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Hawkes Harbor
An orphan and a bastard, Jamie Sommers grew up knowing he had no hope of heaven. Conceived in adultery and born in sin, Jamie was destined to repeat the sins of his parents--or so the nuns told him. And he proved them right. Taking to sea, Jamie sought out danger and adventure in exotic ports all over the world as a smuggler, gunrunner--and murderer. Tough enough to handle anything, he's survived foreign prisons, pirates, and a shark attack. But in a quiet seaside town in Delaware, Jamie discovered something that was enough to drive him insane-and change his life forever. For it was in Hawkes Harbor that Jamie came face to face with the ultimate evil....
289 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
106 people are currently reading
2496 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Hinton
45 books8,232 followersS.E. Hinton, was and still is, one of the most popular and best known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels changed the way people look at young adult literature.
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book, her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking.
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book, her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
March 2, 2008
I read this book because S.E. Hinton was my favorite author when I was a young hoodlum in the motha' fuckin' Dirty Bay. However, this is the WORST book I've ever read. Seriously. I fucking dare you to read it. I DARE YOU!
I don't think I'd have ever finished it except that I kept waiting for it to suddenly make sense because I had a nearly religious faith in S.E. Hinton. In the end, I was reminded why I abandoned faith for atheism.
I don't think I'd have ever finished it except that I kept waiting for it to suddenly make sense because I had a nearly religious faith in S.E. Hinton. In the end, I was reminded why I abandoned faith for atheism.
July 12, 2009
Really?
The woman who wrote The Outsiders wrote this mess of a novel. Ok, I am no longer under any illusion that The Outsiders is great literature. I appreciate it for what it is, but I can see its faults too. I also cut S.E. Hinton some slack, as she wrote The Outsiders when she was 16. She was all grown up when she wrote this one, so I don't know what her excuse is.
She's still basically writing about the same character: handsome young man; difficult childhood; no parental figures; lives rough and takes care of himself; gruff, but with a good heart. Who is this guy she's still obsessed with? Her father? Her brother? Her first love? Whoever he is, he's still on her mind.
The handsome young man is in a mental hospital. He's been shot. He has had a mental breakdown. What, oh what, has happened to him?
The story is spun out slowly, in a series of flashbacks. The young man is a criminal. A pirate of sorts. He loves the sea. Ho Hum. Then the vampire shit starts!
A vampire? Are you kidding me? I couldn't believe it. A vampire. In 1960s New England.
It's as if Hinton was trying to think of some gimmick to make this book popular in today's market and realized that vampires are popular, so decided to go that route.
But it gets even dumber. The vampire becomes human again (through some rituals never fully explained to the reader). Although the vampire originally had total control over the young man, threatened to kill him if he didn't do what he was told, by the end of the book, the vampire becomes the young man's best friend. Weird. Weird and corny!
As I read this book, I kept laughing aloud, because the premises of the story were so ridiculous.
I realize that the theme of this book is redemption. Redemption is a good theme. But a vampire! Give me a break. If the captor had been a military torture expert, the young man a captured soldier, the plot may have worked, but a vampire...that's just silly.
The woman who wrote The Outsiders wrote this mess of a novel. Ok, I am no longer under any illusion that The Outsiders is great literature. I appreciate it for what it is, but I can see its faults too. I also cut S.E. Hinton some slack, as she wrote The Outsiders when she was 16. She was all grown up when she wrote this one, so I don't know what her excuse is.
She's still basically writing about the same character: handsome young man; difficult childhood; no parental figures; lives rough and takes care of himself; gruff, but with a good heart. Who is this guy she's still obsessed with? Her father? Her brother? Her first love? Whoever he is, he's still on her mind.
The handsome young man is in a mental hospital. He's been shot. He has had a mental breakdown. What, oh what, has happened to him?
The story is spun out slowly, in a series of flashbacks. The young man is a criminal. A pirate of sorts. He loves the sea. Ho Hum. Then the vampire shit starts!
A vampire? Are you kidding me? I couldn't believe it. A vampire. In 1960s New England.
It's as if Hinton was trying to think of some gimmick to make this book popular in today's market and realized that vampires are popular, so decided to go that route.
But it gets even dumber. The vampire becomes human again (through some rituals never fully explained to the reader). Although the vampire originally had total control over the young man, threatened to kill him if he didn't do what he was told, by the end of the book, the vampire becomes the young man's best friend. Weird. Weird and corny!
As I read this book, I kept laughing aloud, because the premises of the story were so ridiculous.
I realize that the theme of this book is redemption. Redemption is a good theme. But a vampire! Give me a break. If the captor had been a military torture expert, the young man a captured soldier, the plot may have worked, but a vampire...that's just silly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2009
Ok, where to begin. Should I start with the fact that there is absolutely no plot and that the story just goes on and on and on. Or perhaps I focus on the fact that the entire back story was just away to make this story even longer and that none of it ever related back to the actual premise. To do that though there would have to have been a premise.
