What do you think?
Rate this book
A Satan Carol
A SATAN CAROL by Alan Steven Kessler
Nostalgic for the Inquisition and plague, Satan feels neglected by the modern world that no longer cares about heresy or blames him for disease and death. He plans to create a new genesis, a place where people will love him. For that, his son needs just the right soul.
A Satan Carol is a horror story with a message for those who want to understand God's apparent absence as the intersection of freewill and choice. It is a story with religious themes written for a secular reader. It is, in the end, a tale about family values even if they originate in hell.
LEARN MORE AT www.WildChildPublishing.com
Nostalgic for the Inquisition and plague, Satan feels neglected by the modern world that no longer cares about heresy or blames him for disease and death. He plans to create a new genesis, a place where people will love him. For that, his son needs just the right soul.
A Satan Carol is a horror story with a message for those who want to understand God's apparent absence as the intersection of freewill and choice. It is a story with religious themes written for a secular reader. It is, in the end, a tale about family values even if they originate in hell.
LEARN MORE AT www.WildChildPublishing.com
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2011
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Alan S. Kessler
10 books93 followersToday, 2/11/21, is the first time I am using this space to say a little about myself.
Shyness, a belief I would bore readers with my background or cause them to think I was using it to selfishly gain sympathy, prevented me in the past from sharing biographical information. However, because of my new novel, Ghost Dancer, I believe it is now appropriate to mention a few aspects of my childhood.
With Ghost Dancer I am a white male writing about a teenage girl, Native and African Americans, and a same sex, female relationship. So the question is, am I also “…a white liberal interloper, a cultural [gender] carpetbagger…” the criticism leveled at William Styron for writing The Confessions of Nat Turner? (William Styron’s Nat Turner: Ten Black Writers Respond.)
My mother was sadistic, my father--a murderer who sentenced to the electric chair died in prison--beat me. I know about childhood abuse and marginalized people. Because of my own childhood struggles I could write about Eleanor, the teenage protagonist in Ghost Dancer, with an insight transcending gender. I care about her. Although fictional she is authentic and I am grateful I could give her a voice.
I hope readers will find Ghost Dancer worthwhile and my treatment of the subject matter respectful. I know with this story I have walked on sacred ground. I have tried to do so with an honest and open heart.
Shyness, a belief I would bore readers with my background or cause them to think I was using it to selfishly gain sympathy, prevented me in the past from sharing biographical information. However, because of my new novel, Ghost Dancer, I believe it is now appropriate to mention a few aspects of my childhood.
With Ghost Dancer I am a white male writing about a teenage girl, Native and African Americans, and a same sex, female relationship. So the question is, am I also “…a white liberal interloper, a cultural [gender] carpetbagger…” the criticism leveled at William Styron for writing The Confessions of Nat Turner? (William Styron’s Nat Turner: Ten Black Writers Respond.)
My mother was sadistic, my father--a murderer who sentenced to the electric chair died in prison--beat me. I know about childhood abuse and marginalized people. Because of my own childhood struggles I could write about Eleanor, the teenage protagonist in Ghost Dancer, with an insight transcending gender. I care about her. Although fictional she is authentic and I am grateful I could give her a voice.
I hope readers will find Ghost Dancer worthwhile and my treatment of the subject matter respectful. I know with this story I have walked on sacred ground. I have tried to do so with an honest and open heart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 8, 2013
Reading A Satan Carol brought to my mind the morality plays of the 15th and 16th centuries which involve a direct conflict between right and wrong or good and evil and from which a moral lesson may be drawn.
The novel starts in Ireland 1848, with a moving depiction of the Irish famine, the pressing atmosphere, and the people who try to survive; with Meg who believes herself blessed by Christ. She runs along coaches to beg for the rent she has to pay to her landlord Mr. Green. In Liam, her son, the villagers see a healer whose power could only come from Christ.
In the same chapter, the story moves then, all of a sudden, in Massachusetts, one hundred and eighty years later and we meet fourteen year old Katie Katz and her whole family.
Then we meet Orem, in the past and find out why Satan favored him with visions.
After reading the first two chapters, I had the impression that things were moving too slow. The story unfolds in alternating points of view. It's not the type of story one calls a page turner, yet it keeps you interested in what's going to happen next. It has a multitude of characters and back-stories I lost track of at some moment. The reader must pay attention to all the details in order to keep track of everything. The main lead belongs to Mr. Green, aka Satan, who needs a soul for his son. He wants to prove God that he isn't as bad as everyone considers him to be, and that he also can create something good. But does Father love me in return?/Not in this world but maybe in the next/when He sees with pride/how I too can create something out/of toxic nothing. An interesting, manipulating and conniving character. Mr. Green was a true believer in the holy church of his plans.
I can't say I felt empathy for any of the characters, no matter how good or bad they were. I'd have liked more insight into them.
As for the ending, I have mixed feelings regarding the way everything was wrapped up. An odd combination of macabre and religious themes. Maybe I didn’t get the exact message of this book.
Disclosure: My copy was offered by the author in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: Three stars.
----------------------------------------
The novel starts in Ireland 1848, with a moving depiction of the Irish famine, the pressing atmosphere, and the people who try to survive; with Meg who believes herself blessed by Christ. She runs along coaches to beg for the rent she has to pay to her landlord Mr. Green. In Liam, her son, the villagers see a healer whose power could only come from Christ.
In the same chapter, the story moves then, all of a sudden, in Massachusetts, one hundred and eighty years later and we meet fourteen year old Katie Katz and her whole family.
Then we meet Orem, in the past and find out why Satan favored him with visions.
After reading the first two chapters, I had the impression that things were moving too slow. The story unfolds in alternating points of view. It's not the type of story one calls a page turner, yet it keeps you interested in what's going to happen next. It has a multitude of characters and back-stories I lost track of at some moment. The reader must pay attention to all the details in order to keep track of everything. The main lead belongs to Mr. Green, aka Satan, who needs a soul for his son. He wants to prove God that he isn't as bad as everyone considers him to be, and that he also can create something good. But does Father love me in return?/Not in this world but maybe in the next/when He sees with pride/how I too can create something out/of toxic nothing. An interesting, manipulating and conniving character. Mr. Green was a true believer in the holy church of his plans.
I can't say I felt empathy for any of the characters, no matter how good or bad they were. I'd have liked more insight into them.
As for the ending, I have mixed feelings regarding the way everything was wrapped up. An odd combination of macabre and religious themes. Maybe I didn’t get the exact message of this book.
Disclosure: My copy was offered by the author in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: Three stars.
----------------------------------------
March 2, 2012
A Satan Carol was a very different read to say the least. Typically I would not choose to read a book with a religious undertone, but I have to say that I did enjoy the book. Kessler did a great job of throwing out several different stories with many different characters, each spread over a huge span of time, but then tying them all together showing the characters all working towards one purpose, which is the quest of Mr. Green (who is Satan himself) to get the Golden Soul to his son. I love that none of the characters were left as a loose end, each had a purpose in the story.
The book has a lot of gruesome scenes. It starts off with death, moves on to animal cruelty, and then continues throughout the book with a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, while still allowing each person to practice free will, as it was God's gift to the human race. All in all I would definitely recommend this book. It was a great read and really made me think.
The book has a lot of gruesome scenes. It starts off with death, moves on to animal cruelty, and then continues throughout the book with a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, while still allowing each person to practice free will, as it was God's gift to the human race. All in all I would definitely recommend this book. It was a great read and really made me think.
April 17, 2012
At first sight and after reading the synopsis, I wasn’t so sure this would be a nice fit for me, nor a proper horror book. Boy, was I wrong. Let’s start by saying that A Satan Carol is a very original story and Alan Kessler may very well be the next big thing. I loved this book with its twisted characters and offbeat pace. It’s been a while since a book has kept me guessing until the very end. But it’s not only the story that’s original, the way in which the author tells it added much to my sense of not really knowing what was happening, that I needed to get my bearings somehow. Delightful indeed.
The book starts in 1848 Ireland and tells the story of a mother desperate to find food to save her very special son from the famine sweeping the whole country, except for the rich landowners and the British aristocracy. The tone is very bleak and though there is no monster hiding in the dark, I felt the impending doom, fear, and desperation. The story then jumps a hundred and forty years into the future to a series of characters with highly varied backgrounds. Kessler keeps jumping from one time to another, from character to character without revealing too much about their connection or where he’s going. He relies on his mesmerizing narrative to keep pulling the reader further into the actions of what seems like a bunch of crazy, dysfunctional people.
The pace is slow but always interesting, very dark and atmospheric; so much so, that after a few pages, a truly disturbing feeling got under my skin and stayed there. As the book advances, the pace picks up and the tone becomes lighter; as if the more the reader understands, the more we can peek under Kessler's dark veil. Then the story turns even stranger and the characters more twisted. More than a few times I found myself flinching away from the pages or closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead in a fruitless attempt to erase from my mind the horrible image Kessler invoked.
A Satan Carol is a piece with so many qualities that it's a must for anyone craving an intelligent story that will make them think, cringe, and sweat. It is very well thought through, extremely original with a great mix of religious ideas and horror traits. And let’s not forget the powerful narrative that never releases you from its grip. Remember The Devil’s Advocate? Well, if you enjoyed that movie –and who didn’t?-- this book is right up your alley.
I have a couple of minor complains, though. First, there were a few problems with punctuation. Usually, of all possible editorial mistakes, punctuation would be the thing that bothered me the least, but because the author chooses to be so cryptic, and his style is very dark and hardly traditional, these small mistakes can make for a very confusing paragraph. My second complaint? The book’s ending. Now, is there ever a truly satisfying ending? I don’t know. We all think we can do better than what was done, so it is all very subjective. In my humble opinion, the book is three chapters too long. Right at the end of chapter eighteen there’s resolution for each of the issues raised throughout the story. The need to go on, I think, is merely that need deep inside every author to be the one who dictates the fate of each of his characters. The thing is, sometimes the openness of an ending suits a story better.
Now, with that out of the way, I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this book and how much I recommend you to read it. You’re really missing out if you don't read this book.
The book starts in 1848 Ireland and tells the story of a mother desperate to find food to save her very special son from the famine sweeping the whole country, except for the rich landowners and the British aristocracy. The tone is very bleak and though there is no monster hiding in the dark, I felt the impending doom, fear, and desperation. The story then jumps a hundred and forty years into the future to a series of characters with highly varied backgrounds. Kessler keeps jumping from one time to another, from character to character without revealing too much about their connection or where he’s going. He relies on his mesmerizing narrative to keep pulling the reader further into the actions of what seems like a bunch of crazy, dysfunctional people.
The pace is slow but always interesting, very dark and atmospheric; so much so, that after a few pages, a truly disturbing feeling got under my skin and stayed there. As the book advances, the pace picks up and the tone becomes lighter; as if the more the reader understands, the more we can peek under Kessler's dark veil. Then the story turns even stranger and the characters more twisted. More than a few times I found myself flinching away from the pages or closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead in a fruitless attempt to erase from my mind the horrible image Kessler invoked.
A Satan Carol is a piece with so many qualities that it's a must for anyone craving an intelligent story that will make them think, cringe, and sweat. It is very well thought through, extremely original with a great mix of religious ideas and horror traits. And let’s not forget the powerful narrative that never releases you from its grip. Remember The Devil’s Advocate? Well, if you enjoyed that movie –and who didn’t?-- this book is right up your alley.
I have a couple of minor complains, though. First, there were a few problems with punctuation. Usually, of all possible editorial mistakes, punctuation would be the thing that bothered me the least, but because the author chooses to be so cryptic, and his style is very dark and hardly traditional, these small mistakes can make for a very confusing paragraph. My second complaint? The book’s ending. Now, is there ever a truly satisfying ending? I don’t know. We all think we can do better than what was done, so it is all very subjective. In my humble opinion, the book is three chapters too long. Right at the end of chapter eighteen there’s resolution for each of the issues raised throughout the story. The need to go on, I think, is merely that need deep inside every author to be the one who dictates the fate of each of his characters. The thing is, sometimes the openness of an ending suits a story better.
Now, with that out of the way, I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this book and how much I recommend you to read it. You’re really missing out if you don't read this book.
February 29, 2012
A Satan Carol by spiritual horror author Alan Steven Kessler combines elements of the macabre and parody/satire to explore the concepts of free will and evil. Not having read in this horror subcategory before, I was intrigued when I received a copy of this ebook for review.
The story begins in 1848 Ireland during a time of intense famine. A poor, nearly starved boy dies in the countryside, releasing a ‘golden soul,’ a special soul full of kindness and healing power. Had he lived, he would have infected generations with goodness.
The tale then moves 180 years later to Christmas Eve in Massachusetts, where we encounter Katie Katz, a troubled, pregnant 14-year old who’s planning an abortion. Revolving around her are various characters who are interconnected in some way, either by family ties or by Mr. Green—aka the Devil—who has an agenda and will stop at nothing to tempt them and play with their conscience.
Among these characters are Katie’s father, Harvey Katz, a top notch lawyer who defends rapists and killers, does drugs and treats women like objects; her grandfather Orem, who’s cursed with prophesies and visions no one believes; Fritz Mueller, a gruesome doctor who performs abortions and uses the fetuses to extract a serum that could affect people’s growth. There are others, too, such as Katie’s mother and Harvey’s assistant.
Through the generations, Mr. Green has been following these people since birth, trying to shape their destinies to suit his purposes. At the top of his agenda, of course, is the golden soul and the way it could affect his son Pal. Though we have an idea that all the characters are pawns in Mr. Green’s evil games, it isn’t until the middle that we get a clearer picture of what’s really going on.
Mr Green tries to convince and trick his victims with dreams and hallucinations, but in the end, they have free will. As the plot evolves and the characters opt to follow the right path, Mr. Green grows increasingly frustrated. In fact, he becomes exhausted and whiny, prone to temper tantrums. After all, it isn’t easy bending the fabric of time and trying to be everywhere at once.
Who is the ghost of Christmas Eve? Is it Pal, Satan’s son? Is it Katie’s unborn child? Or is it the golden soul itself? Will Satan get his way in the end?
A Satan Carol moves back and forth in time and is told from multiple points of view. It is a well-written story with a heavy message that will especially appeal to Christian readers. Though some of the segments are gruesome and bordering on the bizarre, at times Kessler uses dark, twisted humor to lighten the prose. The story explores the universal theme of good versus evil with a particular focus on the power of free will. Kessler writes with a lot of attention to detail and some of the paragraphs are quite long, especially in the first half of the book. The pacing is faster in the second half, with less exposition and lots more dialogue.
A Satan Carol is an out-of-the-ordinary read that invites self pondering. Recommended for readers of horror and Christian fiction who’d like to try something different.
The story begins in 1848 Ireland during a time of intense famine. A poor, nearly starved boy dies in the countryside, releasing a ‘golden soul,’ a special soul full of kindness and healing power. Had he lived, he would have infected generations with goodness.
The tale then moves 180 years later to Christmas Eve in Massachusetts, where we encounter Katie Katz, a troubled, pregnant 14-year old who’s planning an abortion. Revolving around her are various characters who are interconnected in some way, either by family ties or by Mr. Green—aka the Devil—who has an agenda and will stop at nothing to tempt them and play with their conscience.
Among these characters are Katie’s father, Harvey Katz, a top notch lawyer who defends rapists and killers, does drugs and treats women like objects; her grandfather Orem, who’s cursed with prophesies and visions no one believes; Fritz Mueller, a gruesome doctor who performs abortions and uses the fetuses to extract a serum that could affect people’s growth. There are others, too, such as Katie’s mother and Harvey’s assistant.
Through the generations, Mr. Green has been following these people since birth, trying to shape their destinies to suit his purposes. At the top of his agenda, of course, is the golden soul and the way it could affect his son Pal. Though we have an idea that all the characters are pawns in Mr. Green’s evil games, it isn’t until the middle that we get a clearer picture of what’s really going on.
Mr Green tries to convince and trick his victims with dreams and hallucinations, but in the end, they have free will. As the plot evolves and the characters opt to follow the right path, Mr. Green grows increasingly frustrated. In fact, he becomes exhausted and whiny, prone to temper tantrums. After all, it isn’t easy bending the fabric of time and trying to be everywhere at once.
Who is the ghost of Christmas Eve? Is it Pal, Satan’s son? Is it Katie’s unborn child? Or is it the golden soul itself? Will Satan get his way in the end?
A Satan Carol moves back and forth in time and is told from multiple points of view. It is a well-written story with a heavy message that will especially appeal to Christian readers. Though some of the segments are gruesome and bordering on the bizarre, at times Kessler uses dark, twisted humor to lighten the prose. The story explores the universal theme of good versus evil with a particular focus on the power of free will. Kessler writes with a lot of attention to detail and some of the paragraphs are quite long, especially in the first half of the book. The pacing is faster in the second half, with less exposition and lots more dialogue.
A Satan Carol is an out-of-the-ordinary read that invites self pondering. Recommended for readers of horror and Christian fiction who’d like to try something different.
March 9, 2012
Alan Steven Kessler's "A Satan Carol" is a fictional story with some basis on Christian religious beliefs. I've found it to be an enjoyable spiritual horror story that gives insight into why bad things happen to good people, why good things happen to bad people, and where God is during all this.
The main character is God's first born child, Satan, who fell from grace. Jesus is his younger brother who has their father's favor. Satan wants to win God's love back by create his own "world" called Shinyland 8 where he is God so his father will acknowledge him for once. After all, he would have created his world with no help, it wasn't given to him like Jesus' world was given to Jesus. To carry out his plan he knew he would have to secure "The Golden Soul" for his son Pal who lives in Shinyland 7 (another one of Satan's worlds) and in medical need.
The story starts off in Ireland in 1848 during the Great Famine, where Satan is sure he will secure the "Golden Soul" for his son. However even being Satan doesn't make it a sure thing because the soul wasn't given to Pal. Satan then puts another plan in place to once again secure this soul. Not because he cared deeply for Pal or his parental concern for his son but because it was crucial for Pal to have this soul so he can heal himself and put Satan's plan into place of being the God of Shinyland 8. Spreading his evil to get what he wants to the end of the story, a hundred and eighty years later in Massachusetts.
I found the chapters are well organized as they introduce new people or new events keeping with the time from past toward present day. I did have a bit of problem connecting the first chapter with the others however at the end it became very clear how they are related. I also had a bit of a time stomaching some of the scenes. I found them quite cruel and grotesque from watching the child dying from starvation while telling him he will be dead soon to the eating of fried rat's fetuses. I sure wouldn't recommend reading this while eating which also means that Mr. Kessler did achieve his goal in excellence in scene description.
Torture, torment, hallucinations, and visions are throughout the story. After all, this is a story about Satan. I found I wondered if the hallucination was just that or if the person really was dreaming or seeing it for real. Then again, so did the character. Some characters were even convinced they were going mad. If it wasn't made clear which one it was at the time I read it, it becomes clear shortly after so I was never really lost or confused for long.
Satan would stop at nothing to get what he wants but even he had rules to go by. He couldn't force man into doing what he wanted since man had freewill. He can bribe, promise, and blackmail all he wanted but the choice was up to man to accept or reject and he found plenty to accept. No surprise there but just when I thought I knew where this story was going and what was coming next, a twist. I found the ending a total surprise.
The main character is God's first born child, Satan, who fell from grace. Jesus is his younger brother who has their father's favor. Satan wants to win God's love back by create his own "world" called Shinyland 8 where he is God so his father will acknowledge him for once. After all, he would have created his world with no help, it wasn't given to him like Jesus' world was given to Jesus. To carry out his plan he knew he would have to secure "The Golden Soul" for his son Pal who lives in Shinyland 7 (another one of Satan's worlds) and in medical need.
The story starts off in Ireland in 1848 during the Great Famine, where Satan is sure he will secure the "Golden Soul" for his son. However even being Satan doesn't make it a sure thing because the soul wasn't given to Pal. Satan then puts another plan in place to once again secure this soul. Not because he cared deeply for Pal or his parental concern for his son but because it was crucial for Pal to have this soul so he can heal himself and put Satan's plan into place of being the God of Shinyland 8. Spreading his evil to get what he wants to the end of the story, a hundred and eighty years later in Massachusetts.
I found the chapters are well organized as they introduce new people or new events keeping with the time from past toward present day. I did have a bit of problem connecting the first chapter with the others however at the end it became very clear how they are related. I also had a bit of a time stomaching some of the scenes. I found them quite cruel and grotesque from watching the child dying from starvation while telling him he will be dead soon to the eating of fried rat's fetuses. I sure wouldn't recommend reading this while eating which also means that Mr. Kessler did achieve his goal in excellence in scene description.
Torture, torment, hallucinations, and visions are throughout the story. After all, this is a story about Satan. I found I wondered if the hallucination was just that or if the person really was dreaming or seeing it for real. Then again, so did the character. Some characters were even convinced they were going mad. If it wasn't made clear which one it was at the time I read it, it becomes clear shortly after so I was never really lost or confused for long.
Satan would stop at nothing to get what he wants but even he had rules to go by. He couldn't force man into doing what he wanted since man had freewill. He can bribe, promise, and blackmail all he wanted but the choice was up to man to accept or reject and he found plenty to accept. No surprise there but just when I thought I knew where this story was going and what was coming next, a twist. I found the ending a total surprise.
January 17, 2016
In Kessler’s A Satan’s Carol, Satan was always God’s favorite son – that is, until his annoying brother, Jesus, came into the picture. Now he spends most of his time in the world of his own creation, a bizarre facsimile of Earth called Shinyland 7 where his human subjects do what humans do best – make each other totally and completely miserable.
Even though he’s been cast aside in favor of the “Chosen One,” Satan still has hopes to please his father and convince him that he, too, is capable of doing good. As Jesus Christ was mankind’s savior, Satan plans to father a son who will become the messiah for Shinyland 7. In his efforts, Satan manages to produce one son, Pal, but the child is soulless and inanimate, hardly worthy of catching God’s attention, let alone capturing the attention of the unwashed multitudes. To secure his son’s rightful place as messiah, Satan next searches for the Golden Soul, a singular, special soul that will, in essence, make Pal a “real boy.”
Free will plays a big part in the story. In Kessler’s fictional universe, free will belongs to everything – including the Golden Soul. So, naturally, even Satan’s best laid plans go awry. The Soul has no interest in Pal, but instead sees greater promise in the unborn child of Katie Katz, the spoiled daughter of a lawyer. This puts a slight hitch in Satan’s plans, but it’s nothing he hasn’t dealt with before – after all, he can be very persuasive with people when he wants to be.
Instead of giving his story a fast-paced plot, Kessler slowly, but carefully, traces the psychological paths of a group of characters who are pawns in the devil’s master plan.
I’ll just go ahead and say it: Everyone in the story is pretty much damned, or is otherwise in serious danger of becoming damned. Most are just plain, ordinary people who fight against Satan’s influence: the girl, Katie, who is considering an abortion; her father, a repentant criminal attorney who considers suicide after a lifetime of wrong-doing; a pesky, deeply religious farmer who keeps muddling with Satan’s plans – just to name a few. Others have become Satan’s willing minions, including a seriously creepy abortion doctor who sold his soul in exchange for acceptance into medical school.
It’s not a story for everyone, but for lovers of the creepy, surreal, unconventional, and strange, definitely an original and interesting read. Recommended for fans of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.
Even though he’s been cast aside in favor of the “Chosen One,” Satan still has hopes to please his father and convince him that he, too, is capable of doing good. As Jesus Christ was mankind’s savior, Satan plans to father a son who will become the messiah for Shinyland 7. In his efforts, Satan manages to produce one son, Pal, but the child is soulless and inanimate, hardly worthy of catching God’s attention, let alone capturing the attention of the unwashed multitudes. To secure his son’s rightful place as messiah, Satan next searches for the Golden Soul, a singular, special soul that will, in essence, make Pal a “real boy.”
Free will plays a big part in the story. In Kessler’s fictional universe, free will belongs to everything – including the Golden Soul. So, naturally, even Satan’s best laid plans go awry. The Soul has no interest in Pal, but instead sees greater promise in the unborn child of Katie Katz, the spoiled daughter of a lawyer. This puts a slight hitch in Satan’s plans, but it’s nothing he hasn’t dealt with before – after all, he can be very persuasive with people when he wants to be.
Instead of giving his story a fast-paced plot, Kessler slowly, but carefully, traces the psychological paths of a group of characters who are pawns in the devil’s master plan.
I’ll just go ahead and say it: Everyone in the story is pretty much damned, or is otherwise in serious danger of becoming damned. Most are just plain, ordinary people who fight against Satan’s influence: the girl, Katie, who is considering an abortion; her father, a repentant criminal attorney who considers suicide after a lifetime of wrong-doing; a pesky, deeply religious farmer who keeps muddling with Satan’s plans – just to name a few. Others have become Satan’s willing minions, including a seriously creepy abortion doctor who sold his soul in exchange for acceptance into medical school.
It’s not a story for everyone, but for lovers of the creepy, surreal, unconventional, and strange, definitely an original and interesting read. Recommended for fans of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.
January 6, 2013
Penned by Alan S. Kessler “A Satan Carol” is a fictional horror novel, with very unique writing style this book shows its readers a plan/plot which spans centuries, this plan evolve around many protagonist each with their own story, but as the book progresses their individual story seems just a part of the big puzzle, a puzzle when solved will complete quest of The Satan himself.
“Of all creation’s bounty realized, God’s greatest gift, the gift by Him most prized, is the freedom He bestowed upon the will.” - Dante, The Paradiso.
These lines bring out the reason why god chose to give us Free will, but is it really why? Or is it because, Free will is the reason God can absent Himself from our lives without feeling guilty. Is free will a gift to humanity, or is it a gift God gave Himself? Freedom is useful if its compost for growing something new, and the Satan is using this freedom to create a new world where he will be known as The Savior.
Over the course of the book The Satan (a.k.a Mr. Green), using his charming personality manipulate the
characters, always acting from behind the curtains and pulling the strings so as to get what he wants, A Golden Soul.
The book deals with daily life of characters. How some of them chose the wrong path, a path against morals, path of wrong over right, they forgot the ethics just for the sake of some material benefit be it money, recognition or sex. But there were some people who despite all the lures, temptations sticked to the lessons of morality.
Book explains some people might delude themselves thinking their life gone all wrong because of the mischiefs by Satan but they forget one always has choice. The book contains some Animal mutilation, cannibalism because of which reader’s discretion is advised.
The book “A Satan Carol” has lot to offer but only to those who are ready, thus justifying it’s surtitle of being “A Spiritual Horror Story for Secular Readers”. As a reader I enjoyed the story and learned lots of things, one thing above all which I would like to share with all of you, “Family matters & Money does not always equates to Happiness”. This book is a deserving candidate for 4 out of 5 starts.
“Of all creation’s bounty realized, God’s greatest gift, the gift by Him most prized, is the freedom He bestowed upon the will.” - Dante, The Paradiso.
These lines bring out the reason why god chose to give us Free will, but is it really why? Or is it because, Free will is the reason God can absent Himself from our lives without feeling guilty. Is free will a gift to humanity, or is it a gift God gave Himself? Freedom is useful if its compost for growing something new, and the Satan is using this freedom to create a new world where he will be known as The Savior.
Over the course of the book The Satan (a.k.a Mr. Green), using his charming personality manipulate the
characters, always acting from behind the curtains and pulling the strings so as to get what he wants, A Golden Soul.
The book deals with daily life of characters. How some of them chose the wrong path, a path against morals, path of wrong over right, they forgot the ethics just for the sake of some material benefit be it money, recognition or sex. But there were some people who despite all the lures, temptations sticked to the lessons of morality.
Book explains some people might delude themselves thinking their life gone all wrong because of the mischiefs by Satan but they forget one always has choice. The book contains some Animal mutilation, cannibalism because of which reader’s discretion is advised.
The book “A Satan Carol” has lot to offer but only to those who are ready, thus justifying it’s surtitle of being “A Spiritual Horror Story for Secular Readers”. As a reader I enjoyed the story and learned lots of things, one thing above all which I would like to share with all of you, “Family matters & Money does not always equates to Happiness”. This book is a deserving candidate for 4 out of 5 starts.
April 4, 2012
Title: A Satan Carol
Author: Alan S. Kessler
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing (December 26, 2011)
Available: $5.99 at Barnes and Noble
Rating: 4.5 stars
Rater: Lauri (Critique de Book Reviews)
Plot Summary:
This book tells the story of several characters and their individual lives, and tragedies -- all of whom come together in the end. This is true horror – religious horror – with a plot that encompasses exactly what a horror plot should. Here, the devil is out to steal the world.
The good:
The stories of each character are well thought out, and blend well with the others. Each character has a voice, and is appropriately developed.
The horror is at times quite chilling. This is not a book for kids.
The bad:
The writing is generally quite good, but it stumbles in some places. I felt the narrator shift from inside the story to an outside view at times, and it pulled me out of the story.
The story itself is told from a very religious POV regardless of character. This is both good and bad, I suppose. I found it too sticky and thick to bear at times, and even a bit ridiculous once or twice, but this story does provide an inside view of several religiously-obsessed persons, which I found myself marveling at.
In sum:
I read this book, then read several reviews of it because I wanted to know if others left this story wondering whether it was satire or not. One other reviewer did, but the rest seem to have taken the story quite seriously.
The truth is that I don’t know whether it’s satire or not. I will say that the religious aspects at times reflect a mindset that I would expect to find in the furthest fringes, and at others seems to echo a more moderate perspective. That – the psychological wonderment – was part of the draw of this book for me. It’s crazy. Plain and simple.
If you like horror, and especially if you have a fascination with religious zealotry, this is definitely a book you need to read.
Author: Alan S. Kessler
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing (December 26, 2011)
Available: $5.99 at Barnes and Noble
Rating: 4.5 stars
Rater: Lauri (Critique de Book Reviews)
Plot Summary:
This book tells the story of several characters and their individual lives, and tragedies -- all of whom come together in the end. This is true horror – religious horror – with a plot that encompasses exactly what a horror plot should. Here, the devil is out to steal the world.
The good:
The stories of each character are well thought out, and blend well with the others. Each character has a voice, and is appropriately developed.
The horror is at times quite chilling. This is not a book for kids.
The bad:
The writing is generally quite good, but it stumbles in some places. I felt the narrator shift from inside the story to an outside view at times, and it pulled me out of the story.
The story itself is told from a very religious POV regardless of character. This is both good and bad, I suppose. I found it too sticky and thick to bear at times, and even a bit ridiculous once or twice, but this story does provide an inside view of several religiously-obsessed persons, which I found myself marveling at.
In sum:
I read this book, then read several reviews of it because I wanted to know if others left this story wondering whether it was satire or not. One other reviewer did, but the rest seem to have taken the story quite seriously.
The truth is that I don’t know whether it’s satire or not. I will say that the religious aspects at times reflect a mindset that I would expect to find in the furthest fringes, and at others seems to echo a more moderate perspective. That – the psychological wonderment – was part of the draw of this book for me. It’s crazy. Plain and simple.
If you like horror, and especially if you have a fascination with religious zealotry, this is definitely a book you need to read.
September 11, 2012
A Satan Carol by author Alan Kessler is not just another horror tale replete with the blood, gore, extreme violence or horrific monsters that usually populate horror novels. Instead, this story brings the thought provoking horrors that arise from human nature, free will and giving into the devil’s manipulation. I found the title alone - intriguing and once I started reading, I was immediately drawn into this absorbing book. I enjoyed this tale of the devil and his machinations to become God of his own world Shinyland 7 and to keep his son alive. Both satirical and macabre in nature this book is a tale of religious horror that I found personally intriguing.
Mr. Kessler has created a mentally stimulating work that keeps the reader enthralled with the story until its end. The characters are well drawn and the story is rightly detailed so that the reader gets a front seat view to hell. Mr. Green as the devil incarnate, is a well devised antagonist whose antics makes this story a fairytale of spiritual dilemmas that has a moral at the end of the story.
Each chapter presents the story of individual characters whose morality is “hanging in the balance” by their personal choices. The characters also have a unique connection, which is not immediately evident early on in the story but ties together by the end.
Of All the characters in the story I found Orem to be the character of the greatest depth, he is the protagonist who stands strongest against the devil’s temptations and remains dedicated in his service to God throughout the story; which within the confines of this story is a hard won achievement.
A Satan Carol is not a tale for the squeamish because it does contain scenes from Ireland’s potato famine era and other graphic scenes that are quite heart wrenching. However, we are dealing with the devil here. Overall, this is a very well written “thinking man’s” horror that I would entirely recommend to mature readers.
Mr. Kessler has created a mentally stimulating work that keeps the reader enthralled with the story until its end. The characters are well drawn and the story is rightly detailed so that the reader gets a front seat view to hell. Mr. Green as the devil incarnate, is a well devised antagonist whose antics makes this story a fairytale of spiritual dilemmas that has a moral at the end of the story.
Each chapter presents the story of individual characters whose morality is “hanging in the balance” by their personal choices. The characters also have a unique connection, which is not immediately evident early on in the story but ties together by the end.
Of All the characters in the story I found Orem to be the character of the greatest depth, he is the protagonist who stands strongest against the devil’s temptations and remains dedicated in his service to God throughout the story; which within the confines of this story is a hard won achievement.
A Satan Carol is not a tale for the squeamish because it does contain scenes from Ireland’s potato famine era and other graphic scenes that are quite heart wrenching. However, we are dealing with the devil here. Overall, this is a very well written “thinking man’s” horror that I would entirely recommend to mature readers.
March 21, 2012
A Satan Carol desperately wanted to grab my attention. The description of the book had me hooked at the word horror, but I failed to find any gut twisting horror in the story. Granted, it is about Satan, and there are a few bloody or obscene sections, but I don’t think this really fell into the horror category. If I had to classify it anywhere it would be dark satire.
Satan, aka Mr. Green, is jaded by God’s love for another son, Jesus. And in a search to find happiness for himself, Satan has decided to start a family of his own. The Anti-Christ has been born on another planet named Shineland 7, but the boy is physically unable to move around on his own. Satan enlists the help of several people to obtain a “golden soul” to empower his son through their own free will actions. The emphasis seems to fall heavily on free will, but I think the concept is thrown out the window when you are threatened with horrible things if you don’t follow a certain path.
The author takes great care to describe the story in detail, but seems to fall flat on dialog. Characters speak out loud to themselves to mill over their own thoughts, and there seems to be some confusing formatting as two characters have a telepathic conversation. It almost feels like you’re reading the script for a play.
The story is well written and heavily laden with religious undertones, which I find engaging, as I’m always curious to read a new take on any religion, but it just didn’t seem to pull me into the horror of the situation.
A Satan Carol is dusted with the horror of everyday living as we get to know the characters: An obedient wife, a promiscuous husband, a defiant teen, greedy doctor, and a man who sees visions. Somehow they are all linked to obtaining the “golden soul” and slowly the lines are connected through the book. Overall, it’s definitely an acquired taste.
Satan, aka Mr. Green, is jaded by God’s love for another son, Jesus. And in a search to find happiness for himself, Satan has decided to start a family of his own. The Anti-Christ has been born on another planet named Shineland 7, but the boy is physically unable to move around on his own. Satan enlists the help of several people to obtain a “golden soul” to empower his son through their own free will actions. The emphasis seems to fall heavily on free will, but I think the concept is thrown out the window when you are threatened with horrible things if you don’t follow a certain path.
The author takes great care to describe the story in detail, but seems to fall flat on dialog. Characters speak out loud to themselves to mill over their own thoughts, and there seems to be some confusing formatting as two characters have a telepathic conversation. It almost feels like you’re reading the script for a play.
The story is well written and heavily laden with religious undertones, which I find engaging, as I’m always curious to read a new take on any religion, but it just didn’t seem to pull me into the horror of the situation.
A Satan Carol is dusted with the horror of everyday living as we get to know the characters: An obedient wife, a promiscuous husband, a defiant teen, greedy doctor, and a man who sees visions. Somehow they are all linked to obtaining the “golden soul” and slowly the lines are connected through the book. Overall, it’s definitely an acquired taste.
February 27, 2012
Consider a Satan who is less of an incarnation of evil unto itself and more a victim of his circumstance. Satan was the favored one until Jesus came along, and he has never gotten over the change in his circumstance. Like any child who has been neglected, Satan has taken to...acting out. He has fathered a child to act as his prophet, but his child has no soul and Satan must manipulate within the rules of free will to lure a precious Golden Soul to his son.
I am generally not a fan of overtly religious works, but there was something utterly fascinating about Kessler's take on Satan. Absentmindedly cruel and vulgar, yes. But it was a far cry from indiscriminate evil. There was a motivation behind Satan's actions, a need to be noticed and recognized and appreciated that made him a more palatable character.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but it is well worth the effort as Kessler deftly pulls them all together. There are no loose ends leaving a reader dissatisfied-instead I was inclined to raise a glass in appreciation as characters I had forgotten about, or had simply written off as a one-time mention, came back into play in well thought out ways.
Satan is the great manipulator of the book, acting behind the scenes to play human off of human so as to be still working within the rules of free will to get the results he wants. It turned the book into a well thought out, oft times horrifying, look at human nature and motivation. It is not always a comfortable book, but it is an honest one.
I am generally not a fan of overtly religious works, but there was something utterly fascinating about Kessler's take on Satan. Absentmindedly cruel and vulgar, yes. But it was a far cry from indiscriminate evil. There was a motivation behind Satan's actions, a need to be noticed and recognized and appreciated that made him a more palatable character.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but it is well worth the effort as Kessler deftly pulls them all together. There are no loose ends leaving a reader dissatisfied-instead I was inclined to raise a glass in appreciation as characters I had forgotten about, or had simply written off as a one-time mention, came back into play in well thought out ways.
Satan is the great manipulator of the book, acting behind the scenes to play human off of human so as to be still working within the rules of free will to get the results he wants. It turned the book into a well thought out, oft times horrifying, look at human nature and motivation. It is not always a comfortable book, but it is an honest one.
February 27, 2012
A Satan Carol by Alan S. Kessler is a many faceted story that is told as we are shown several different angles of what can ultimately be seen as one plot. The story starts in historic Ireland, where we watch Meg, a poor famine stricken mother doing everything she can to try providing for Liam, her sickly child. Her landlord, a Mr. Green, is little help. As the situation continues to grow worse for her, the story leaves her and moves on until her tale, and that of her child are almost forgotten. Piece by piece different scenes are thrown before us until we can see the the branches of a family. Over the years we also see Mr. Green reappear in many forms, as he attempts to use the other characters to fulfill his own agenda
Now, Mr. Green does have a purpose behind his wicked scheming. Because he exists as the antithesis of anything even remotely holy, he is unable to father a child possessing its own soul. And it’s not just any soul he would have ffor his descendant, no he thinks his son deserves the special golden soul that can exist for only one person -ANYWHERE- at one point in time. So when Katie, a high school-er from a broken home with unusual religious beliefs finds herself unintentionally pregnant with a child who is attracting this special golden soul, what will happen? Mix in a few of her relatives having ‘visions’ about the baby and their fight for protection of the child and possession of the soul might get nasty.
Now, Mr. Green does have a purpose behind his wicked scheming. Because he exists as the antithesis of anything even remotely holy, he is unable to father a child possessing its own soul. And it’s not just any soul he would have ffor his descendant, no he thinks his son deserves the special golden soul that can exist for only one person -ANYWHERE- at one point in time. So when Katie, a high school-er from a broken home with unusual religious beliefs finds herself unintentionally pregnant with a child who is attracting this special golden soul, what will happen? Mix in a few of her relatives having ‘visions’ about the baby and their fight for protection of the child and possession of the soul might get nasty.
March 6, 2012
A Satan Carol by Alan Kessler is a unique read from start to finish. Not really a fan of this type of writing, I loved this book. I found myself thinking about it
after putting it down.
The book begins during Ireland's Great Famine, where a young boy suffering from the famine, dies and thus releases his golden soul. From here we meet an array of characters: each and every one
completely different, including Mr Green who is, it turns out, Lucifer. [The Devil]. Mr Green wants this soul for his son Pal, and he has a huge determination to get it. But an unborn baby boy jumps the queue and
so Mr Green flits between each character who have certain roles to play in this odd, but extremely engaging story. Most of the story is so bizarre but they are the parts that suck you in. As soon as you realize what just happened,
another incident takes hold.
It truly was an incredible roller coaster of a read: Took a bit of time to get into the beginning of the story, but once you do its a different but engaging read. It isn't deeply religious; its more an exploration on the subject of freewill.
Mr Kessler has written a unique but satisfying, if a completely mixed bag, Book.
after putting it down.
The book begins during Ireland's Great Famine, where a young boy suffering from the famine, dies and thus releases his golden soul. From here we meet an array of characters: each and every one
completely different, including Mr Green who is, it turns out, Lucifer. [The Devil]. Mr Green wants this soul for his son Pal, and he has a huge determination to get it. But an unborn baby boy jumps the queue and
so Mr Green flits between each character who have certain roles to play in this odd, but extremely engaging story. Most of the story is so bizarre but they are the parts that suck you in. As soon as you realize what just happened,
another incident takes hold.
It truly was an incredible roller coaster of a read: Took a bit of time to get into the beginning of the story, but once you do its a different but engaging read. It isn't deeply religious; its more an exploration on the subject of freewill.
Mr Kessler has written a unique but satisfying, if a completely mixed bag, Book.
April 16, 2012
A SATAN CAROL was a bit of an odd duck for me, a religious/horror satire. If you think about it, the two go together well.
Satan, Mr. Green in the novel, is jealous of his younger brother Jesus. "Better press!"
He wants the Golden Soul for his son Pal, born virtually a vegetable, so that he can go forth and be a prophet for his father. The Golden Soul went to someone destined to make the world better. He missed a chance once before, the opening sequence of the book 180 years in the past. In the present, the Golden Soul was destined for Pal when a young girl, all of fourteen, gets pregnant and Pal is nudged aside.
Now Mr. Green needs the girl to get an abortion to put Pal back on track. The girl wants one, her mother consents, but the amoral father. a lawyer, gets a vision as he's about to commit suicide that he needs to save the baby and withdraws the consent.
Now Satan is frantically trying to manipulate things to go his way, his chance for a universe where he's loved, Shinyland 7, slipping away.
The book, for me, started a bit slow, but picked up steam quickly and I couldn't read fast enough.
Satan, Mr. Green in the novel, is jealous of his younger brother Jesus. "Better press!"
He wants the Golden Soul for his son Pal, born virtually a vegetable, so that he can go forth and be a prophet for his father. The Golden Soul went to someone destined to make the world better. He missed a chance once before, the opening sequence of the book 180 years in the past. In the present, the Golden Soul was destined for Pal when a young girl, all of fourteen, gets pregnant and Pal is nudged aside.
Now Mr. Green needs the girl to get an abortion to put Pal back on track. The girl wants one, her mother consents, but the amoral father. a lawyer, gets a vision as he's about to commit suicide that he needs to save the baby and withdraws the consent.
Now Satan is frantically trying to manipulate things to go his way, his chance for a universe where he's loved, Shinyland 7, slipping away.
The book, for me, started a bit slow, but picked up steam quickly and I couldn't read fast enough.
September 12, 2013
This is a very different kind of book, but one that shows imagination and a flair for descriptive language. It alternates between past and present and, after reading the first couple of chapters, I thought it might be a series of short stories. Then the characters started to blend in a way that told me this was a tale that transcends time. Mr. Green, aka Satan, presents himself in different forms, but he is always conniving in how he tries to use free will to seduce his targets into selling their souls. And, the story goes deeper than that. The author explores Satan’s long-running battle with God, and his innate desire to prove that the Almighty did him wrong. He refers to God as his father and even Dad, always in a defamatory way. I suppose you could say that Alan Kessler gives the devil a platform to air his grievances with his creator. Yes, there are occasions where the story wanders a bit, especially when describing the background of a character in the middle of a scene, but I found this to be a unique and creative work with dynamic characters and sparkling dialogue. For those with a taste for the esoteric, you should find it a stimulating read.
July 5, 2012
Okay, I have to say that this book was just really weird. (Here, I said it, I can't carry on now...
It took me awhile to wrap my head around what what going on with this book, but it was well worth it. The author did an amazing job of giving out a bunch of loose ends, then tying them all up into a lovely neat little package at the end. The majority of characters aren't particularly likeable, but you end up feeling something for each of them.
Told from the point of view of Satan, the reader almost starts to feel sorry for the fallen angel, as the author deftly brings many points to the surface. Some of the questions that Satan asks, well, you do wonder why... Although I can't say I was enamoured of the character, it was well done, and Satan was an interesting and very different character than what most of us would expect
Take your time with this one, and don't rush your reading. It's well worth the time and you may come away feeling just a little different about some things. Hopefully not too different!
It took me awhile to wrap my head around what what going on with this book, but it was well worth it. The author did an amazing job of giving out a bunch of loose ends, then tying them all up into a lovely neat little package at the end. The majority of characters aren't particularly likeable, but you end up feeling something for each of them.
Told from the point of view of Satan, the reader almost starts to feel sorry for the fallen angel, as the author deftly brings many points to the surface. Some of the questions that Satan asks, well, you do wonder why... Although I can't say I was enamoured of the character, it was well done, and Satan was an interesting and very different character than what most of us would expect
Take your time with this one, and don't rush your reading. It's well worth the time and you may come away feeling just a little different about some things. Hopefully not too different!
March 17, 2012
Full Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
This sounded like something different, something a little bit quirky and obtuse and something that I might well be able to get my teeth into but, right from the start, I found this very difficult to get on with. Starting in Ireland during the days of the Potato Blight, the book then jumps back and forth across several generations as the Devil, forever referred to as the mysterious Mr.Green, attempts to manipulate events and circumstances to obtain his desired end results. But the people have Free Will and often refuse to perform as he would have them do making his task ever more complicated. This was my first gripe because unless you read the blurb and knew this Mr.Green was the Devil, the rest of the story does not make this abundantly clear. Also, we are introduced to too many characters very early on and it is left up to the reader pretty much to decipher their connection!
This sounded like something different, something a little bit quirky and obtuse and something that I might well be able to get my teeth into but, right from the start, I found this very difficult to get on with. Starting in Ireland during the days of the Potato Blight, the book then jumps back and forth across several generations as the Devil, forever referred to as the mysterious Mr.Green, attempts to manipulate events and circumstances to obtain his desired end results. But the people have Free Will and often refuse to perform as he would have them do making his task ever more complicated. This was my first gripe because unless you read the blurb and knew this Mr.Green was the Devil, the rest of the story does not make this abundantly clear. Also, we are introduced to too many characters very early on and it is left up to the reader pretty much to decipher their connection!
May 17, 2012
I wasn't sure if this would be for me, but it was something different so I thought I would give it a try. I had a little trouble getting into it in the beginning, not sure where the story was going, but it didn't take long to get wrapped up in the story. I was soon interested in figuring out how the various people and events would interconnect.
Mr. Green, aka Satan, likes to meddle in people's lives, but can't affect their free will. You see him manipulate people to try to get the outcome he wants. The story is very thought-provoking and there is a lot about religion and how it affects people in their thoughts and actions and the role it plays in their lives. This book is bizarre and impossible to predict what will happen next. You just have to hang on for the ride and see how it plays out. It gets creepy and disturbing in places, but not overly graphic. I think it was worth the read.
Mr. Green, aka Satan, likes to meddle in people's lives, but can't affect their free will. You see him manipulate people to try to get the outcome he wants. The story is very thought-provoking and there is a lot about religion and how it affects people in their thoughts and actions and the role it plays in their lives. This book is bizarre and impossible to predict what will happen next. You just have to hang on for the ride and see how it plays out. It gets creepy and disturbing in places, but not overly graphic. I think it was worth the read.
August 27, 2013
Although I’m not a fan of religious books, I found it interesting. Satan needed to be noticed and recognized. He is the great manipulator of the book, operating behind the scenes to play human off of human; still working within the laws of free will to gain the results he wants.
A Satan Carol shifts back and forth in time; conveyed from numerous points of view. It is a heavy message story that will especially appeal to Christian readers. It explores the universal theme of good against evil, which focuses on the power of free will. It’s an out-of-the-ordinary read that will prompt self-pondering. Kessler has paid excellent attention to detail. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but Kessler cleverly pulls them all together. He leaves no loose ends that will leave a reader displeased. My only wish for this read was to be written more active.
A Satan Carol shifts back and forth in time; conveyed from numerous points of view. It is a heavy message story that will especially appeal to Christian readers. It explores the universal theme of good against evil, which focuses on the power of free will. It’s an out-of-the-ordinary read that will prompt self-pondering. Kessler has paid excellent attention to detail. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but Kessler cleverly pulls them all together. He leaves no loose ends that will leave a reader displeased. My only wish for this read was to be written more active.
December 26, 2024
While this is very written, I am not sure how I feel about it. It is supposed to be a Christmas Horror story, and it is. It starts out in a confusing way. But everything comes together in the end. Maybe that is what is confusing to me. Maybe it just it is not the way I am used to reading this type of story.
But is well written and for someone who is more used to this type of story line, it probably a great read.
But is well written and for someone who is more used to this type of story line, it probably a great read.
April 24, 2012
As an atheist, I found this mechanistic, superficial and repetitive. It's a shame. In the past, the religiously inclined could write very well about their faith but this is just dire.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews