, he only seems like a harmless hood. But his evil is constantly simmering under a lid that is barely on and just waiting to go flying off. Those are the scariest kind of monsters. Realistic and unassuming until one day...BLAM! Ketchum does an amazing job ratcheting up the dread until the final act. If you haven't read Ketchum yet, this one isn't a bad one to start off with. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
4 1/2 Bullets through the Eye out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
The Lost is a fantastic tale told in Ketchum's patented straight-forward way. He captures small town America. The characters are amazingly realistic and feel like you know someone exactly like them. When I say Ray is a nutcase, I mean it. On the surface, to the people that don't really know him, he only seems like a harmless hood. But his evil is constantly simmering under a lid that is barely on and just waiting to go flying off. Those are the scariest kind of monsters. Realistic and unassuming until one day...BLAM! Ketchum does an amazing job ratcheting up the dread until the final act. If you haven't read Ketchum yet, this one isn't a bad one to start off with. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
4 1/2 Bullets through the Eye out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
June 2, 2023
Ketchum siempre es sinónimo de calidad, es algo que tengo más que comprobado.
Esta fue la lectura elegida por La loca de los libros para nuestra conjunta de Mayo, y por supuesto acertadísima. Este años estamos "on fire" con las conjuntas, todas han sido espectaculares.
En esta ocasión aunque a mi la lectura me ha gustado muchísimo, si la he encontrado un pelín lenta. En otras ocasiones este aspecto ha sido un plus, pero en esta historia en concreto me hubiera gustado un poco más de agilidad.
Eso sí, cuando la novela se desata es un festival de carnicería y sangre, como bien acostumbrados nos tiene Ketchum 🤩
Los personajes están muuuuy pero que muy bien perfilados. Ray, Tim y Jennifer comparten un gran secreto que con el paso del tiempo les pesa más y más. Excepto a Ray que siente orgullo por lo ocurrido. Y es que Ray...menudo personaje más odioso, tedioso y egocéntrico. Un guaperas acomplejado e inseguro que mangonea a sus pobres amigos como y cuando quiere. Sabe que tiene influencia sobre ellos y la aprovecha.
A lo largo de la novela se va narrando como es la vida en Sparta, después del trágico suceso que marca el inicio de la novela. Aparecen nuevos personajes que de un modo u otro acaban cruzándose en el camino de Ray y harán que éste acabe perdiendo el norte.
El título de la novela no puede ser más acertado, sobre todo llegando a la parte final que es donde explota y donde mejor me lo he pasado.
Cómo dije Jack Ketchum nunca defrauda y siempre se guarda las mejores escenas para el final, aunque para mi en esta ocasión se ha hecho bastante de rogar 😅
Esta fue la lectura elegida por La loca de los libros para nuestra conjunta de Mayo, y por supuesto acertadísima. Este años estamos "on fire" con las conjuntas, todas han sido espectaculares.
En esta ocasión aunque a mi la lectura me ha gustado muchísimo, si la he encontrado un pelín lenta. En otras ocasiones este aspecto ha sido un plus, pero en esta historia en concreto me hubiera gustado un poco más de agilidad.
Eso sí, cuando la novela se desata es un festival de carnicería y sangre, como bien acostumbrados nos tiene Ketchum 🤩
Los personajes están muuuuy pero que muy bien perfilados. Ray, Tim y Jennifer comparten un gran secreto que con el paso del tiempo les pesa más y más. Excepto a Ray que siente orgullo por lo ocurrido. Y es que Ray...menudo personaje más odioso, tedioso y egocéntrico. Un guaperas acomplejado e inseguro que mangonea a sus pobres amigos como y cuando quiere. Sabe que tiene influencia sobre ellos y la aprovecha.
A lo largo de la novela se va narrando como es la vida en Sparta, después del trágico suceso que marca el inicio de la novela. Aparecen nuevos personajes que de un modo u otro acaban cruzándose en el camino de Ray y harán que éste acabe perdiendo el norte.
El título de la novela no puede ser más acertado, sobre todo llegando a la parte final que es donde explota y donde mejor me lo he pasado.
Cómo dije Jack Ketchum nunca defrauda y siempre se guarda las mejores escenas para el final, aunque para mi en esta ocasión se ha hecho bastante de rogar 😅
December 12, 2024
The Lost [Reprint 2013] By Jack Ketchum
My Review 5.0 Stars
This Kindle Edition was Reprinted by 47North July 30, 2013. I believe “The Lost” was originally released in 2001 and published as a paperback original. It would be an understatement to say that Ketchum was displeased with the “trashy horror-novel cover art”). This affected several authors of horror at the time referenced.
Disgruntlements aside, according to a source close to the author it marked the publication of his longest novel, but more significantly one of Ketchum’s “all-around best works”. Perhaps it is a truism that is relevant to several of the greatest writers of horror in this period, the quality of the pages between the cheap covers transcended their binding and rose to emerge horror classics of the period.
“The Lost” was inspired by a true crime case, notably the senseless killings perpetrated by Charles Schmid, who was dubbed “The Pied Piper of Tucson”. Ketchum changed the setting to his own upstate New York, and established a new time frame of the late 1960’s.
It was in the summer of 1965 when three young people are together drinking and loafing about the campgrounds. Ray, older and the alpha of the trio, arbitrarily decides to shoot and kill two young girls at the neighboring campsite. The two teenagers with him, Tim and Jennifer, are taken completely by surprise, but ultimately do nothing to prevent them from being charged with complicity should the murders ever come under enough scrutiny that Ray is somehow identified as the murderer.
The story picks up four years following the callous murders of the two innocent victims. One of the two was placed in the hospital on a ventilator but there were no wishes granted and ultimately it was time to cease life support.
Ray is going about life as usual which translates pretty much into controlling all of the young girls and young guys in his orbit. He is a consummate liar, and a malignant sociopath. He has Tim running drugs for him, and he has Jennifer for a punching bag and a live-in lay. The two police detectives who caught the case four years earlier “know” Ray did the murders, but there is simply no collaborating witnesses or forensic evidence. One is retired now, and one is still on the homicide squad but an alcoholic who has lost control of his habit. There are two new girls in town which Ray must have, one simply to notch his belt and claim her as his, but Katherine, a rich beautiful golden girl from California makes his heart hurt.
Yes, four years after the initial murders there is a protracted cooling off period which suggests that Ray is not a sexual psychopath who has a rich fantasy life, must kill when the pressure builds and likely takes trophies. No, it is for more likely that the original murders constituted a thrill kill. This novel is 400 pages. I would estimate that between the 25% mark and 75% along that the author is fleshing out the characters and creating stressors among the key players that will ultimately lead to what feels like a domino effects. I have read a lot of criticism about the pacing slowing to a crawl and similar negative assessments of insufficient titillation for an extended time. In my opinion, the author needed that time to apply ample pressure for the control freak Ray to literally go on a spree killing. The ploy worked but the “game” was more “fate” than “rigged” resulting in a catastrophic loss of life. The ending…well…. you will need to absorb it yourself if you are of a mind to read “The Lost”.
There is some narrative addressing Ray after the multiple murders at different sites. He is serving time in genpop. There is no first person POV from Ray, only from his muscled cellmate. The ending is left in the form of a question since the cellmate’s health is mysteriously declining daily, cause unknown. He has gone to the infirmary but no one knows what is happening to him. Ray is the only one close to him.
It is my opinion that “The Lost” (2001) by Ketchum was well written and that the characters were developed sufficiently to set up the plot and the action. The explosive ending was thus anticipated but only to the extent that the reader could anticipate that Ray was going nuclear. It was impossible to know the number of casualties until the smoke cleared.
This novel by Ketchum based upon the exploits of Schmid was adapted to film in 2006.
My Review 5.0 Stars
This Kindle Edition was Reprinted by 47North July 30, 2013. I believe “The Lost” was originally released in 2001 and published as a paperback original. It would be an understatement to say that Ketchum was displeased with the “trashy horror-novel cover art”). This affected several authors of horror at the time referenced.
Disgruntlements aside, according to a source close to the author it marked the publication of his longest novel, but more significantly one of Ketchum’s “all-around best works”. Perhaps it is a truism that is relevant to several of the greatest writers of horror in this period, the quality of the pages between the cheap covers transcended their binding and rose to emerge horror classics of the period.
“The Lost” was inspired by a true crime case, notably the senseless killings perpetrated by Charles Schmid, who was dubbed “The Pied Piper of Tucson”. Ketchum changed the setting to his own upstate New York, and established a new time frame of the late 1960’s.
It was in the summer of 1965 when three young people are together drinking and loafing about the campgrounds. Ray, older and the alpha of the trio, arbitrarily decides to shoot and kill two young girls at the neighboring campsite. The two teenagers with him, Tim and Jennifer, are taken completely by surprise, but ultimately do nothing to prevent them from being charged with complicity should the murders ever come under enough scrutiny that Ray is somehow identified as the murderer.
The story picks up four years following the callous murders of the two innocent victims. One of the two was placed in the hospital on a ventilator but there were no wishes granted and ultimately it was time to cease life support.
Ray is going about life as usual which translates pretty much into controlling all of the young girls and young guys in his orbit. He is a consummate liar, and a malignant sociopath. He has Tim running drugs for him, and he has Jennifer for a punching bag and a live-in lay. The two police detectives who caught the case four years earlier “know” Ray did the murders, but there is simply no collaborating witnesses or forensic evidence. One is retired now, and one is still on the homicide squad but an alcoholic who has lost control of his habit. There are two new girls in town which Ray must have, one simply to notch his belt and claim her as his, but Katherine, a rich beautiful golden girl from California makes his heart hurt.
Yes, four years after the initial murders there is a protracted cooling off period which suggests that Ray is not a sexual psychopath who has a rich fantasy life, must kill when the pressure builds and likely takes trophies. No, it is for more likely that the original murders constituted a thrill kill. This novel is 400 pages. I would estimate that between the 25% mark and 75% along that the author is fleshing out the characters and creating stressors among the key players that will ultimately lead to what feels like a domino effects. I have read a lot of criticism about the pacing slowing to a crawl and similar negative assessments of insufficient titillation for an extended time. In my opinion, the author needed that time to apply ample pressure for the control freak Ray to literally go on a spree killing. The ploy worked but the “game” was more “fate” than “rigged” resulting in a catastrophic loss of life. The ending…well…. you will need to absorb it yourself if you are of a mind to read “The Lost”.
There is some narrative addressing Ray after the multiple murders at different sites. He is serving time in genpop. There is no first person POV from Ray, only from his muscled cellmate. The ending is left in the form of a question since the cellmate’s health is mysteriously declining daily, cause unknown. He has gone to the infirmary but no one knows what is happening to him. Ray is the only one close to him.
It is my opinion that “The Lost” (2001) by Ketchum was well written and that the characters were developed sufficiently to set up the plot and the action. The explosive ending was thus anticipated but only to the extent that the reader could anticipate that Ray was going nuclear. It was impossible to know the number of casualties until the smoke cleared.
This novel by Ketchum based upon the exploits of Schmid was adapted to film in 2006.
November 12, 2016
This book showed a very dark side of humanity. It started out fast and never slowed down. I thought the characters were well done and the book was written from several different perspectives. The setting (the 60's) added to the story and I enjoyed the cultural references from the time. It was a disturbing and uncomfortable read and the ending was perfect for the book. 5 stars for me!
April 9, 2024
The title of this book says it all, we're all lost in some way or another, ultimately doomed and hopeless. There are no happy endings and no-one comes off better than anyone else, I totally get it.
But this is not the standard I was expecting from Jack Ketchum, who wrote two very engrossing and shocking books in the 1980s - The Girl Next Door and Off Season, followed by a really good sequel to Off Season, Offspring.
Because of its ranking on Goodreads, The Lost is a sure-fire continuation of extreme and disturbing literature, right, and while it hits these heights in places, it never gets going, instead trudging through character development chapter after chapter until at 80%, expecting a massive finale to satisfy that craving, it fails to deliver.
It's too reflective and indulgent, with constant references to bygone musicians, TV shows and movies from the 1950s and 1960s as a throwback to memory lane. It has an odd mixture of historical events and personalities, such as Woodstock, the Spahn Ranch and Charles Manson, in an attempt to weave these realities into a fantasy narrative about murderous young adults living in a small town.
The Lost feels a bit corny in places!
