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Shrine
In James Herbert's Shrine, innocence and evil have become one. A little girl called Alice. A deaf-mute. A vision. A lady in shimmering white who says she is the immaculate conception. And Alice can suddenly hear and speak, and she can perform miracles. Soon the site of the visitation, beneath an ancient oak tree, has become a shrine, a holy place for thousands of pilgrims. But Alice is no longer the guileless child overwhelmed by her new saintliness. She has become the agent of something corrupt, a vile force that is centuries old. Innocence and evil have become one.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
147 people are currently reading
2715 people want to read
About the author
James Herbert
101 books2,387 followersJames Herbert was Britain's number one bestselling writer (a position he held ever since publication of his first novel) and one of the world's top writers of thriller/horror fiction.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
February 15, 2017
Catholic church tries to discover if little girl performing miracles is a sign that God loves them or a trick of the Devil. Which do you think? Scary nuns, mass zombie attacks, and a LOT of scenes of people sitting around in rooms talking. But that Tom Hallman cover is so good it makes up for a lot of sins.
June 18, 2021
I considered being pissed about the ending but upon further contemplating on the matter I decided it made sense in context. The reason I say this is that even though these characters go through some very intense events they're not technically the main players in the cosmic battle. They're observers and on occasion the recipients of some of the violence but this is a tale of corruption vs the sanctity of creation. Human beings have no dog in the fight because they don't stand a chance against an entity that doesn't play by physical rules. People don't have a prayer to win so there's that.
Moving on. The mystery surrounding the tree, Alice, and the miracles have great build-up. I was completely helpless when it came to the story. I wanted to know what was up with the church, the tree, all of it but I didn't need the answer right away. It could have been another 500 pages and it wouldn't have hurt my feelings. I loved the narration and the "boring" parts weren't boring for me they added to the story in an important and impactful way.
There is a death scene in the middle involving a father which will stick with me for awhile. It wasn't gross or disturbing in a way that's haunting but the imagery of it just sticks in the brain. It's very well done.
The sex scene. That's right, we're going into sex for once in my reviews. Never thought this would happen in my reviews... ever. There's a sex scene in this book that is the most authentic and intimate thing I have ever read. It was very tasteful, I felt like I needed a cigarette afterwards and I don't even smoke. Its good, its very good.
The villain, dude. That there villain is one evil sucker. She has motivation and that motivation is why I eventually came around on the ending. When I first read the end I was pissed. It felt so cheap considering everything I saw the characters go through but the players are bigger than life. So keep that in mind when you read it, this is one of those stories that you have to look bigger than what's in front of you. I loved it. I recognize that not everyone is gonna feel the same way but it worked for me. This is my favorite book of the year so far, highly recommend but beware the ending. It will rub you raw at first but I think it's worth giving a chance.
There it is and there you have it.
Moving on. The mystery surrounding the tree, Alice, and the miracles have great build-up. I was completely helpless when it came to the story. I wanted to know what was up with the church, the tree, all of it but I didn't need the answer right away. It could have been another 500 pages and it wouldn't have hurt my feelings. I loved the narration and the "boring" parts weren't boring for me they added to the story in an important and impactful way.
There is a death scene in the middle involving a father which will stick with me for awhile. It wasn't gross or disturbing in a way that's haunting but the imagery of it just sticks in the brain. It's very well done.
The sex scene. That's right, we're going into sex for once in my reviews. Never thought this would happen in my reviews... ever. There's a sex scene in this book that is the most authentic and intimate thing I have ever read. It was very tasteful, I felt like I needed a cigarette afterwards and I don't even smoke. Its good, its very good.
The villain, dude. That there villain is one evil sucker. She has motivation and that motivation is why I eventually came around on the ending. When I first read the end I was pissed. It felt so cheap considering everything I saw the characters go through but the players are bigger than life. So keep that in mind when you read it, this is one of those stories that you have to look bigger than what's in front of you. I loved it. I recognize that not everyone is gonna feel the same way but it worked for me. This is my favorite book of the year so far, highly recommend but beware the ending. It will rub you raw at first but I think it's worth giving a chance.
There it is and there you have it.
December 11, 2021
I was determined that my first read by James Herbert would be the infamous "The Rats" that I kept on hearing about. But then I saw Unholy, the movie adaptation of "The Shrine" and thought it was kind of bad. Since it is a widespread phenomenon that the worst movies are usually based on good books, I decided to take an early shot with this one.
Journalist Fenn finds the story of his life when he accidentally meets Alice, a girl of eleven who has lost her hearing and speech ability as a toddler. When she suddenly begins to perfectly hear and speak, talks about Mary and the immaculate conception and heals other people too, literally all hell breaks loose. While all the world believes Alice is the reincarnation of the virgin, there are signs that she may in fact be possessed by something sinister and evil.
There are indeed lots of differences to the movie and in that sense I think the book is obviously superior, although not superior enough to be really good. Still, Herbert's net of well fleshed out characters that have some kind of connection to Alice is more than accomplished and that, beside the interesting subject matter, keeps you well engaged throughout the whole book. There are specifically two scenes - one riot and one car accident, that are epic in their description and should have been in the movie too... I personally also liked the long talks taking place among the high horses of the Catholic Church and, not for the first time, came to the conclusion that no religion should have so much weight when it comes to people's health - there are many dialogues about the sick and disabled people who are being cured in masses by little Alice and the discussions of representatives of the Church were really intriguing to follow.
On the other hand, there's one point in which this book didn't age well, like the cringeworthy descriptions of some disabled people (e.g. "death and dumb") and the action scenes were a little dragged out.
All in all, it was an OK read, I still have "The Rats" on my list!
Journalist Fenn finds the story of his life when he accidentally meets Alice, a girl of eleven who has lost her hearing and speech ability as a toddler. When she suddenly begins to perfectly hear and speak, talks about Mary and the immaculate conception and heals other people too, literally all hell breaks loose. While all the world believes Alice is the reincarnation of the virgin, there are signs that she may in fact be possessed by something sinister and evil.
There are indeed lots of differences to the movie and in that sense I think the book is obviously superior, although not superior enough to be really good. Still, Herbert's net of well fleshed out characters that have some kind of connection to Alice is more than accomplished and that, beside the interesting subject matter, keeps you well engaged throughout the whole book. There are specifically two scenes - one riot and one car accident, that are epic in their description and should have been in the movie too... I personally also liked the long talks taking place among the high horses of the Catholic Church and, not for the first time, came to the conclusion that no religion should have so much weight when it comes to people's health - there are many dialogues about the sick and disabled people who are being cured in masses by little Alice and the discussions of representatives of the Church were really intriguing to follow.
On the other hand, there's one point in which this book didn't age well, like the cringeworthy descriptions of some disabled people (e.g. "death and dumb") and the action scenes were a little dragged out.
All in all, it was an OK read, I still have "The Rats" on my list!
July 5, 2024
Religious hysteria in sleepy English village, instigated by creepy child with a third nipple.
May 29, 2020
3.5 stars
A deaf and mute girl can suddenly hear and speak again. It is thought that a miracle has taken place and the small town soon becomes a place of worship for others hoping for similar cures. But is the force behind this occurrence good or evil?
There is an interesting cast of characters who all have their own involvement with what is happening - Fenn the journalist who is covering the story, Father Hagan the local priest who is overwhelmed by the sudden attention his church is receiving, a couple of local business owners who see opportunities to make money from the new tourists, to mention just a few.
I really enjoyed how the story slowly unfolded and there are plenty of great moments throughout but unfortunately the story does get bogged down at times with unnecessarily lengthy sections which did hinder my overall enjoyment. But back to the great moments - there are wonderful descriptions, some genuinely creepy scenes (including one involving a statue in a basement that freaked me out!), plus a thoroughly epic and gripping climax.
Overall, I would recommend picking Shrine up but just be prepared for some slow points within an otherwise compelling story.
A deaf and mute girl can suddenly hear and speak again. It is thought that a miracle has taken place and the small town soon becomes a place of worship for others hoping for similar cures. But is the force behind this occurrence good or evil?
There is an interesting cast of characters who all have their own involvement with what is happening - Fenn the journalist who is covering the story, Father Hagan the local priest who is overwhelmed by the sudden attention his church is receiving, a couple of local business owners who see opportunities to make money from the new tourists, to mention just a few.
I really enjoyed how the story slowly unfolded and there are plenty of great moments throughout but unfortunately the story does get bogged down at times with unnecessarily lengthy sections which did hinder my overall enjoyment. But back to the great moments - there are wonderful descriptions, some genuinely creepy scenes (including one involving a statue in a basement that freaked me out!), plus a thoroughly epic and gripping climax.
Overall, I would recommend picking Shrine up but just be prepared for some slow points within an otherwise compelling story.
June 5, 2014
Ok so my horror revival continues - this book (along with the other works of James Herbert) was the next stop after exhausting Stephen Kings prodigious publication list. This story to me at the time was totally different to what I was used to. Where Stephen King concentrated on characterisation and how they dealt with terrible and impossibly situations both physically and ethereal - James Herbert took his characters and put them through hell with all the blood and guts he could find.
** At this point I want to jump in and point out however that along with many other authors, James Herbert's books developed and changed through the years - his early books where very visceral and tactile - sometimes at the expense of characterisation, but as the years went on he would mature and start to take on a more subtle and restrained approach and in some ways even more terrifying style. The Shrine was one of his early books and some of the scenes certainly reflect this.**.
The story once up to speed certainly picks up pace and does not pull any punches - something that shocked and surprised me at the time since it was the first time I had read anything so graphic (it was before the short lived "Splatterpunk" phase and total over the top extremes) and for me as a teenager it was something raw and new. Now I guess I am more cynical and jaded - not to mention desensitised and feel that if anything it is rather dated. That said I think it has dated itself with its view of England and the sleepy community it is set in. However it was not long before I felt the same thrill and tension I did when I first read it all those years ago and quickly got in to wanting to see how it all came to a conclusion. As with all my reviews I will not give the storyline away, I will save that for those who have better reviewing skills than I, just that James Herbert was a British horror treasure and It is a shame he is no long with us.
** At this point I want to jump in and point out however that along with many other authors, James Herbert's books developed and changed through the years - his early books where very visceral and tactile - sometimes at the expense of characterisation, but as the years went on he would mature and start to take on a more subtle and restrained approach and in some ways even more terrifying style. The Shrine was one of his early books and some of the scenes certainly reflect this.**.
The story once up to speed certainly picks up pace and does not pull any punches - something that shocked and surprised me at the time since it was the first time I had read anything so graphic (it was before the short lived "Splatterpunk" phase and total over the top extremes) and for me as a teenager it was something raw and new. Now I guess I am more cynical and jaded - not to mention desensitised and feel that if anything it is rather dated. That said I think it has dated itself with its view of England and the sleepy community it is set in. However it was not long before I felt the same thrill and tension I did when I first read it all those years ago and quickly got in to wanting to see how it all came to a conclusion. As with all my reviews I will not give the storyline away, I will save that for those who have better reviewing skills than I, just that James Herbert was a British horror treasure and It is a shame he is no long with us.
May 13, 2022
Niesamowita opowieść o objawieniach maryjnych w pewnym brytyjskim miasteczku i o dziewczynce, która owe miasteczko odmieniła.
Z Jamesem Herbertem nie ma żartów. Jak idzie naprzód, to nie sposób go zatrzymać. Jego „Święte miejsce” jest doskonałym tego dowodem. Niby nic prostszego, takich opowieści w historii ludzkości było wiele, ale wciąż pozostaje coś niesamowitego w motywie dziecka, które doznaje potencjalnego objawienia religijnego. Także w motywie miasteczka, które zrobi wszystko, by utrzymać swój świeżo zdobyty status. I motywie dorosłych którzy mają szansę zajaśnieć światłem odbitym.
Przed Wami groza nastrojowa, która umiejętnie buduje napięcie, podbija stawki i zabiera czytelników prosto w mrok króliczej nory. Jednocześnie jeden z tych horrorowych klasyków, od których trudno oderwać wzrok. Nawet jeśli gwarantują prawdziwie bezsenną noc.
Z Jamesem Herbertem nie ma żartów. Jak idzie naprzód, to nie sposób go zatrzymać. Jego „Święte miejsce” jest doskonałym tego dowodem. Niby nic prostszego, takich opowieści w historii ludzkości było wiele, ale wciąż pozostaje coś niesamowitego w motywie dziecka, które doznaje potencjalnego objawienia religijnego. Także w motywie miasteczka, które zrobi wszystko, by utrzymać swój świeżo zdobyty status. I motywie dorosłych którzy mają szansę zajaśnieć światłem odbitym.
Przed Wami groza nastrojowa, która umiejętnie buduje napięcie, podbija stawki i zabiera czytelników prosto w mrok króliczej nory. Jednocześnie jeden z tych horrorowych klasyków, od których trudno oderwać wzrok. Nawet jeśli gwarantują prawdziwie bezsenną noc.
September 6, 2015
Excellent. Now I know why James Herbert is often referred to as the "British Stephen King." Classic good versus evil conflict, with lots of religious introspection, and purity and innocence triumphs. My favorite kind of story.
April 16, 2015
I picked this us a comfort reads. one of those reads where you know the author and thier style so well that yours sure you will cruise on through enjoyably. I didnt get that.
Unlike Herbert's usual story telling this was incredibly slow and to be honest terribly flat.
The plot seems to build up, but to what i can't tell you?
I'm left feeling like i wasted my time giving this a go.....
Unlike Herbert's usual story telling this was incredibly slow and to be honest terribly flat.
The plot seems to build up, but to what i can't tell you?
I'm left feeling like i wasted my time giving this a go.....
December 7, 2015
Another great novel from the the late great James Herbert. Not my favourite one that I have read, but there was enough darkness and good fun silliness to keep me thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
February 4, 2017
My least favourite James Herbert book so far, but it was still a good book nonetheless
August 30, 2022
I had James Herbert on my list for a while now. I wanted to read The Fog and Rats but I stumbled upon this hidden gem and realized that the 2021 movie , The Unholy, was based off this. This was my first Herbert novel and while I didn't think it was amazing, I was definitely intrigued by the plot and overall thought it was 3.5 to 4 stars.
There are obviously alot of religious themes and undertones here, which is fresh off the exorcist and the omen and all the other 70s and 80s religion horror stories. I enjoyed the character of Fenn and Father Hagan and Delcarde. Fenn isn't religious and is rationale and logical and the two religious characters , while devout catholics, know that things aren't right here and go against their brethren hierarchy in some ways. It adds some depth to their characters.
There are some great scenes regarding the background characters and townsfolk and how the sudden fame of the town and tourism impacts them and how they can benefit from it. Lots of good dialogue between Tucker and Paula and others.
Some very cool horrific scenes regarding the car /tanker accident, the church basement and hooded nuns, a weird scene with Alice and a cat, some character deaths including more than 1 type of father and a seemingly rushed ending that involved a psychotic anti religious gunman, lightning, earth shattering quakes and underground zombies lol.
The actual reason for Alice having these "gifts" and the church property and and old oak tree is told through a journal and it was "ok" but I do wish they went into this alil more and provided more insight as to why Elnor had this power and how she came to be. Miracles or evil entity faking the miraculous cures....Great pace and buildup.
Overall 3.5 to 4 stars.
There are obviously alot of religious themes and undertones here, which is fresh off the exorcist and the omen and all the other 70s and 80s religion horror stories. I enjoyed the character of Fenn and Father Hagan and Delcarde. Fenn isn't religious and is rationale and logical and the two religious characters , while devout catholics, know that things aren't right here and go against their brethren hierarchy in some ways. It adds some depth to their characters.
There are some great scenes regarding the background characters and townsfolk and how the sudden fame of the town and tourism impacts them and how they can benefit from it. Lots of good dialogue between Tucker and Paula and others.
Some very cool horrific scenes regarding the car /tanker accident, the church basement and hooded nuns, a weird scene with Alice and a cat, some character deaths including more than 1 type of father and a seemingly rushed ending that involved a psychotic anti religious gunman, lightning, earth shattering quakes and underground zombies lol.
The actual reason for Alice having these "gifts" and the church property and and old oak tree is told through a journal and it was "ok" but I do wish they went into this alil more and provided more insight as to why Elnor had this power and how she came to be. Miracles or evil entity faking the miraculous cures....Great pace and buildup.
Overall 3.5 to 4 stars.
October 8, 2015
This was an OK read. Not one of my favorite Herbert books though..
It just seem to.. drag on a bit. It started well, and the last quarter was good, but the middle bit just seemed to last ages, and I'm not quite sure why.
I still like Herbert as an author though, and I will definitely be reading more of his books!
If you are new to Herbert I don't think I would start with this book, he has written a lot of books better then this one in my opinion!
It just seem to.. drag on a bit. It started well, and the last quarter was good, but the middle bit just seemed to last ages, and I'm not quite sure why.
I still like Herbert as an author though, and I will definitely be reading more of his books!
If you are new to Herbert I don't think I would start with this book, he has written a lot of books better then this one in my opinion!
November 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book, it was a little long I felt like it could have been cut down in size a little but I liked the characters and the story was interesting. Not one of my favorite books by Jame Herbert but not disappointed.
January 22, 2023
A masterpiece. My first Herbert & an incredible introduction. Looking forward to many more.
October 29, 2015
A reporter almost hit a little girl with his car while he was crossing a small town at night. After that he starts to run after the little creature, not sure if he saw a ghost or a real person. She crosses a graveyard near a small church and get lost of his sights When he sees her again, the girl is neel infront of an ugly dead tree, smiling and all of the sudden she said, "She is beautiful!"
What did the girl see? The mistery is just begining. When Fenn takes the girl to the church, he learn from the local priest that the girl wouldn't be able to say anything since she is deaf and also unable to speak. Maybe it was just his imagination, afterall he is probably tired and he evidently smell of alcohol. But the girl talks again and so it begins what looks like a miracle.
Alice, the little girl claim she can see the Virgin Mary in the old tree. Miraculous healings starts to happen around the little girl and the Church and everybody focuns their attention in the little town... But is she actually having visions of the Mother of God, if so, why the priest is getting so nervous to a sicken point, what is he trying to warn everybody when death takes him...
Is imposible to put this book down, you just won't be able to stop reading once you started
What did the girl see? The mistery is just begining. When Fenn takes the girl to the church, he learn from the local priest that the girl wouldn't be able to say anything since she is deaf and also unable to speak. Maybe it was just his imagination, afterall he is probably tired and he evidently smell of alcohol. But the girl talks again and so it begins what looks like a miracle.
Alice, the little girl claim she can see the Virgin Mary in the old tree. Miraculous healings starts to happen around the little girl and the Church and everybody focuns their attention in the little town... But is she actually having visions of the Mother of God, if so, why the priest is getting so nervous to a sicken point, what is he trying to warn everybody when death takes him...
Is imposible to put this book down, you just won't be able to stop reading once you started
May 10, 2019
An interesting part of Herbert's canon in which an apparent Marion vision near a Catholic church gradually unravels as it becomes clear that something deeply sinister is hiding behind the veneer of holiness. The book plays nicely between the innocence of the little girl who has visions and the brutal violence that whirs around the edges, gradually overwhelming her.
The level of gore is, by the author's standard, fairly mild but the lurking malevolence still comes across strongly. Whilst this novel deals with the subversion of Catholic doctrine, I felt it handled religion in a fair way and included a mix of characters both flawed and strong. I doubt any readers of strong Christian commitments would take offence.
I thought the character of Wilkes needed fleshing out to make more sense of the story. On the positive side the ambiguities left hanging at the end of the tale enhanced it - some authors make things too neat, with every last element explained in intricate degree. Leaving certain points such that the reader could make of them what they wanted was a better approach.
The level of gore is, by the author's standard, fairly mild but the lurking malevolence still comes across strongly. Whilst this novel deals with the subversion of Catholic doctrine, I felt it handled religion in a fair way and included a mix of characters both flawed and strong. I doubt any readers of strong Christian commitments would take offence.
I thought the character of Wilkes needed fleshing out to make more sense of the story. On the positive side the ambiguities left hanging at the end of the tale enhanced it - some authors make things too neat, with every last element explained in intricate degree. Leaving certain points such that the reader could make of them what they wanted was a better approach.
March 27, 2015
During my Army days I snapped up Koontz, King and Herbert as soon as titles became available.
Want to read
August 24, 2015The book is published by New English Library in the UK.
January 11, 2024
Certainly one of James Herbert's best novels. Really creepy and very atmospheric, this one gets under your skin in the best possible way. I highly recommend it for all horror fans.
July 1, 2021
I had this on my shelf because I collect pulpy horror novels with cool covers, and then I heard that a new horror film had been released based on this book (The Unholy) so I thought it was time to actually read it. The cover of this book says 'Oooooo scary!' with The Exorcist vibes. The reality? Where do I start?! I hated this book so much. Firstly, nothing happens for over 200 pages, seriously, nothing. There are numerous boring scenes of conversations between priests and sweaty, nasty old businessmen in rooms that make up probably 90% of the book. There are a couple of really random explicit sex scenes, but then that is very seventies (think Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie in Don't Look Now). The female characters are your typical 'women who appear in horror novels written by men' meaning they are objectified, naive 'damsels in distress' who have absolutely no agency. Most of the action occurs in the last two or three chapters and it is quite frankly not worth the effort. Why did I bother? I don't know really. I kept thinking something good just had to come out of a book with such a great cover. I was gravely mistaken.
July 16, 2017
A solid Herbert effort, 3.5 stars. Good plot, moves at a good clip, and the characters are memorable. The reporter Fenn was my favorite. Sure, this is a lousy review, but I am tired and not in the mood for anything fancy. If you like Herbert, you will like this. Better than some of the clunkers he did like 'Moon,' but not at the level of his classics like 'Once' and the 'Rats' series, which I still need to finish reading. One thing I like-no really happy ending. Think I will try to find a copy of 'The Fog' next. Fenn does make you think a bit about the nature of faith, which helps make this fun.
May 12, 2020
En estas historias de terror con autores tan comerciales de antaño me pasa siempre igual. Tiene una comienzo genial que poco a poco va decayendo metiéndole paja de relaciones entre personajes que nada interesa para tener un final de fuegos artificiales que en mi casa me fastidia. Que meta el comienzo y el final seguido y el 80% de la paja que la quite. Que sea un relato más que una novela.
Una chica sordomuda recupera el habla tras una aparición, comienza a sanar a gente. Esto implica un revuelo lógico entre los enfermos pero nada es fan bonito, nada se hace por amor al arte.
Una chica sordomuda recupera el habla tras una aparición, comienza a sanar a gente. Esto implica un revuelo lógico entre los enfermos pero nada es fan bonito, nada se hace por amor al arte.
February 25, 2010
what an evil little inocent bitch
May 7, 2012
I just couldn't get on with this book, very slow
April 1, 2014
A good chiller. Not a classic but kept me reading right up to the ending which was similar to the conclusion of The Dark.
June 27, 2021
Written in 1983, 'The Shrine' demonstrates the solid quality of James Herbert's writing. Forget the horror for the moment and read it for a fine evocation of rural Sussex as it was at that time and as a sympathetic but realistic portrayal of the Catholic Church and its servants.
Then there is the horror which is not laid on with a trowel but builds up on a premise of ancient supernatural evil working its way into the world through innocent faith even if the ending becomes something that just has to end a little absurdly because there is nowhere else for it to go.
Do we care? The final hysteria is a small price to pay - it is a meeting of the expectations of the fans of the genre - because we have more genuinely horrific set-pieces on the way, including a very nasty industrial disaster and a ghost incursion that is M R James with added terror.
The book is interesting not because of the horror (which I won't spoil by telling more) but because Herbert seems genuinely interested in the problem of the relationship between the Church and simple and desperate folk's faith when that faith may prove to be naive and dangerous.
A context may be the Fatima manifestations in Portugal in 1916/1917 which, even today, divide liberal 'rational' Catholics from simple faith conservative Catholics, Anglo-Saxon reasoning catholics from 'peasant' deep faith Catholics.
The question is not whether the manifestation is real or not in this case but whether what is manifestly seen to be real (although Herbert cleverly emphasises psychic power over sorcery to create doubt even of that) is good or evil. This is a novel about belief encased in the horror genre.
We are moving here from witchcraft as the magic of supernatural powers to a more Crowleian magick where powers are, in fact, natural and merely more evolved. It is left open how the Church and we might deal with that in the future - that would have been a different science fiction book!
Herbert is also good at characterisation and at 'mise en-scene'. Perhaps the flawed 'hero' Gerry Fenn runs according to expectation as an ambitious journalist but the creation of the two central priests - Father Hagan and Monsignor Delgard - is masterful.
I can imagine Delgard having his own TV season as a character. A film is being made of the book - entitled 'The Unholy' - but it is boringly being set in contemporary Massachusetts (oh dear, Salem again!) and the actor playing Delgard looks too young. But let's keep an open mind.
Still, if you want a proper book that is an edge above the average rather than 99 minutes in the theatre or in front of a screen, you could do worse than dig this old genre novel out (it is certainly on Kindle) or pick up any re-publication (assuming it is as originally published).
November 4, 2022
3,5 stars
The basic plot of James Herbert's "Shrine" is far from ground-breakingly original. However, that isn’t necessarily a negative aspect. Some of the most spectacular and haunting novels have come from reworking, redesigning and reinventing classic ideas. In this sense, we’re ultimately talking about a plot pretty much involving demonic possession and a mass misguided belief and far little else. However, what Herbert does, is really ramp-up the tension that lurks behind the saintly façade of the protagonist, making the whole crux of the somewhat simplistic tale, far more focused on the escalating tension that will surely be vented in a dramatically explosive revelation.
Herbert is capable of granting a fine evocation of rural Sussex as it was at that time and as a sympathetic but realistic portrayal of the Catholic Church and its servants. Then there is that horror, so close to William Peter Blatty's enormous success, which builds up on a premise of ancient supernatural evil working its way into the world through innocent faith even if the ending becomes something that just has to end a little absurdly because there is nowhere else for it to go.
The book is interesting not because of its horror features, but mostly because Herbert seems genuinely interested in the issue of the relationship between the Church and simple and desperate folks' faith when that faith may prove to be naive and dangerous.
The question is not whether the manifestation is real or not in this case but whether what is manifestly seen to be real (although Herbert cleverly emphasises psychic power over sorcery to create doubt even of that) is good or evil. This is a novel about belief encased in the horror genre.
We are moving here from witchcraft as the magic of supernatural powers to a more "cultist" kind of magic, where powers are, in fact, natural and merely more evolved. It is left open how the Church and we might deal with that in the future.
It is, nonetheless, a novel suffering from some flaws: an ending perhaps a little hasty and leaving us with more questions than answers; the protagonist, Alice Pagett, is not always at the centre of the stage as she would deserve. Her character and her entire storyline should have been granted more space and development. Still, it is a well-constructed horror/supernatural thriller with great suspense and atmospheric scenes and the right amount of cultural references, so indebted to "The Exorcist" or "The Omen", iconic cults whose success will never fade, because the black side of creed and religious practices will never stop catching our eyes.
The basic plot of James Herbert's "Shrine" is far from ground-breakingly original. However, that isn’t necessarily a negative aspect. Some of the most spectacular and haunting novels have come from reworking, redesigning and reinventing classic ideas. In this sense, we’re ultimately talking about a plot pretty much involving demonic possession and a mass misguided belief and far little else. However, what Herbert does, is really ramp-up the tension that lurks behind the saintly façade of the protagonist, making the whole crux of the somewhat simplistic tale, far more focused on the escalating tension that will surely be vented in a dramatically explosive revelation.
Herbert is capable of granting a fine evocation of rural Sussex as it was at that time and as a sympathetic but realistic portrayal of the Catholic Church and its servants. Then there is that horror, so close to William Peter Blatty's enormous success, which builds up on a premise of ancient supernatural evil working its way into the world through innocent faith even if the ending becomes something that just has to end a little absurdly because there is nowhere else for it to go.
The book is interesting not because of its horror features, but mostly because Herbert seems genuinely interested in the issue of the relationship between the Church and simple and desperate folks' faith when that faith may prove to be naive and dangerous.
The question is not whether the manifestation is real or not in this case but whether what is manifestly seen to be real (although Herbert cleverly emphasises psychic power over sorcery to create doubt even of that) is good or evil. This is a novel about belief encased in the horror genre.
We are moving here from witchcraft as the magic of supernatural powers to a more "cultist" kind of magic, where powers are, in fact, natural and merely more evolved. It is left open how the Church and we might deal with that in the future.
It is, nonetheless, a novel suffering from some flaws: an ending perhaps a little hasty and leaving us with more questions than answers; the protagonist, Alice Pagett, is not always at the centre of the stage as she would deserve. Her character and her entire storyline should have been granted more space and development. Still, it is a well-constructed horror/supernatural thriller with great suspense and atmospheric scenes and the right amount of cultural references, so indebted to "The Exorcist" or "The Omen", iconic cults whose success will never fade, because the black side of creed and religious practices will never stop catching our eyes.
March 8, 2014
It certainly was a good enough suspense story, though quite a drag to read at times. The overly descriptive paragraphs were at first a wonder (to someone like me who can't write descriptions that well), then ultimately became a bore and a hindrance as they seemed to slow down the story's progress. I understand the need to instill a gloomy setting, thus the numerous references to gray, bleak afternoons and cold, bitter winds, but sometimes it just feels a little over the top. (SPOILER) I liked the story behind the nun's revenge, though the actual revenge itself was quite a let-down regardless if it was completed or not. The main character was oookay, but I think the effort to make him appear agnostic just contradicted the whole thing (can't explain properly).
Overall, I found the book both entertaining and suspenseful, and there were times when I think I felt a little scared. The miracle scenes brought tears to my eyes, yes, but not because they're well executed (they're not badly executed either), but because, well, I love miracles (haha). There was one thing I absolutely hated about it, though, which was the explicit love scene. I mean, I know most books used it to sell out but, really, it was just so unnecessary.
Overall, I found the book both entertaining and suspenseful, and there were times when I think I felt a little scared. The miracle scenes brought tears to my eyes, yes, but not because they're well executed (they're not badly executed either), but because, well, I love miracles (haha). There was one thing I absolutely hated about it, though, which was the explicit love scene. I mean, I know most books used it to sell out but, really, it was just so unnecessary.
August 12, 2011
About a deaf-mute child who claims to have seen a vision of Mother Mary, miraculously cured, and cures others. A tale about evil masquerading as good.
In its core, an exploration Roman Catholicism; poses some interesting questions about the religion, its icons, and faith. Pace : saunters along for three quarts of the book with short, but rewarding sprints for the tenacious reader. Mildly scary.
Whilst the author is lauded as "UK's Stephen King," ardent readers of Steve may find this book as a little too draggy for their taste.
In its core, an exploration Roman Catholicism; poses some interesting questions about the religion, its icons, and faith. Pace : saunters along for three quarts of the book with short, but rewarding sprints for the tenacious reader. Mildly scary.
Whilst the author is lauded as "UK's Stephen King," ardent readers of Steve may find this book as a little too draggy for their taste.
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