I wish I could summarize what the book was about but honestly I have no idea. Amidst the cliché’s (vampires turning into bats), the poorly developed character relationships, the randomness of the prose, the ridiculous dialogue, the bad attempt at sexual situations, I’m just left with asking myself why I kept trying to just finish it. It’s done and I don’t ever have to think about this book again.
Advice. Save your time for all the other good books out there, or even the bad ones that at least have a plot.
I wish I could summarize what the book was about but honestly I have no idea. Amidst the cliché’s (vampires turning into bats), the poorly developed character relationships, the randomness of the prose, the ridiculous dialogue, the bad attempt at sexual situations, I’m just left with asking myself why I kept trying to just finish it. It’s done and I don’t ever have to think about this book again.
Advice. Save your time for all the other good books out there, or even the bad ones that at least have a plot.
June 21, 2022
S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders has long been a favorite book of mine. I've read it 4 or 5 times over the years. The movie based on the book was also excellent, one I can watch again and again. Since that time I've not read any others of her books until recently when I tried quite a different novel, Hawkes Harbor. I'd seen a review of the book by a member of my Goodread's book group and it sounded quite interesting.
Hawkes Harbor in some ways is light years away from The Outsiders but at the same time you can see S.E. Hinton's writing style in this story, the character driven story-telling, the growth of the characters, the touching quality of the story itself.
The story revolves around Jamie who finds himself in a mental hospital in 1965. Through the course of the story we learn of Jamie's past, from his life as a sailor / pirate (in some ways) and as an adventurer. He is a companion and compatriot of Kell who is a crafty, imaginative fella who always has a plan to get money. He's somewhat successful and seems to have money all over the world. At the same time, there is a more current story from Jamie's past and it is a jump to the left in genres, from psychological story to a vampire-driven story.
It's all quite fascinating, especially Jamie's relationships with Kell, with Dr. McDevitt, the psychiatrist treating him at Terrace View Asylum, Delaware and with It (aka Grenville Hawkes), his 'mentor' and boss at Hawkes Harbor. It's a somewhat difficult story to describe; is it a vampire led story or is it a personal odyssey of a troubled, damaged but wonderful character in this story.
The novel is at times frightening, dramatic and touching. I found it pleasantly surprising as I went through the novel, how successfully this this transition between moods and genres was accomplished. It was a great novel to enjoy and by the end it left me feeling sad and happy at the same time as the story was resolved for Jamie and even Grenville. I'm so glad to have discovered this excellent novel. Thank you, S.E. Hinton (4.5 stars)
Hawkes Harbor in some ways is light years away from The Outsiders but at the same time you can see S.E. Hinton's writing style in this story, the character driven story-telling, the growth of the characters, the touching quality of the story itself.
The story revolves around Jamie who finds himself in a mental hospital in 1965. Through the course of the story we learn of Jamie's past, from his life as a sailor / pirate (in some ways) and as an adventurer. He is a companion and compatriot of Kell who is a crafty, imaginative fella who always has a plan to get money. He's somewhat successful and seems to have money all over the world. At the same time, there is a more current story from Jamie's past and it is a jump to the left in genres, from psychological story to a vampire-driven story.
It's all quite fascinating, especially Jamie's relationships with Kell, with Dr. McDevitt, the psychiatrist treating him at Terrace View Asylum, Delaware and with It (aka Grenville Hawkes), his 'mentor' and boss at Hawkes Harbor. It's a somewhat difficult story to describe; is it a vampire led story or is it a personal odyssey of a troubled, damaged but wonderful character in this story.
The novel is at times frightening, dramatic and touching. I found it pleasantly surprising as I went through the novel, how successfully this this transition between moods and genres was accomplished. It was a great novel to enjoy and by the end it left me feeling sad and happy at the same time as the story was resolved for Jamie and even Grenville. I'm so glad to have discovered this excellent novel. Thank you, S.E. Hinton (4.5 stars)
August 1, 2011
This book is horrendous! I was driven to read it. After all, a book by the author of The Outsiders and Rumblefish has to be great, right? Dead wrong! Aside from about four well-written phrases this book offers nothing to the reader. The plot is plodding and random. The characters irritating and pallid. It seems such a mishmash like everything is thrown together to have appeal to different audiences. A story including pirates, mental hospitals, St. Tropez, vampires, jewel thieves and the Vietnam war?! Totally ridiculous... no direction, no cohesion, no entertainment value... mere words on a page to make money with her famous name. Boo to you, S.E. Hinton!!!
May 9, 2009
After loving S. E. Hinton as a child and young adult, I was wary of her newer work with suspicions that it would never be as good as I remembered of The Outsiders. I could not have been more wrong. This is a gorgeous, touching story that I will always treasure. Unlike her earlier works, this has a bit of the supernatural, a change that really surprised me and had me questioning if I'd made a mistake picking this dark story from the bargain bin. Apparently this also threw a lot of other readers who were expecting another Tex or Rumble Fish and polarized ratings into very high or very low reviews. So for the record let me state that this is nothing like her earlier work ... except that it is still a striking, moving story. Despite my misgivings, the supernatural thread was so well wrought into the rest of the story that it posed no real problem and did not discredit the story or the characters, who practically breathe on the page. If I could give it six stars, I would, without hesitation. But don't pick it up expecting That Was Then, This Is Now, because Hinton has a new voice. It is still unerringly beautiful and wrenching but in a very different way. She has changed, as have we all.
August 15, 2013
Poor, poor Jamie. I bought this book on a whim for a buck at the library because I saw the immortal name S.E. Hintonadorning the cover. This has got to be good! Then I read some reviews on goodreads and got disillusioned. Not as good The Outsiders, Hinton really fell off her game. About a vampire? Seriously? Well, anyway, I read it. And loved it. And, if I'm being completely honest, it's probably because I love Jamie . He's is a charismatic, handsome, young man with the tough, raunchy personality of a sailor. Which makes sense considering that he is. Ex navy, spends time smuggling and feels most at home at sea. One day, when he's at a small town of Hawkes Harbor, he hears of the legend of Hawkes Island. It's haunted, they say. Don't go there, they say. So what does our hero do? Guess.
Stylistically, this book is a little choppy. Well, very choppy. It's one of those that jumps around timelines. I bothered to read it through and figure out the chronologic timeline, and I think she actually made a mistake in one of the dates. I can see how that would turn readers off, as the brain wants chronologic order dammit! Even after I put them in order, they still feel choppy. One day, Jamie's freaking out about candles, thinking about that one time he didn't understand language or whatever. One day, out of the blue, Grenville There are a lot of mini-plots that are super under-developed. Too bad this isn't popular. S.E. Hinton could have made this book twice as long easily is only she'd explain more things. How did Grenville become a vampire? What the heck with the ghost? When exactly did Louisa start making progress with the cure? What happened between the time Jamie was hospitalized and Terrace Hall? There are so many blanks that could have been filled by zealous fan fic writers if not the actual author. Plus, there is the bad rap that vampires get because of it's highly popular romanticization lately. You know what I'm talking about. Now everything even remotely vampiric BEGS to be compared to Twilight. I just want to say that this was written BEFORE it. Yes, literature that had vampires living in modern society existed before that immortal piece of shlop was written. And this vampire, Grenville Hawkes, isn't nice. He's abusive, cold, can turn into a bat, doesn't freaking sparkle, bites people, is strong, fast, intelligent. In the end, Maybe I'm giving Jamie too much credit. Grenville along with several other characters combined made this book interesting. This book is definitely flawed, but I liked it anyway.
Final notes: My major complaint is that
Stylistically, this book is a little choppy. Well, very choppy. It's one of those that jumps around timelines. I bothered to read it through and figure out the chronologic timeline, and I think she actually made a mistake in one of the dates. I can see how that would turn readers off, as the brain wants chronologic order dammit! Even after I put them in order, they still feel choppy. One day, Jamie's freaking out about candles, thinking about that one time he didn't understand language or whatever. One day, out of the blue, Grenville There are a lot of mini-plots that are super under-developed. Too bad this isn't popular. S.E. Hinton could have made this book twice as long easily is only she'd explain more things. How did Grenville become a vampire? What the heck with the ghost? When exactly did Louisa start making progress with the cure? What happened between the time Jamie was hospitalized and Terrace Hall? There are so many blanks that could have been filled by zealous fan fic writers if not the actual author. Plus, there is the bad rap that vampires get because of it's highly popular romanticization lately. You know what I'm talking about. Now everything even remotely vampiric BEGS to be compared to Twilight. I just want to say that this was written BEFORE it. Yes, literature that had vampires living in modern society existed before that immortal piece of shlop was written. And this vampire, Grenville Hawkes, isn't nice. He's abusive, cold, can turn into a bat, doesn't freaking sparkle, bites people, is strong, fast, intelligent. In the end, Maybe I'm giving Jamie too much credit. Grenville along with several other characters combined made this book interesting. This book is definitely flawed, but I liked it anyway.
Final notes: My major complaint is that
March 23, 2012
I recently reread The Outsiders and became curious if Hinton had written anything else more recently. So I discovered Hawkes Harbor.
The more I think about it, the more I hate it. If I were to rate it solely on characterization and interesting side stories, it'd be pretty good. But if I were to give you the basic plot, it would take me about five seconds. How could I possibly summarize a novel of decent length and so many side stories in five seconds? Because the side stories (i.e. the best parts of the book) have nothing to do with the main plot! Nothing. And the point of view changes from character to character so frequently from paragraph to paragraph that it is confusing. Not confusing like, it makes you think; confusing like, how did an editor not force her to make significant revisions?? Plus, this five second plot has major plot holes. Considering all the time spent on backstory/sidestory, you'd think the gaping plot holes could be plugged. And the main premise hits you about a third of the way through the book and makes you say, "What the heck??" and burst out laughing because it is so ridiculous.
Oh, and if I read one more book in which the main character is healed by an amazing sexual experience, I am going to vomit.
I am sad, S.E. Hinton. You did not stay gold.
The more I think about it, the more I hate it. If I were to rate it solely on characterization and interesting side stories, it'd be pretty good. But if I were to give you the basic plot, it would take me about five seconds. How could I possibly summarize a novel of decent length and so many side stories in five seconds? Because the side stories (i.e. the best parts of the book) have nothing to do with the main plot! Nothing. And the point of view changes from character to character so frequently from paragraph to paragraph that it is confusing. Not confusing like, it makes you think; confusing like, how did an editor not force her to make significant revisions?? Plus, this five second plot has major plot holes. Considering all the time spent on backstory/sidestory, you'd think the gaping plot holes could be plugged. And the main premise hits you about a third of the way through the book and makes you say, "What the heck??" and burst out laughing because it is so ridiculous.
Oh, and if I read one more book in which the main character is healed by an amazing sexual experience, I am going to vomit.
I am sad, S.E. Hinton. You did not stay gold.
January 14, 2022
4 Stars
I am not sure, but this may be "soft" horror. It starts off as horror, then it evolves into something else, like our main characters.
I loved Jamie's stories. His pain and fear were almost visceral. He experienced abject terror; to only have it replay over and over. The relationship between Jamie and his "tormentor;" the vampire Grenville Hawkes; is that of abuser and the abused.
About 1/3 of the way through, there is a significant change in tone, and it is ever so subtle, that you almost miss it. I think I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
If you are looking for a terrorizing horror novel; this is not it.
If you are unsure about horror, but want to try something, then I think you can handle this.
I am not sure, but this may be "soft" horror. It starts off as horror, then it evolves into something else, like our main characters.
I loved Jamie's stories. His pain and fear were almost visceral. He experienced abject terror; to only have it replay over and over. The relationship between Jamie and his "tormentor;" the vampire Grenville Hawkes; is that of abuser and the abused.
About 1/3 of the way through, there is a significant change in tone, and it is ever so subtle, that you almost miss it. I think I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
If you are looking for a terrorizing horror novel; this is not it.
If you are unsure about horror, but want to try something, then I think you can handle this.
December 23, 2008
This was just weird. I didn't care about the people and in fact found almost every character unlikable. I was bored with this book and barely got through it even though it was relatively short.
There were a couple of side stories that made it mildly interesting and at the beginning I felt for the main character,Jamie, but by mid way through he just annoyed me and-- I just wanted it to be over.
There were a couple of side stories that made it mildly interesting and at the beginning I felt for the main character,Jamie, but by mid way through he just annoyed me and-- I just wanted it to be over.
February 3, 2013
This was the biggest clusterf*** of a book I have ever read. Just from reading the description, I had no clue this was even a vampire novel. Who thinks of vampires when they pick up an S.E. Hinton book? I was just enjoying reading about this gritty ex-navy sailor running smuggling scams with his buddy, and then about 1/4 of the way into the book there's a surprise vampire. And it got more and more confusing as I read on.
It turns out this was supposed to be a Dark Shadows story. I had no idea. I noticed blatant parallels while I was reading it, and even a few times the editor didn't catch the names "Roger" or "Collins" and I was extra confused. I guess she never got the rights to publish it as a DS novel and had to change all the names. Anyway, super confusing when you have no idea what you're walking into. I still really didn't like it all that much, and was pretty disappointed.
It turns out this was supposed to be a Dark Shadows story. I had no idea. I noticed blatant parallels while I was reading it, and even a few times the editor didn't catch the names "Roger" or "Collins" and I was extra confused. I guess she never got the rights to publish it as a DS novel and had to change all the names. Anyway, super confusing when you have no idea what you're walking into. I still really didn't like it all that much, and was pretty disappointed.
Read
November 11, 2011 S.E Hinton is one of my favorite writers. I have previously read The Outsiders, which is a book that will always remain on my bookshelf. My 8th grade teacher told me that she chose using her initials so the reader wouldn’t identify her gender, which is peculiar, but extremely intriguing. I did not realize that this book is suppose to be more geared toward adults, but well I am a teenager and it wasn’t very complex to understand… S.E. Hinton stopped publishing books in 1988 then shockingly she released an adult book in September 2004. Her previous books were intended for teens, so many fans were curious as to why she decided to write a book for adults.
This book takes place in the 1960’s. The most dynamic character is a bastard son, Jamie, who was an orphan and is in a hospital being interviewed by his doctor after an accident. Jamie is what you would call a bad boy hero archetype, he does very bad things, but I believe he understands that he has done wrong and wants to repay the man that helped him out on numerous occasions. He tells his doctor of his adventures, including looking for pirate treasure in Hawkes Harbor, and getting in trouble with his buddy, Kell. There are some inappropriate moments so I might not recommend this for a middle school student, but I feel a mature young adult could handle it. In the book Hinton actually reveals the mystery of Hawkes Harbor very early in the book, which I normally don’t like. You know you never want to know the serial killer in the horror film before anyone actually dies.
Before I actually really dove into this book I read some reviews… They weren’t so kind to this book. They believed that the plot was more or less overdone and had been written better, but I can say that I enjoyed it. I mean its not my absolute favorite book, but I would recommend an S.E. Hinton fan to read it for themselves, since everyone has a valid opinion. She decides to open the book in 1967, but she never really talks about the actual history going on then.
**** Just to let you know I am going to spoil this fact for you… SPOLIER ALERT: When we find out there is a vampire I was so confused. Since I thought this book would be more accurate fiction, but it was just kind of off putting for me in some ways. I mean vampires are getting a little overdone… Thanks a lot Twilight. But after getting over the initial shock I was like TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE VAMPIRE ALREADY!!! I assume she wanted to really hook the reader in within the first sixty pages, but she does not talk about the vampire until the second half of the book… She doesn’t really give the readers enough info anyways about the vampire. Maybe she will write a whole book involving his back-story, but she probably won’t… I kind of wish she would have done something else involving that character and more of the whole “attack”, but over all I think she could have made this book longer and written more details about it. If she did she probably would have gotten better reviews, but I haven’t read a ton of books to really compare to this one. Even toward the end she doesn’t do really anything exciting involving the vampire except for the fact that it isn’t very fun to work for him.
I think if you are kind of into vampires and a guy that is in an insane asylum, you would really enjoy this. I mean she is a great writer, but I think she could have brought something a little better to the table. I probably don’t like reading books with so many flashbacks, but if you are into that you should probably read this book since Jamie’s doctor is trying to restore Jamie’s memory. I am sorry for being so indecisive, but this book is filled with thing I like and hate at the same time. I mean this author is one of my favorites so I will end up reading another book by her, but I don’t see myself rereading this book anytime soon.
April 1, 2024
A strange and quite disjointed read. As the author of The Outsiders I expected a wonderful story but was sadly disappointed.
January 17, 2008
In and of itself, S. E. Hinton's HAWKES HARBOR is not a bad book; as an entry in the DARK SHADOWS novel series, however, it would have flopped mightily.
I enjoyed Hinton's prose, and she developed a convincing background for Jamie (Willie Loomis) Sommers. It's easy to envision John Karlen in the role and Dennis Patrick playing Kellen (Jason McGuire) Quinn in flashback fashion, particularly in their travels around the world. Her delving deeply into Jamie's psyche -- particularly the devastation he feels being a victim of a vampire -- is masterful, and that rich character development is what keeps the novel going.
The other characters, however, are a complete bust. I have no idea how much she altered them to make HAWKES HARBOR a stand-alone novel, but the character of Grenville (Barnabas Collins) Hawkes is so far removed from anything Jonathan Frid would have portrayed that one has to forget the novel's origin as an entry in the DS series -- not so easy when you consider that Jamie Sommers and Willie Loomis are virtually interchangeable. Mind you, in some scenes, I can see Ben Cross (from the 1991 DARK SHADOWS revival series) delivering Grenville's lines, but even that becomes a stretch after a while. I honestly don't know if Hinton purposefully worked the dialogue so that there'd be no real resemblance to Barnabas or if it was due to a lack of understanding of the character; given her sharp portrayal of Jamie/Willie, the latter seems doubtful. Taken as a unique character, Grenville isn't terribly interesting, although the growth of his relationship with Jamie has its moments, especially at the novel's conclusion.
Louisa (Julia Hoffman) Kahne bears some slight resemblance to her television counterpart, though she tends to be more sharp-tongued and self-centered than the "real" Julia. While most of the other characters are recognizable as Collins family members and Collinsport townspeople, none of them are developed to any great extent. While both Grenville and Jamie are quite smitten with Katie (Maggie Evans) Roddendem, apart from an "unusual" sexual liaison with Jamie, she's almost a non-entity, generally in the background, occasionally intruding on the main characters' thoughts.
(And yes there is a blooper, much-discussed in DARK SHADOWS fan circles, in which Roger Collins and the Collins Shipping Co. are mentioned by name.)
Structurally, the book tends to be a little disjointed, due to scenes occurring in non-linear fashion, a plot device that can work when there's a point to it, but if there is one in this case, it's fairly muddled. Action and suspense there is none (with the possible exception of a few scattered moments during Jamie and Kellen's sea voyages). I think even fans who care more about DARK SHADOWS' colorful characters than its occasionally over-the-top action would be disappointed by HAWKES HARBOR's sedate pace and lack of adrenalin-inducing moments.
I give it a marginal recommendation as a novel of dark fiction, with a nod to Hinton's stylistic prowess.
I enjoyed Hinton's prose, and she developed a convincing background for Jamie (Willie Loomis) Sommers. It's easy to envision John Karlen in the role and Dennis Patrick playing Kellen (Jason McGuire) Quinn in flashback fashion, particularly in their travels around the world. Her delving deeply into Jamie's psyche -- particularly the devastation he feels being a victim of a vampire -- is masterful, and that rich character development is what keeps the novel going.
The other characters, however, are a complete bust. I have no idea how much she altered them to make HAWKES HARBOR a stand-alone novel, but the character of Grenville (Barnabas Collins) Hawkes is so far removed from anything Jonathan Frid would have portrayed that one has to forget the novel's origin as an entry in the DS series -- not so easy when you consider that Jamie Sommers and Willie Loomis are virtually interchangeable. Mind you, in some scenes, I can see Ben Cross (from the 1991 DARK SHADOWS revival series) delivering Grenville's lines, but even that becomes a stretch after a while. I honestly don't know if Hinton purposefully worked the dialogue so that there'd be no real resemblance to Barnabas or if it was due to a lack of understanding of the character; given her sharp portrayal of Jamie/Willie, the latter seems doubtful. Taken as a unique character, Grenville isn't terribly interesting, although the growth of his relationship with Jamie has its moments, especially at the novel's conclusion.
Louisa (Julia Hoffman) Kahne bears some slight resemblance to her television counterpart, though she tends to be more sharp-tongued and self-centered than the "real" Julia. While most of the other characters are recognizable as Collins family members and Collinsport townspeople, none of them are developed to any great extent. While both Grenville and Jamie are quite smitten with Katie (Maggie Evans) Roddendem, apart from an "unusual" sexual liaison with Jamie, she's almost a non-entity, generally in the background, occasionally intruding on the main characters' thoughts.
(And yes there is a blooper, much-discussed in DARK SHADOWS fan circles, in which Roger Collins and the Collins Shipping Co. are mentioned by name.)
Structurally, the book tends to be a little disjointed, due to scenes occurring in non-linear fashion, a plot device that can work when there's a point to it, but if there is one in this case, it's fairly muddled. Action and suspense there is none (with the possible exception of a few scattered moments during Jamie and Kellen's sea voyages). I think even fans who care more about DARK SHADOWS' colorful characters than its occasionally over-the-top action would be disappointed by HAWKES HARBOR's sedate pace and lack of adrenalin-inducing moments.
I give it a marginal recommendation as a novel of dark fiction, with a nod to Hinton's stylistic prowess.
July 9, 2009
S.E. Hinton has done it again. She's written a book that is guaranteed to resonate with adults and youth alike, but this time she's broken her style and written something entirely different from anything she has done before.
Jamie Summers is no the tough teen we know and love from Hinton's books, at least not anymore. After a trauma so harrowing, it steals away his memory and his sanity; Jamie finds himself in a psychiatric hospital with no concept of who he is beyond the fact that he really does not like the dark. Through therapy and brief flashes of memory, Jamie and the reader start to become acquainted with the adventure, heartbreak, friendship, crime and of his past. Quickly the reader discovers Jamie's humor and drive for survival that somehow manages to show from behind blankets of extreme anxiety and depression. When Jamie is released to return to the place of his breakdown, he must discover for himself how to put together the pieces of his life that he has worked so hard to uncover and in the process move forward in forgiveness and trust.
Hawkes Harbor is a brilliantly written work of literature that will keep readers glued to the page cheering Jamie on every step of the way. This book never lacks for suspense and adventure and even a surprising touch of fantasy. From the reader hears the first story from Jamie's questionable past, he or she will be hooked until the end of this wonderful and uplifting read.
Jamie Summers is no the tough teen we know and love from Hinton's books, at least not anymore. After a trauma so harrowing, it steals away his memory and his sanity; Jamie finds himself in a psychiatric hospital with no concept of who he is beyond the fact that he really does not like the dark. Through therapy and brief flashes of memory, Jamie and the reader start to become acquainted with the adventure, heartbreak, friendship, crime and of his past. Quickly the reader discovers Jamie's humor and drive for survival that somehow manages to show from behind blankets of extreme anxiety and depression. When Jamie is released to return to the place of his breakdown, he must discover for himself how to put together the pieces of his life that he has worked so hard to uncover and in the process move forward in forgiveness and trust.
Hawkes Harbor is a brilliantly written work of literature that will keep readers glued to the page cheering Jamie on every step of the way. This book never lacks for suspense and adventure and even a surprising touch of fantasy. From the reader hears the first story from Jamie's questionable past, he or she will be hooked until the end of this wonderful and uplifting read.
November 24, 2011
The one warning I will give you about this novel is that if you are wanting any of her realistic, gritty YA novels, please read those instead of looking for that kind of subject matter in this book because you won't like it if that is your criteria. Also, while this is a vampire novel, it has no romantic elements to it and it has a literary feel that most people don't expect in a vampire book.
That aside, I think the strength of this book isn't the horrific elements. It's the human one. As always, Hinton is amazing in creating characters. This story is no different. It's just about the dynamics between a vampire becoming a human being and a human being trying to, in some ways, destroy himself through chemical abuse. The horrific event that ties them together in some ways also saves them.
Granted, this is a slow moving-book in places, and if you are only looking at the horror element, that part of the story wraps up midway through to focus on the relationship between the two main characters.
While this book wasn't what I was expecting, I was glad to have read it, and I do recommend it. Just keep your mind open when you crack the cover.
That aside, I think the strength of this book isn't the horrific elements. It's the human one. As always, Hinton is amazing in creating characters. This story is no different. It's just about the dynamics between a vampire becoming a human being and a human being trying to, in some ways, destroy himself through chemical abuse. The horrific event that ties them together in some ways also saves them.
Granted, this is a slow moving-book in places, and if you are only looking at the horror element, that part of the story wraps up midway through to focus on the relationship between the two main characters.
While this book wasn't what I was expecting, I was glad to have read it, and I do recommend it. Just keep your mind open when you crack the cover.
August 7, 2009
I'm really disappointed! S.E. Hinton was one of my favorite authors growing up. I'd never heard of this book and thought I was in for a treat. Supposedly Hinton wrote this in response to the "Dark Shadows" series. Either way, I was disappointed. I'm all for a writer branching out...but normally when that happens you get the since that they are at least enjoying what they are doing. I felt like I was having my teeth slowly removed without novocaine and I can only imagine the writing of this book was much the same.
I wonder if S.E. Hinton will attempt another new novel. I'd take a chance on her again.
I wonder if S.E. Hinton will attempt another new novel. I'd take a chance on her again.
October 13, 2023
A strange, mutant novel, which felt like a YA book for adults. Many hanging plot lines that at times enhanced the book, and other times were distractions. One has to wonder if the author was jumping on the vampire bandwagon. I felt that one was supposed to know much more about vampire lore than this reader does (having never been on that particular bandwagon). Perhaps the gaps were all my own.
The book does chug along in a nice fashion, and is certainly engaging. Just puzzling.
Also, the publisher dropped the ball here with some poor copy-editing. Whenever there's a typo at the top of the third page, one must anticipate a bumpy ride.
The book does chug along in a nice fashion, and is certainly engaging. Just puzzling.
Also, the publisher dropped the ball here with some poor copy-editing. Whenever there's a typo at the top of the third page, one must anticipate a bumpy ride.
November 3, 2009
I was a very big S.E. Hinton reader as a kid so I was surprised when I learned she had published a book recently for an adult audience. Unfortunately it was not as good as I had hoped. The story has a vampire theme but is kind of all over the place. I liked the way the time line of the story was broken up and came together. On the downside it seemed like she tried to make the characters too emotional and searching for deeper meanings where there really was none. I would not recommend this one as a far as vampire tales go, but may be interesting to a S.E. Hinton fan.
August 5, 2021
This book is.... Bizarre. While the plot is not exactly hard to follow as many other reviewers suggest, it is a strange plot that flashes back and forth between present and past. The tone of the book changes dramatically depending on whether Jamie is telling a story about his adventurous past or experiencing the horrors of vampirism in the present. Many parts of the plot are not expanded on, such as Grenville's transformation from vampire to human to his relationship with the character Louisa.
The book seemed like two books squashed into one and I wish I could read more about Jamie's expeditions on the high seas instead of him being a manservant for a tame vampire. While I appreciate the idea of an unorthodox relationship between Jamie and Grenville going from servant and master to best friends, it is not well fleshed out and Grenville's character is one dimensional.
The reason I am giving this book 2 stars in lieu of 1 is because there are some paragraphs in the book where I found myself emotionally invested in Jamie's journey and found myself looking forward to finding out where the story was heading next. However, as the story wore on, it became increasingly duller until I was just looking forward to it being done.
The book seemed like two books squashed into one and I wish I could read more about Jamie's expeditions on the high seas instead of him being a manservant for a tame vampire. While I appreciate the idea of an unorthodox relationship between Jamie and Grenville going from servant and master to best friends, it is not well fleshed out and Grenville's character is one dimensional.
The reason I am giving this book 2 stars in lieu of 1 is because there are some paragraphs in the book where I found myself emotionally invested in Jamie's journey and found myself looking forward to finding out where the story was heading next. However, as the story wore on, it became increasingly duller until I was just looking forward to it being done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2020
Throw away any thoughts of The Outsiders or That was then this is now. Apart from the writing style, this could have been written by an entirely different author. I’m in awe of Hinton’s ability to create mental pictures with seemingly few words and little description. A little too fast paced at times, but hooking in its treatment of vampires. Yes, vampires. From the author that brought you “Stay gold.”
December 13, 2024
an unexpectedly strange book.
What the hell happened, man
What the hell happened, man
July 17, 2024
This book just didn't flow well for me. I didn't enjoy but I did stick around to see how it would end. I don't recommend though.
August 31, 2025
girl what
March 12, 2012
Knowing S.E. Hinton from The Outsiders and That was Then, This is Now, I expected a very different story. I realize that this book was geared more for adult readers rather than the YA audience of her previous claims to fame. Regardless, I anticipated a much more engaging and engrossing story. The synopsis does everything in its power to draw the reader in, but most of those secrets were revealed within the first half of the book. The remainder was simply a story of the human condition through the eyes of a somewhat interesting, but mostly pitiful man. I found the addition of the vampire plot to be unncessary and somewhat of an afterthought to the story. The only merit that I can give is that Hinton does a wonderful job developing the character of Jamie Sommers. Even so, I found it a difficult book to finish and often found myself thinking that this would be better suited as a fictional case study in a Psychology class rather than a short novel to read for enjoyment.
February 22, 2012
Or, the author of The Outsiders and Rumble Fish adapts the old late 60's/early 70's vampire soap opera Dark Shadows into a novel. For some reason. I enjoyed this mostly as a fan of the soap, never having read any of Hinton's famed books. This installment focuses on the Willie Loomis character (here named Jamie) and his relationship with bloodsucker Barnabas (here named Grenville). I think someone must've ran into some copyright issues? Anyway, if Hinton ever writes more in the series, I'm on board, esp. if she brings the witch Angelique into the mix. She could call her...I dunno, Marguerite? Fun stuff, perfect for Dark Shadows acolytes needing a quick read for airline travel, etc.
April 10, 2009
In my opinion, Ms. Hinton should stick to writing teen stories.
"An orphan and a bastard, James grew up tough enough to handle almost anything. He survived foreign prisons, smugglers, pirates, gunrunners, and shark attacks. But what he finds in the quiet town of Hawkes Harbor, Delaware, was enough to drive him almost insane - and change his life forever."
"An orphan and a bastard, James grew up tough enough to handle almost anything. He survived foreign prisons, smugglers, pirates, gunrunners, and shark attacks. But what he finds in the quiet town of Hawkes Harbor, Delaware, was enough to drive him almost insane - and change his life forever."
May 31, 2015
2015 RC- A book with bad reviews
August 8, 2024
This is a very strange book. Written by S.E. Hinton 37 years after the Outsiders was published. I found it at a thrift store, and pounced on it, thinking I found a gem.
Hawkes Harbor is a very disjointed book. The main character is Jamie, and his story bounces around a great deal. In the 5 page prologue, we learn Jamie has no father in his life, his mother dies, and a priest hands him over to a mean nun to be raised in an orphanage. This sets the stage for Jamie's wild and risky young adult lifestyle- smuggling, gun running, prison, a penchant for fighting, drinking, and drugs. But wait- there is more. We also have the chapters that take place at Terrace View Asylum- which has a very different tone, and a very different Jamie. And then- there is the part of the story that takes place on an Island in Hawkes Harbor where the story turns into a vampire tale. And ultimately- almost laughably, everyone mellows?
There are many Good Reads comments that are harsh- more than one reviewer said this is the worst book they have ever read. That's a bit much. I didn't hate this book. S.E. Hinton writes interesting characters, and I give this 3 stars. It is convoluted. The horror parts and the risky young adult parts felt like two completely different books, and the Asylum parts- well let's say that's a third book. All in all, it's a weird gumbo mix. It was an easy read, I had no urge to DNF, I was decently entertained. No need for harsh criticism.
Hawkes Harbor is a very disjointed book. The main character is Jamie, and his story bounces around a great deal. In the 5 page prologue, we learn Jamie has no father in his life, his mother dies, and a priest hands him over to a mean nun to be raised in an orphanage. This sets the stage for Jamie's wild and risky young adult lifestyle- smuggling, gun running, prison, a penchant for fighting, drinking, and drugs. But wait- there is more. We also have the chapters that take place at Terrace View Asylum- which has a very different tone, and a very different Jamie. And then- there is the part of the story that takes place on an Island in Hawkes Harbor where the story turns into a vampire tale. And ultimately- almost laughably, everyone mellows?
There are many Good Reads comments that are harsh- more than one reviewer said this is the worst book they have ever read. That's a bit much. I didn't hate this book. S.E. Hinton writes interesting characters, and I give this 3 stars. It is convoluted. The horror parts and the risky young adult parts felt like two completely different books, and the Asylum parts- well let's say that's a third book. All in all, it's a weird gumbo mix. It was an easy read, I had no urge to DNF, I was decently entertained. No need for harsh criticism.
September 21, 2019
This book is kind of a mess, y'all. The first third is mostly about Jamie's life on the ocean, running scams or just working on boats with his best friend Kell. In the middle third, Jamie's in an asylum, with flashbacks to the events that put him there - being tortured by an ancient vampire and being shot nearly to death by the sheriff over a misunderstanding. Then he's taken out of the asylum BY the vampire, who's no longer a "bad" vampire and apparently does not need human blood to survive, and they become very good friends. There's not much of a transition between any of these parts of Jamie's life. He's terrified of leaving the asylum, because he'll be tortured by the vampire; then he's terrified of being put back into the asylum and losing his access to the vampire, who is no longer bad, because of narrative convenience; And then it's over. I mean, what? What is this? S.E. Hinton's writing is always incredible - spare, but very evocative - but the plot is nearly incomprehensible and all the characters seem to completely change personalities at the halfway point, so abruptly that it feels like fifty or a hundred pages were deleted with extreme prejudice.
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