The characters are still great though. You get to know them well and enjoy their indulgences in sex, drugs and rock and roll, but there's also a weird lack of tension because of the yearning for the past as though Jack Ketchum doesn't seem to know what he wants from The Lost, other than to tell us we're all doomed.
The message becomes increasingly confusing as the worst character in the book, Ray Pye, is humanized at one point as a regular guy with desires and feelings like everyone else. By the end, I didn't know whether to like him or despise him.
The main issue with The Lost is the over-extensive character building and low payoff as you feel next to nothing for anyone. This isn't an important Jack Ketchum book, but definitely worth a read if you like his early work, just not in the same extreme-horror ballpark.
But this is not the standard I was expecting from Jack Ketchum, who wrote two very engrossing and shocking books in the 1980s - The Girl Next Door and Off Season, followed by a really good sequel to Off Season, Offspring.
Because of its ranking on Goodreads, The Lost is a sure-fire continuation of extreme and disturbing literature, right, and while it hits these heights in places, it never gets going, instead trudging through character development chapter after chapter until at 80%, expecting a massive finale to satisfy that craving, it fails to deliver.
It's too reflective and indulgent, with constant references to bygone musicians, TV shows and movies from the 1950s and 1960s as a throwback to memory lane. It has an odd mixture of historical events and personalities, such as Woodstock, the Spahn Ranch and Charles Manson, in an attempt to weave these realities into a fantasy narrative about murderous young adults living in a small town.
The Lost feels a bit corny in places!
The characters are still great though. You get to know them well and enjoy their indulgences in sex, drugs and rock and roll, but there's also a weird lack of tension because of the yearning for the past as though Jack Ketchum doesn't seem to know what he wants from The Lost, other than to tell us we're all doomed.
The message becomes increasingly confusing as the worst character in the book, Ray Pye, is humanized at one point as a regular guy with desires and feelings like everyone else. By the end, I didn't know whether to like him or despise him.
The main issue with The Lost is the over-extensive character building and low payoff as you feel next to nothing for anyone. This isn't an important Jack Ketchum book, but definitely worth a read if you like his early work, just not in the same extreme-horror ballpark.
April 8, 2024
Hours of my life I won't get back, ugh. Don't waste your time on this one.
August 17, 2012
Many people equate horror with the supernatural. I find that the actions of real people can be just as horrifying as any ghost or vampire. This book was a difficult read for me because I have lived the terror of not knowing when potential violence will become real violence. Horror is not the anticipation of terrible things, it is knowing full well that it is going to happen and there is nothing you can do at this minute to stop it. Terror is seing the door opening and not being certain whether tonight you will get the Austrian crystal ring or will it be the night you die. Ray is charming and handsome and charismatic and his moods change on a dime. I thought the character was terrifying while at the same time I understood why Jennifer and Tim were tied to him. He provided them with self-worth. He made them believe that he was so important that being tied to him made them important as well. I also understood Schilling's relentless need to bring him down. Schilling wanted a safe place to live and Ray took that from him. The only character in the book who wasn't lost was the cat, Gimp. He did what was in his nature to do and in the end provides an emotional place for Ed to escape to.
I often wrestle with the idea of retribution and revenge. Ketchum allows me both in the ending of the book. Even though I understand Tim and Jennifer's reluctance to leave Ray, I don't sympathize with their refusal to learn anything from their experience. Their continued sense of being lost worked for me. Would it be worse to die or live a life of misery in prison? I was totally happy with Ray's sentence and the implication that he would die in pain from AIDS after being tortured daily. Ketchum writes about the horror of every day people. Life isn't always lollipops and roses but people often have the strength to survive and that makes for a great story. Ketchum doesn't pull punches. He tells the story in most graphic way possible. But that is how life is. That fist coming toward your face rarely stops until after it has broken your nose and thrown you to the kitchen floor.
I often wrestle with the idea of retribution and revenge. Ketchum allows me both in the ending of the book. Even though I understand Tim and Jennifer's reluctance to leave Ray, I don't sympathize with their refusal to learn anything from their experience. Their continued sense of being lost worked for me. Would it be worse to die or live a life of misery in prison? I was totally happy with Ray's sentence and the implication that he would die in pain from AIDS after being tortured daily. Ketchum writes about the horror of every day people. Life isn't always lollipops and roses but people often have the strength to survive and that makes for a great story. Ketchum doesn't pull punches. He tells the story in most graphic way possible. But that is how life is. That fist coming toward your face rarely stops until after it has broken your nose and thrown you to the kitchen floor.
January 23, 2016
Gripping, intense novel from Ketchum about a group of young misfits in the late 60's who participate in the murder of two women and how their lives, and the lives of two policemen on the trail of the primary culprit, evolve four years after the murders. It had me riveted from the beginning and never let up the pace. The characters have substance and real emotions, interacting with one another in such a way that they all end up converging in one place in the grim, bloody climax that does not disappoint. Not a book for the feint of heart, it's classic Ketchum. My biggest complaint is the serious lack of editing in my Kindle version. No excuses for such a poor job. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended. I should note that the book takes place in Sparta, NJ, about 20 minutes from where I live, which made the setting even more interesting for this Northern New Jerseyan.
May 31, 2017
Όπως πάντα! Κετσαμ = Φρίκη!
August 8, 2023
Como engaña este libro. El inicio es trepidante y después se convierte en un libro de cocción muy lenta. Poco a poco calienta hasta que estalla. Y el final es precisamente muy satisfactorio por la preparación previa. De hecho el punto fuerte es precisamente eso... ver como ppco a ppco tienes los ingredientes de un cóctel mortal.
Resulta descaradamente realista en muchos momentos y el autor controla los tiempos increíblemente bien. Los personajes los entiendes en profundidad y tienen unos desarrollos muy interesantes. Y sobre todo, te deja claro en todo momento que la vida no es justa.
No tiene más puntuación principalmente porque es un thriller abierto (sabes todo el rato quien, como, por qué) y se intuye en todo momento lo que va a pasar (aunque la dimensión de lo que ocurre al final me pareció espectacular) y disfruto más de otro tipo de historias.
Pero vamos, es una historia más que recomendable y quiero leer más cosas de este autor. Y la edición es una delicia.
Resulta descaradamente realista en muchos momentos y el autor controla los tiempos increíblemente bien. Los personajes los entiendes en profundidad y tienen unos desarrollos muy interesantes. Y sobre todo, te deja claro en todo momento que la vida no es justa.
No tiene más puntuación principalmente porque es un thriller abierto (sabes todo el rato quien, como, por qué) y se intuye en todo momento lo que va a pasar (aunque la dimensión de lo que ocurre al final me pareció espectacular) y disfruto más de otro tipo de historias.
Pero vamos, es una historia más que recomendable y quiero leer más cosas de este autor. Y la edición es una delicia.
January 24, 2008
Stephen King has called Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door one of the best books ever written. Previous to that, Ketchum was the horror world's best-kept secret, the Einsturzende Neubauten of scary stories: influential to just about everyone working in the field, unknown outside it. Now, thanks to one offhand sentence in one very widely read treatise on how to write, Jack Ketchum has become collectible overnight. Don't try to find a copy of The Girl Next Door unless you're willing to pay [a lot] for a dogeared reading copy. But Ketchum has released a brand-spanking-new one recently, and until you come up with the scratch for the out-of-print monsters, this'll do just fine, thankyouverymuch.
The Lost tells the story of Ray Pye, sociopath extraordinaire, who kills a camper and puts another one on life support in 1965, then waltzes off scot free because no one can put him at the scene, find the murder weapon, or any other useful little prosecutorial trick for actually convicting someone. Most of the book's four hundred pages take place four years later, in the weeks following the death of the second camper after spending the intervening time in a coma and hooked to a life support system. (...)
The question almost everyone who picks this book up is going to be asking himself is "is this guy really as good as Steve King says he is?" Yup. He's that good. The question I ended up asking myself is "why is this guy considered a horror writer?" The Lost is your basic detective story where you know who the killer is from page one and the tension rests on the cops trying to pin the murders on the killer. It's no more horror than the stuff Joe Lansdale's been writing since Savage Season; it sits nestled firmly in the crook of the arm between mystery and thriller. (...) But there's more to it than that. Ketchum has a sense of delicacy one doesn't find much in either horror novels or mysteries, and he knows how to use conscious symbolism-- almost unheard of in genre fiction of any sort. Granted, it gets spread a little thick at times, but it's amazing to see it at all. Add it all up and note that Ketchum never pulls a single punch throughout and you've got yourself one serious bang-up ride waiting to happen. I suggest taking it as soon as you can.
The Lost tells the story of Ray Pye, sociopath extraordinaire, who kills a camper and puts another one on life support in 1965, then waltzes off scot free because no one can put him at the scene, find the murder weapon, or any other useful little prosecutorial trick for actually convicting someone. Most of the book's four hundred pages take place four years later, in the weeks following the death of the second camper after spending the intervening time in a coma and hooked to a life support system. (...)
The question almost everyone who picks this book up is going to be asking himself is "is this guy really as good as Steve King says he is?" Yup. He's that good. The question I ended up asking myself is "why is this guy considered a horror writer?" The Lost is your basic detective story where you know who the killer is from page one and the tension rests on the cops trying to pin the murders on the killer. It's no more horror than the stuff Joe Lansdale's been writing since Savage Season; it sits nestled firmly in the crook of the arm between mystery and thriller. (...) But there's more to it than that. Ketchum has a sense of delicacy one doesn't find much in either horror novels or mysteries, and he knows how to use conscious symbolism-- almost unheard of in genre fiction of any sort. Granted, it gets spread a little thick at times, but it's amazing to see it at all. Add it all up and note that Ketchum never pulls a single punch throughout and you've got yourself one serious bang-up ride waiting to happen. I suggest taking it as soon as you can.
January 11, 2023
"Perdición" es una novela impresionante y no suelo ser tan tajante. Unos personajes perfectos, una terrible pesadilla con la forma de Ray Pye y un ritmo pausado pero constante, sin que sobre (ni falte) una palabra.
"Perdición" es más compleja y consistente que "Joyride" y menos tremenda y dolorosa que "La chica de al lado" pero eleva a Jack Ketchum a lo más alto de la escritura norteamericana.
Y lo hace gracias a la perfecta unión entre personajes, entorno y ritmo, con un mensaje actual, hurgando en la herida, llegando hasta el hueso. A "Perdición" no le sobra una frase, una idea y Ketchum no malgasta ni una sola bala.
"No podías escaparte de Ray", se dice en un punto de la novela.
Y es cierto.
No puedes huir de Ray cuando personajes como Ray Pye están tan de actualidad, agazapados entre la sociedad, vertiendo su ponzoña en nuestros ojos, en nuestros oídos, escondiendo sus complejos entre capas de intolerancia y violencia.
Ketchum nos dejó hace unos pocos años pero sus ideas están más actuales que nunca o quizás sean cuestiones eternas para aquellas personas con esa claridad de vista.
Tenéis una amplia reseña en: https://capsulaslj.blogspot.com/2023/...
"Perdición" es más compleja y consistente que "Joyride" y menos tremenda y dolorosa que "La chica de al lado" pero eleva a Jack Ketchum a lo más alto de la escritura norteamericana.
Y lo hace gracias a la perfecta unión entre personajes, entorno y ritmo, con un mensaje actual, hurgando en la herida, llegando hasta el hueso. A "Perdición" no le sobra una frase, una idea y Ketchum no malgasta ni una sola bala.
"No podías escaparte de Ray", se dice en un punto de la novela.
Y es cierto.
No puedes huir de Ray cuando personajes como Ray Pye están tan de actualidad, agazapados entre la sociedad, vertiendo su ponzoña en nuestros ojos, en nuestros oídos, escondiendo sus complejos entre capas de intolerancia y violencia.
Ketchum nos dejó hace unos pocos años pero sus ideas están más actuales que nunca o quizás sean cuestiones eternas para aquellas personas con esa claridad de vista.
Tenéis una amplia reseña en: https://capsulaslj.blogspot.com/2023/...
February 1, 2023
Me ha gustado muchísimo, me encanta Jack Ketchum.
Aunque los momentos más explícitos y brutales se encuentran al principio y al final del libro, me ha encantado también todo el desarrollo de la historia. Me mantuvo en esa calma tensa en la que estás imaginando que la liebre va a saltar en cualquier momento pero luego no pasaba nada.
El personaje principal es odioso pero tiene tanto carisma que te atrapa por completo.
Un libro top que os recomiendo si os gusta el género.
Aunque los momentos más explícitos y brutales se encuentran al principio y al final del libro, me ha encantado también todo el desarrollo de la historia. Me mantuvo en esa calma tensa en la que estás imaginando que la liebre va a saltar en cualquier momento pero luego no pasaba nada.
El personaje principal es odioso pero tiene tanto carisma que te atrapa por completo.
Un libro top que os recomiendo si os gusta el género.
June 2, 2019
Ketchum is hard core. His novels have a psychological edge that make them stand out and this is no exception.
December 6, 2022
Por fin un libro de Carfax que me ha volado la puta cabeza.
No es de terror.
Aquí os dejo mi opinión completa:
https://escaparateliterario.com/resen...
No es de terror.
Aquí os dejo mi opinión completa:
https://escaparateliterario.com/resen...
May 12, 2024
37/ 2024
Segundo libro que leo de este autor y ya lo adoro. Consigue ponerme los pelos de punta, acelerarme el corazón y afectarme hasta las lágrimas, con pucheros poco elegantes incluidos 😅.
Esta vez crea una historia de ficción, que hilvana con otra real, creando un efecto multidimensional que atrapa.
Ketchum seduce en todo lo que hace: los diálogos, las descripciones, las escenas frenéticas, las pausadas, la construcción de personajes y en su habilidad para transmitir las impresiones de unos sobre otros de forma que el lector extraiga cuál es la versión verdadera.
Eso sí, toca dar un pequeño tirón de orejas a la editorial. Con el precio de su catálogo no pueden permitirse tantas erratas (unas veinte he contabilizado), desde oraciones sin punto final hasta tildes incomprensibles como "hablándo" , y cositas similares.
He subrayado mucho en este libro, pero me quedo con esto: "La muerte estaba en todas partes. Tan solo estaba escondida".
Segundo libro que leo de este autor y ya lo adoro. Consigue ponerme los pelos de punta, acelerarme el corazón y afectarme hasta las lágrimas, con pucheros poco elegantes incluidos 😅.
Esta vez crea una historia de ficción, que hilvana con otra real, creando un efecto multidimensional que atrapa.
Ketchum seduce en todo lo que hace: los diálogos, las descripciones, las escenas frenéticas, las pausadas, la construcción de personajes y en su habilidad para transmitir las impresiones de unos sobre otros de forma que el lector extraiga cuál es la versión verdadera.
Eso sí, toca dar un pequeño tirón de orejas a la editorial. Con el precio de su catálogo no pueden permitirse tantas erratas (unas veinte he contabilizado), desde oraciones sin punto final hasta tildes incomprensibles como "hablándo" , y cositas similares.
He subrayado mucho en este libro, pero me quedo con esto: "La muerte estaba en todas partes. Tan solo estaba escondida".
May 19, 2023
This was FANTASTIC! Such a masterful work of nihilistic bleakness. It’s not extreme horror by any means, it’s more of a character study of a place where hopelessness, depression, and boredom inform the actions of all its inhabitants. It’s a town with few role models and far too many lost souls. We follow the intermingling lives of a young murderer and his lackeys as they’re slowly pursued by these two dejected (and morally questionable) cops. Every page paints a world fraught with pain and anguish. Ketchum sets the tone with a horrific killing and spends the rest of the book ratcheting up a slow-burning, character driven tale of encroaching dread. The setting and characters felt fully realized, and the bleak ending, despite having some glints of warmth and catharsis, will stick with me for quite some time.
July 27, 2023
Probablemente de los mejores inicios que haya leído en una novela. Ketchum no necesita más de 10 páginas para que le cojamos mucho asco al protagonista de esta historia y cree un ambiente insano que no abandona hasta el final. Lástima que la parte central se me ha hecho muy larga, pero entiendo que es importante para comprender lo que está por venir.
Espero que le vaya muy bien a Carfax y nos siga traduciendo Ketchums.
Espero que le vaya muy bien a Carfax y nos siga traduciendo Ketchums.
May 2, 2023
Pocas novelas he leído que jueguen de una manera tan acertada con el morbo. Si a George R. R. Martin se le ha podido acusar de cierta amoralidad por "Canción de hielo y fuego" (como si el escritor estuviera obligado a ser una especie de justiciero y redentor con sus propios personajes), Jack Ketchum es prácticamente un demonio disfrazado de escritor. No tiene piedad. Ni falta que hace.
Además, qué manera tiene de pasear la prosa entre diferentes puntos de vista y cómo va agregando tensión a la narración hasta que revienta cargada de visceralidad e incorrección. Desde luego, te deja de piedra.
Gran novela, arriesgada y no apta para todos los paladares.
Además, qué manera tiene de pasear la prosa entre diferentes puntos de vista y cómo va agregando tensión a la narración hasta que revienta cargada de visceralidad e incorrección. Desde luego, te deja de piedra.
Gran novela, arriesgada y no apta para todos los paladares.
October 5, 2016
A really disappointing outing from Ketchum.
The plot, simple as it is, gets going in a hurry. Central character Ray Pye senselessly kills two young female college students in his small town in the presence of two acquaintances whom he convinces to help him to cover up his crime. The police know Ray is the perpetrator but just can’t prove it.
Speed forward four years and Ray is a narcissist with sociopathic tendencies ruling over a coterie of late teens to whom he deals drugs and appears cool. The officers who were never able to prove his guilt view Pye as the white whale to their Ahab and start to take steps to see if they can rattle his cage sufficiently to make him slip up.
Eventually Pye snaps and goes on a murder spree ‘settling scores’ with any female whom has crossed him during the book.
The problems I had with the book are that Pye’s character was very shallow in that we know he’s a wrong’un from the start but other than serious misogyny and narcissism he doesn’t really display the sociopathy I’d equate with his book ending murder spree. The character just feels shallow and predictable and we never really explore why he is the way he is.
The pacing of the book is also poor. The middle 80% of the book is painfully slow. Near enough nothing happens. At least nothing much of interest, nor anything that justifies Pye snapping and going homicidal. It would have been interesting to see Pye slowly pushed further and further towards breaking point but this is mainly due to being rejected by a few female characters, very low level hassle from the police and having a big party being broken up. Hardly psychological torture to induce mass murder.
Also the afterward to the main body of the book left quite a lot to be desired. I respect when an author has the guts to allow a bad guy to avoid his comeuppance and dodge justice. If they do receive justice, I also respect it should it be imperfect. If it’s poetic justice they receive, that’s great so long as it’s not clichéd. Pye received poetic justice for his crimes. Locked up in jail for life being routinely sodomised/raped by his cell mate. Cliché and feels somewhat lazy, particularly when Ketchum throws in that the cell mate has a mysterious disease that he’s clearly transmitting to Pye.
Speaking of the cell mate, I was surprised to find the book was written in 2001 (the story itself is set in 1969) because said cell mate is a racially offensive stereotype I’d not expect to find in books written after the 1980’s.
Lastly, some short chapters in the book are written from the point of view of a stray cat. Why? They serve absolutely no purpose what so ever, are dull and really feel like padding or Ketchum’s way of trying to show his writing chops, which he entirely fails to do, and he doesn’t need to do any way.
The plot, simple as it is, gets going in a hurry. Central character Ray Pye senselessly kills two young female college students in his small town in the presence of two acquaintances whom he convinces to help him to cover up his crime. The police know Ray is the perpetrator but just can’t prove it.
Speed forward four years and Ray is a narcissist with sociopathic tendencies ruling over a coterie of late teens to whom he deals drugs and appears cool. The officers who were never able to prove his guilt view Pye as the white whale to their Ahab and start to take steps to see if they can rattle his cage sufficiently to make him slip up.
Eventually Pye snaps and goes on a murder spree ‘settling scores’ with any female whom has crossed him during the book.
The problems I had with the book are that Pye’s character was very shallow in that we know he’s a wrong’un from the start but other than serious misogyny and narcissism he doesn’t really display the sociopathy I’d equate with his book ending murder spree. The character just feels shallow and predictable and we never really explore why he is the way he is.
The pacing of the book is also poor. The middle 80% of the book is painfully slow. Near enough nothing happens. At least nothing much of interest, nor anything that justifies Pye snapping and going homicidal. It would have been interesting to see Pye slowly pushed further and further towards breaking point but this is mainly due to being rejected by a few female characters, very low level hassle from the police and having a big party being broken up. Hardly psychological torture to induce mass murder.
Also the afterward to the main body of the book left quite a lot to be desired. I respect when an author has the guts to allow a bad guy to avoid his comeuppance and dodge justice. If they do receive justice, I also respect it should it be imperfect. If it’s poetic justice they receive, that’s great so long as it’s not clichéd. Pye received poetic justice for his crimes. Locked up in jail for life being routinely sodomised/raped by his cell mate. Cliché and feels somewhat lazy, particularly when Ketchum throws in that the cell mate has a mysterious disease that he’s clearly transmitting to Pye.
Speaking of the cell mate, I was surprised to find the book was written in 2001 (the story itself is set in 1969) because said cell mate is a racially offensive stereotype I’d not expect to find in books written after the 1980’s.
Lastly, some short chapters in the book are written from the point of view of a stray cat. Why? They serve absolutely no purpose what so ever, are dull and really feel like padding or Ketchum’s way of trying to show his writing chops, which he entirely fails to do, and he doesn’t need to do any way.
December 20, 2022
La reseña completa en https://inthenevernever.blogspot.com/...
«Terminó pensando en lo frágiles que eran las personas. Podías matarlas con pistolas o coches o whisky o solo con suficiente desesperación. Una vida podía cambiar por completo en un segundo o podía desgastarse a lo largo de los años, tan despacio que apenas te dabas cuenta».
Si llevan un tiempo por aquí ya saben lo mucho que he disfrutado pasándolo mal al descubrir las historias de Jack Ketchum que ha publicado La biblioteca de Carfax. Joyride fue un fascinante horror lleno de tensión y violencia. Mientras que La chica de al lado se convirtió en el libro más duro que he leído hasta ahora. Uno que no creo que pueda releer nunca. Así que cuando se anunció que nos llegaría una nueva obra del autor solo pude esperar con ganas. Hoy quiero recomendarles Perdición, una novela llena de intriga en la que desde las primeras páginas podemos intuir lo mal que saldrán las cosas, pero sin imaginar todo el horror que verdaderamente esconde.
«Terminó pensando en lo frágiles que eran las personas. Podías matarlas con pistolas o coches o whisky o solo con suficiente desesperación. Una vida podía cambiar por completo en un segundo o podía desgastarse a lo largo de los años, tan despacio que apenas te dabas cuenta».
Si llevan un tiempo por aquí ya saben lo mucho que he disfrutado pasándolo mal al descubrir las historias de Jack Ketchum que ha publicado La biblioteca de Carfax. Joyride fue un fascinante horror lleno de tensión y violencia. Mientras que La chica de al lado se convirtió en el libro más duro que he leído hasta ahora. Uno que no creo que pueda releer nunca. Así que cuando se anunció que nos llegaría una nueva obra del autor solo pude esperar con ganas. Hoy quiero recomendarles Perdición, una novela llena de intriga en la que desde las primeras páginas podemos intuir lo mal que saldrán las cosas, pero sin imaginar todo el horror que verdaderamente esconde.
June 20, 2018
Spoiler Free Review
Έγκλημα και Τιμωρία, the Ketchum Version
Νομίζω ότι όσο διαβάζω περισσότερο Κέτσαμ, νιώθω την ίδια μαυρίλα όπως όταν διαβάζω Ντοστογκιέφσκι. Όπως ο Φίοντορ σου πετάει κατάθλα στη μάπα χωρίς σωτηρία, έτσι και ο Κέτσαμ παίζει στο ίδιο γήπεδο με τον δικό του τρόπο. Ακόμα και ο τίτλος "Οι ξεγραμμένοι" θα μπορούσε να είναι τίτλος του Ρώσου συγγραφέα.
Ο Ρέι είναι ένα παιδί όπως όλα τα παιδιά της ηλικίας του: κάνει μπάνιο στη λίμνη το καλοκαίρι, πίνει μπίρες με τον Τιμ και τη Τζένιφερ, είναι γυναικάς, δουλεύει στο μοτέλ των γονιών του, κάνει χόρτο και διοργανώνει πάρτι. Επίσης ο Ρέι έχει κατηγορηθεί για δύο άγριες δολοφονίες πριν 4 χρόνια, αλλά δεν βρέθηκαν ποτέ επαρκή στοιχεία για την ενοχοποίησή του. Τα πάντα διαταράσσονται με την έλευση της Καθριν, μίας νέας, όμορφης και επικίνδυνης κοπέλας στο βαρετό προάστιο και έτσι πολλά μυστικά αναδύονται στην επιφάνεια...
Ένα ταξίδι προς το αναπόφευκτο. Ένα ταξίδι στο παρελθόν, στο παρόν και στο μέλλον. Ένα ταξίδι σε μία εποχή που ενώ πέρασε, εμφανίζεται ξανά και ξανά μέσω της καθημερινής βίας της Αμερικής των όπλων.
Πάλι στους "Ξεγραμμένους" ο Κέτσαμ γράφει για ένα αμερικανικό προάστιο, αυτή τη φορά στην περίοδο του Βιετνάμ. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι για άλλη μία φορά ανθρώπινοι, με τα αυτοκαταστροφικά τους πάθη, τις ψυχικές ελλείψεις τους και τις συνεχείς απεγνωσμένες προσπάθειές τους για να τις καλύψουν. Κάποιοι πετυχημένα, κάποιοι αποτυχημένα, αλλά και στις δύο περιπτώσεις, κάθε προσπάθεια πληρώνεται με τίμημα.
Οι εικόνες και οι περιγραφές είναι πολύ ζωντανές, κάτι που λατρεύω στον Κέτσαμ ο οποίος έχει την τάση να σε "ταξιδεύει" ��ε άλλες δεκαετίες. Κ��ι σε αυτό το βιβλίο βλέπουμε τη σκοτωμένη παιδική αθωότητα του "Κοριτσιού της διπλανής πόρτας", την παιδική αφέλεια και τον τρόμο για το άγνωστο, με τη μόνη διαφορά, τα παιδιά δεν πάνε γυμνάσιο αλλά είναι αρκετά μεγάλα που θα μπορούσαν να καταταχτούν στο στρατό.
Είναι πολύ εύκολο να σε στιγματίσει μία λάθος επιλογή για πάντα. Οι τύψεις, οι ενοχές, ο φόβος και η αβεβαιότητα φθείρουν τους ανθρώπους και τους καθιστούν ψυχικά ερείπια που επιζητούν ένα χέρι βοηθείας - τις περισσότερες φορές καταστρέφοντας είτε το χέρι είτε τον εαυτό τους. Και αυτό ίσως είναι το σημαντικότερο μάθημα που μας δίνει αυτό το βιβλίο. Δεν υπάρχει σωτηρία χωρίς ανεπανόρθωτες βλάβες. Χμμ κάτι μου θυμίζει αυτό.. Α ναι, κλασικός αγαπημένος Κέτσαμ!
Και εδώ δε λείπει η κριτική στην κοινωνία των αμερικανικών προαστίων (και όχι μόνο) όπως μας έχει μάθει ο Κέτσαμ, στο αμερικάνικο όνειρο, στις αποτυχημένες προσπάθειες εξάλειψης της ρουτίνας μέσω γρήγορων απολαύσεων, στη χαμένη γενιά του 'Ναμ, στα φονικά του Μάνσον, στα ντρόγκια, στο Γουντστοκ και στο κίνημα των Χίπης. Ένας κόσμος ζωντανός, τόσο οικείος όσο και άγνωστος για εμάς. Όπως ο Ρέι και η παρέα του παρακολουθούν τις εξελίξεις μέσω του ραδιοφώνου, έτσι και εμείς γινόμαστε μάρτυρες αυτών των γεγονότων σε πρώτο χρόνο διαβάζοντάς τες, δίνοντας στην ιστορία μία χρονική και άκρως αληθινή υπόσταση.
Μαυρίλα, απαισιοδοξία, άνθρωποι ξεγραμμένοι, άνθρωποι τέρατα.
Το βιβλίο δεν είναι τρόμου, αλλά κάτι αρκετά μπασταρδεμένο. Είναι δράμα μελέτης χαρακτήρων, με αρκετά έντονη γλώσσα και βία - ειδικά στο τελευταίο κομμάτι γίνεται το έλα να δεις. Εάν έχετε διαβάσει ξανά Κέτσαμ θα καταλάβετε, οι υπόλοιποι να περιμένε κάτι αρκετά αργό που χτίζει φανταστικά τους χαρακτήρες και την κορύφωση του τέλους. Δεν είναι βαρετό εάν σας αρέσουν τέτοιου είδους βιβλία. Εάν περιμένετε έντονη δράση και μυστήριο - αγωνία, δε θα σας το πρότεινα.
"Όσοι κατάφεραν να ξεφύγουν, έμαθαν να ζουν - οι ξεγραμμένοι έμαθαν να επιβιώνουν."
Έγκλημα και Τιμωρία, the Ketchum Version
Νομίζω ότι όσο διαβάζω περισσότερο Κέτσαμ, νιώθω την ίδια μαυρίλα όπως όταν διαβάζω Ντοστογκιέφσκι. Όπως ο Φίοντορ σου πετάει κατάθλα στη μάπα χωρίς σωτηρία, έτσι και ο Κέτσαμ παίζει στο ίδιο γήπεδο με τον δικό του τρόπο. Ακόμα και ο τίτλος "Οι ξεγραμμένοι" θα μπορούσε να είναι τίτλος του Ρώσου συγγραφέα.
Ο Ρέι είναι ένα παιδί όπως όλα τα παιδιά της ηλικίας του: κάνει μπάνιο στη λίμνη το καλοκαίρι, πίνει μπίρες με τον Τιμ και τη Τζένιφερ, είναι γυναικάς, δουλεύει στο μοτέλ των γονιών του, κάνει χόρτο και διοργανώνει πάρτι. Επίσης ο Ρέι έχει κατηγορηθεί για δύο άγριες δολοφονίες πριν 4 χρόνια, αλλά δεν βρέθηκαν ποτέ επαρκή στοιχεία για την ενοχοποίησή του. Τα πάντα διαταράσσονται με την έλευση της Καθριν, μίας νέας, όμορφης και επικίνδυνης κοπέλας στο βαρετό προάστιο και έτσι πολλά μυστικά αναδύονται στην επιφάνεια...
Ένα ταξίδι προς το αναπόφευκτο. Ένα ταξίδι στο παρελθόν, στο παρόν και στο μέλλον. Ένα ταξίδι σε μία εποχή που ενώ πέρασε, εμφανίζεται ξανά και ξανά μέσω της καθημερινής βίας της Αμερικής των όπλων.
Πάλι στους "Ξεγραμμένους" ο Κέτσαμ γράφει για ένα αμερικανικό προάστιο, αυτή τη φορά στην περίοδο του Βιετνάμ. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι για άλλη μία φορά ανθρώπινοι, με τα αυτοκαταστροφικά τους πάθη, τις ψυχικές ελλείψεις τους και τις συνεχείς απεγνωσμένες προσπάθειές τους για να τις καλύψουν. Κάποιοι πετυχημένα, κάποιοι αποτυχημένα, αλλά και στις δύο περιπτώσεις, κάθε προσπάθεια πληρώνεται με τίμημα.
Οι εικόνες και οι περιγραφές είναι πολύ ζωντανές, κάτι που λατρεύω στον Κέτσαμ ο οποίος έχει την τάση να σε "ταξιδεύει" ��ε άλλες δεκαετίες. Κ��ι σε αυτό το βιβλίο βλέπουμε τη σκοτωμένη παιδική αθωότητα του "Κοριτσιού της διπλανής πόρτας", την παιδική αφέλεια και τον τρόμο για το άγνωστο, με τη μόνη διαφορά, τα παιδιά δεν πάνε γυμνάσιο αλλά είναι αρκετά μεγάλα που θα μπορούσαν να καταταχτούν στο στρατό.
Είναι πολύ εύκολο να σε στιγματίσει μία λάθος επιλογή για πάντα. Οι τύψεις, οι ενοχές, ο φόβος και η αβεβαιότητα φθείρουν τους ανθρώπους και τους καθιστούν ψυχικά ερείπια που επιζητούν ένα χέρι βοηθείας - τις περισσότερες φορές καταστρέφοντας είτε το χέρι είτε τον εαυτό τους. Και αυτό ίσως είναι το σημαντικότερο μάθημα που μας δίνει αυτό το βιβλίο. Δεν υπάρχει σωτηρία χωρίς ανεπανόρθωτες βλάβες. Χμμ κάτι μου θυμίζει αυτό.. Α ναι, κλασικός αγαπημένος Κέτσαμ!
Και εδώ δε λείπει η κριτική στην κοινωνία των αμερικανικών προαστίων (και όχι μόνο) όπως μας έχει μάθει ο Κέτσαμ, στο αμερικάνικο όνειρο, στις αποτυχημένες προσπάθειες εξάλειψης της ρουτίνας μέσω γρήγορων απολαύσεων, στη χαμένη γενιά του 'Ναμ, στα φονικά του Μάνσον, στα ντρόγκια, στο Γουντστοκ και στο κίνημα των Χίπης. Ένας κόσμος ζωντανός, τόσο οικείος όσο και άγνωστος για εμάς. Όπως ο Ρέι και η παρέα του παρακολουθούν τις εξελίξεις μέσω του ραδιοφώνου, έτσι και εμείς γινόμαστε μάρτυρες αυτών των γεγονότων σε πρώτο χρόνο διαβάζοντάς τες, δίνοντας στην ιστορία μία χρονική και άκρως αληθινή υπόσταση.
Μαυρίλα, απαισιοδοξία, άνθρωποι ξεγραμμένοι, άνθρωποι τέρατα.
Το βιβλίο δεν είναι τρόμου, αλλά κάτι αρκετά μπασταρδεμένο. Είναι δράμα μελέτης χαρακτήρων, με αρκετά έντονη γλώσσα και βία - ειδικά στο τελευταίο κομμάτι γίνεται το έλα να δεις. Εάν έχετε διαβάσει ξανά Κέτσαμ θα καταλάβετε, οι υπόλοιποι να περιμένε κάτι αρκετά αργό που χτίζει φανταστικά τους χαρακτήρες και την κορύφωση του τέλους. Δεν είναι βαρετό εάν σας αρέσουν τέτοιου είδους βιβλία. Εάν περιμένετε έντονη δράση και μυστήριο - αγωνία, δε θα σας το πρότεινα.
"Όσοι κατάφεραν να ξεφύγουν, έμαθαν να ζουν - οι ξεγραμμένοι έμαθαν να επιβιώνουν."
September 23, 2015
I don't like comparing Jack Ketchum's novels. While his style is basically the same, he approaches each of his novels differently. I like that. This is still horror, to me; because, he takes real life crime and turns them into words on a page that are as realistic as the crime itself. He puts his own twist on the crimes the story is taken part of. This is one of those stories.
The beginning of the book he puts you right in the mix. The pulse-pumping, sweating, heart-racing horrific acts. Then he slows it down. Builds these characters that you love to hate. Maybe all too familiar, in the way they remind you of people that you may know. The mind games. The over-bearing sense of dread that something terrible is going to happen.
Then the last quarter of the book, that something terrible DOES happen. And it's not at all what I expected. It was worse. And then main character gets his, too; and not in the way you'd expect.
See, horror isn't always vampires, ghosts, werewolves or anything supernatural. It can be but not always. Horror is also the depravity, terror and violence that is in humanity that shows itself in utter and graphic violence. You see it in the news, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, to name a few. And isn't that the worst kind of horror?
The beginning of the book he puts you right in the mix. The pulse-pumping, sweating, heart-racing horrific acts. Then he slows it down. Builds these characters that you love to hate. Maybe all too familiar, in the way they remind you of people that you may know. The mind games. The over-bearing sense of dread that something terrible is going to happen.
Then the last quarter of the book, that something terrible DOES happen. And it's not at all what I expected. It was worse. And then main character gets his, too; and not in the way you'd expect.
See, horror isn't always vampires, ghosts, werewolves or anything supernatural. It can be but not always. Horror is also the depravity, terror and violence that is in humanity that shows itself in utter and graphic violence. You see it in the news, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, to name a few. And isn't that the worst kind of horror?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews