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Elaine
Record store owner Chris leaves his shop in the hands of a good friend while he heads to Elaine, a small town in upper Michigan, to meet his girlfriend, Agnes, for her recently deceased mother’s funeral.
Strangely, a single train is the only way into town. Even stranger, Agnes is nowhere to be found there. As Chris searches for her, more and more questions come up. Why is he suddenly having recurring nightmares? What's the deal with the fire-and-brimstone preacher on the local TV station? Why is almost every woman in town named Elaine?
And why can't he leave?
“Arzate’s latest, Elaine, is a deliciously-twisted, cinematic little thriller that recalls The Wicker Man in its conspiratorial coda, pervasive gender conflict, and surreal flourishes. Here, the hallucinations (if that’s what they are) are often sexual and masochistic in nature, revealing a psyche (or, perhaps a reality) in the process of breaking down. Whether Elaine is ultimately a parable about love; a cautionary tale about the insular extremes of community; or a brief, terrifying trip into the world of psychological horror what’s abundantly clear is that Arzate knows how to push our buttons, to keep us hooked to this novel’s bloody, surprisingly poetic end.”
- Kurt Baumeister, author of Pax Americana
Strangely, a single train is the only way into town. Even stranger, Agnes is nowhere to be found there. As Chris searches for her, more and more questions come up. Why is he suddenly having recurring nightmares? What's the deal with the fire-and-brimstone preacher on the local TV station? Why is almost every woman in town named Elaine?
And why can't he leave?
“Arzate’s latest, Elaine, is a deliciously-twisted, cinematic little thriller that recalls The Wicker Man in its conspiratorial coda, pervasive gender conflict, and surreal flourishes. Here, the hallucinations (if that’s what they are) are often sexual and masochistic in nature, revealing a psyche (or, perhaps a reality) in the process of breaking down. Whether Elaine is ultimately a parable about love; a cautionary tale about the insular extremes of community; or a brief, terrifying trip into the world of psychological horror what’s abundantly clear is that Arzate knows how to push our buttons, to keep us hooked to this novel’s bloody, surprisingly poetic end.”
- Kurt Baumeister, author of Pax Americana
112 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2020
4 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Ben Arzate
35 books134 followersBen Arzate writes and lives life. Sometimes he forgets to do the latter.
Contact: benarz13(at)gmail(dot)com
Contact: benarz13(at)gmail(dot)com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 4, 2020
This twister of a novella is a quick and nail-biting read. Narrator Chris is stuck in the (perhaps) godforsaken town of Elaine, where many of the female residents have the exact same name. The local tv preacher matter-of-factly delivers salacious sermons, while people routinely disappear without explanation. Events turn even stranger as Chris attempts to locate his girlfriend, a resident of Elaine (but her name, fortuitously, is Agnes). Agnes' history is slowly revealed through clues found by Chris, who appears to be in increasing danger the longer he remains in Elaine (the town, and... ). Hold onto your hat and a kitchen knife as you read this one. Things get even more uncanny, and there is a frenzied Malamute and a manic cop on the loose. And whatever really happened to those missing teenagers? You may learn more than you care to. Then again, you may be left with ideas of your own. Elaine is waiting. Come visit. The pasties are to die for.
February 22, 2020
Strange things are afoot in the tiny, off-the-beaten-path town of Elaine, Michigan. Chris follows a day behind his girlfriend Agnes when she heads back to her hometown for her mom's funeral. Only, once she gets there, she informs him that the only road in or out is currently under contruction and he'll have to take the train in. A sense of unease creeps over him when he notices he's the only passenger, a feeling that is only exaserbated more after a bizarre encounter with the train's sole employee and those crazy-ass sex dreams he keeps waking up from. Once he deboards, and learns Agnes has ghosted him, he begins to understand just how messed up this little town can be.
Ben certainly knows how to stretch out the tension in this soft horrorella (horror novella, get it?), refusing to give the reader all, if any, of the answers. We're just as confused as our man Chris, right up to the very end. But I'll tell you what, I'd have attempted to high tail it outta there a hell of a lot sooner. Funny how people convince themselves to fight the urge to run when their brain is signaling them to RUN MOTHER FUCKER RUN.
Fans of light bizarro and newbies alike will defintely enjoy this one! It'd be a great gateway book into that genre.
Ben certainly knows how to stretch out the tension in this soft horrorella (horror novella, get it?), refusing to give the reader all, if any, of the answers. We're just as confused as our man Chris, right up to the very end. But I'll tell you what, I'd have attempted to high tail it outta there a hell of a lot sooner. Funny how people convince themselves to fight the urge to run when their brain is signaling them to RUN MOTHER FUCKER RUN.
Fans of light bizarro and newbies alike will defintely enjoy this one! It'd be a great gateway book into that genre.
March 3, 2020
Five stars for atmosphere alone, which I have come to realize is probably the most important thing for me when it comes to fiction.
This book had a serious Northern Exposure vibe when it came to the small town setting. Of course there’s also an undercurrent of impending danger and the strange, which reminds me a bit of Twin Peaks.
The character navigates most of the story alone and disoriented, which was fun.
It almost seemed like it was a synthesized small-town setting, which reminded me of Patrick Lacey’s Where Stars Won’t Shine.
The more the situations confirm our paranoias, the darker the atmosphere grows. It felt almost dreamlike.
I don’t know, that all just worked for me. Did I end the book feeling disoriented? Yeah. Was the main character lacking dimension? I’d rather say he was a good template for me to insert myself into, which was likely the intended function. There was just enough weird in the character to make me feel slightly uncomfortable, which is a good place for me as a reader.
As for the protagonist, nobody gave JK Rowling shit for creating a character that allowed readers to insert themselves into the story with ease. Same with George Lucas and Luke Skywalker. It works sometimes. Here it worked well enough for me.
So that’s it for now. Atmosphere was beautiful in this one right to the end, and I can overlook a few small things if I really feel transported. This also demonstrates a lot of growth when compared to the collection I read by Arzate. I’ll be checking out more of his work for sure.
This book had a serious Northern Exposure vibe when it came to the small town setting. Of course there’s also an undercurrent of impending danger and the strange, which reminds me a bit of Twin Peaks.
The character navigates most of the story alone and disoriented, which was fun.
It almost seemed like it was a synthesized small-town setting, which reminded me of Patrick Lacey’s Where Stars Won’t Shine.
The more the situations confirm our paranoias, the darker the atmosphere grows. It felt almost dreamlike.
I don’t know, that all just worked for me. Did I end the book feeling disoriented? Yeah. Was the main character lacking dimension? I’d rather say he was a good template for me to insert myself into, which was likely the intended function. There was just enough weird in the character to make me feel slightly uncomfortable, which is a good place for me as a reader.
As for the protagonist, nobody gave JK Rowling shit for creating a character that allowed readers to insert themselves into the story with ease. Same with George Lucas and Luke Skywalker. It works sometimes. Here it worked well enough for me.
So that’s it for now. Atmosphere was beautiful in this one right to the end, and I can overlook a few small things if I really feel transported. This also demonstrates a lot of growth when compared to the collection I read by Arzate. I’ll be checking out more of his work for sure.
December 8, 2023
I liked Elaine a lot... until the end. I feel completely let down by that ending: somehow, we end up with no answer or clue about what's really going on at Elaine and with its inhabitants. Same with Agnes.
Note that I can enjoy an open ending to a story, but at some point I'd like to at least have a guideline to help me imagine my ending to the story and what happens next. Here it kinda fell flat and I was like "Wait what? That's it?".
The story is captivating and I was totally into it while reading it. I kept questioning myself about the bizarre town and the strange behaviors of the characters... I somehow relate with the hero and felt upset like him. So the novella is good! But the ending is not and that's a shame.
3.5 stars rounded up: it should have earned 4 stars or more with a better ending.
Note that I can enjoy an open ending to a story, but at some point I'd like to at least have a guideline to help me imagine my ending to the story and what happens next. Here it kinda fell flat and I was like "Wait what? That's it?".
The story is captivating and I was totally into it while reading it. I kept questioning myself about the bizarre town and the strange behaviors of the characters... I somehow relate with the hero and felt upset like him. So the novella is good! But the ending is not and that's a shame.
3.5 stars rounded up: it should have earned 4 stars or more with a better ending.
February 11, 2020
Elaine is unique and unpredictable, in the best ways. Arzate’s minimalist style gives the reader what they need to know and barrels ahead. Transitions happen naturally until before you know it, you’re hip deep in some very unsettling circumstances. I couldn’t read it fast enough. And while the ending seemed abrupt at first—it certainly doesn’t tie everything up with a bow—perhaps it’s meant to be the kind of book that leaves you thinking.
January 19, 2022
Hi, I’m Elaine.
A well written and interesting book. It left me with several questions but I imagine that may have been the point. Very weird and thought provoking.
A well written and interesting book. It left me with several questions but I imagine that may have been the point. Very weird and thought provoking.
May 28, 2021
I devoured this book in one sitting. A quick, propulsive, horror novel. Elaine lives somewhere between Silent Hill, the Twilight Zone, and a psychosexual "small town isn't what it seems" tale. Some readers might want more explained by the time it wraps up, but honestly, I enjoyed that the clues were there, hooking me under the skin and dragging me forward along with the protagonist and leaving me with a confused tension that buzzed like a vibrating wire. Sex, violence, and Midwestern manners. Good times.
October 7, 2020
Some sex, a lot of creepiness, and even more creepy sex. Stranger than I expected from the description, I dug it.
May 20, 2022
This book is a wild ride. The ending didn't really give closure to the story. But it was a great mind bending read. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
March 28, 2020
I haven’t read a disturbing story in awhile and Arzate smudges the blood and sex around like a maniac. With a build in soundtrack Chris finds the town “Elaine” he has traveled to has secrets and things keep getting worse around every corner. From the nocturnal emissions, to the television odd-ball and the bloody-ending of survival; Arzate holds nothing back. A recommended read that is on the right track.
May 10, 2020
Really enjoyed this short but efficient surrealist-horror novella. in a familiar setting of the uncanny, Ben Arzate manages to pull off a delightfully brutal nightmare that doesn't spare the reader. From precise and realistic descriptions of places, gestures, dialogues and characters, the story slowly drifts towards the nightmarish, in good folk-horror tradition. Highly recommended for all lovers of graphic and yet poetic horror.
July 9, 2021
This was a very, very strange novella which I was perhaps too generous in giving three stars. I never quite bought the story of a parallel universe populated exclusively by Elaine's and the story certainly goes off the rails towards the end (no spoilers!). Nonetheless, it was rather short as rather surprising, just not fantastic, must reading.
April 5, 2024
Didn't want to put this one down. However, I have mixed feelings over the (to be interpreted) ending...
April 17, 2021
This was a ridiculously addictive short novel/novella, not sure exactly, but the pages flew by rapid fire all the way to that ending that you didn't see coming. Very well done. I will check out more from the author, no doubt.
July 19, 2023
The obvious take would be to say Arzate's novella "Elaine" is Lynchian. I'd go even further and say it's firmly in Calvin Lee Reeder territory. Though it's more lucid than The Oregonian, it definitely shares DNA with his later film The Rambler. As a matter of fact, Reeder would be the perfect person to adapt this into a nightmare fuel indie film filled with oddball characters and a supremely menacing tone. You can read this 91-pager in one sitting and I highly recommend that you do in order to maintain the movie-like feel of the experience.
My favorite exchange that elicited more than a few laughs featured the fallout of one of the setpiece bizarre occurrences in the book:
"Sorry about what happened last time. That wasn't the first time I saw a dead body, but I wasn't expecting one and being by myself I just panicked, you know?"
"Oh yeah, I saw the article in the newspaper."
"I mean, you don't think I just shot some old lady for no reason, do you?"
In context, this exchange with the main character, Chris, and a manic cop who may or may not have murdered and elderly woman whilst giving Chris a ride through the titanically bizarre town of Elaine, is supremely funny and had me cackling out loud.
In short, this is a very dark, yet darkly funny, journey into the waking nightmare of a town that has a pulse, a heartbeat, and a mind of its own. Enter at your own risk. And don't go to Elaine's apartment. In the town of Elaine. Not the Elaine on the train. The other Elaine. Got it?
My favorite exchange that elicited more than a few laughs featured the fallout of one of the setpiece bizarre occurrences in the book:
"Sorry about what happened last time. That wasn't the first time I saw a dead body, but I wasn't expecting one and being by myself I just panicked, you know?"
"Oh yeah, I saw the article in the newspaper."
"I mean, you don't think I just shot some old lady for no reason, do you?"
In context, this exchange with the main character, Chris, and a manic cop who may or may not have murdered and elderly woman whilst giving Chris a ride through the titanically bizarre town of Elaine, is supremely funny and had me cackling out loud.
In short, this is a very dark, yet darkly funny, journey into the waking nightmare of a town that has a pulse, a heartbeat, and a mind of its own. Enter at your own risk. And don't go to Elaine's apartment. In the town of Elaine. Not the Elaine on the train. The other Elaine. Got it?
March 2, 2020
Every once in a while I read a book that touches on some sensitive and disturbing content and at the end I’m left with the question: what was the point? I’m sorry to say this was one of those books for me. Initially this started pretty strong with an intriguing premise. A man finds himself in a creepy little town with creepy people and a girlfriend who appears to be mia. The writing and the setup is good. Where it went off the rails for me was the dreams and some of the content which in the end was never really resolved nor did I really understand the point of it. Some other elements that were genuinely creepy and interesting were never explained. To be frank, I had more questions when the book was finished than when I began. Did I miss something? I don’t know and I’m about 100% unwilling to dive in again and find out.
I really was torn how to rate this, which sometimes strikes me as an empty exercise. What do ratings mean in the end when they only reflect ones feelings and perhaps,limited perspective ? I initially was going to give it a two star rating because I did like the premise and the writing but on further reflection on some of its content it felt less than honest. I feel some warning for certain triggers would have been greatly appreciated with this book.
I really was torn how to rate this, which sometimes strikes me as an empty exercise. What do ratings mean in the end when they only reflect ones feelings and perhaps,limited perspective ? I initially was going to give it a two star rating because I did like the premise and the writing but on further reflection on some of its content it felt less than honest. I feel some warning for certain triggers would have been greatly appreciated with this book.
November 17, 2020
Here Ben, take all the stars! I will be back with a full review!
August 30, 2021
If I were reviewing a friend, this would be five stars but because I'm reviewing a book, I had to go with four. The main character, Chris, felt like a blank slate. What do I mean by 'blank slate'? I mean that he's a dude that things just happen to. He moves about this isolated little world he's in, but only rarely seems to effect any changes in it. We're told that he loves Agnes and music, but I felt there weren't enough proofs of him loving them. He gave up awfully easy looking for his girlfriend in order to head to the train station. I also think that hallucinations and dream sequences are extremely hard to write in modern day books, 1) because many authors confuse the two and 2) because they rarely deliver anything substantial in moving the plot forward. They're a cheat, in my view.
Don't get me wrong. The story thought quick enough on its feet to keep me engaged, but I never felt any kind of closure or resolution.
Don't get me wrong. The story thought quick enough on its feet to keep me engaged, but I never felt any kind of closure or resolution.
April 8, 2020
I don't know...maybe?
April 13, 2020
Love the concept and setup, not so fond of the execution and subsequent trajectory.
June 4, 2025
[SPOILER FREE] It kept me guessing. I couldn't put it down.
March 12, 2020
A delightful and devious little book. Elaine is a work of fiction that constantly subverts the reader’s expectations. The novella begins as a search for a missing woman in the Upper Peninsula – but the text quickly mutates into a sort of hero’s journey. And that protagonist wanders into a landscape of peril & perplexity.
Elaine, Michigan, is a puzzling place indeed. All the women in the town have the same name – the reader is never quite certain whether this local quirk is merely some Yooper idiosyncrasy or a manifestation of the eternal feminine. Local residents are strangely absent from the streets – something that would disconcert & disorient the average visitor, but only serves to ensnare & entangle the main character with the spirit of the place.
In all quests for a female, disagreeable & distasteful things will happen along the way. If you are looking for a lost girl, a man is going to have some weird sexual experiences on route. The hero is forced into some rather unpleasant & unenjoyable sexual encounters; a man who looks for something does not ... well ... come out unscathed.
The plot is not entirely resolved when the book is finished. Ultimately, the ending of Elaine is unsatisfactory, but the ending of life itself is not entirely satisfactory either. Like all decent works of fiction, not everything is settled when your reach the final paragraphs. You don’t want answers, you just want to know how many questions are still remaining out there.
The geography of the U.P. will take you aback. The pasties will blow your mind.
Elaine, Michigan, is a puzzling place indeed. All the women in the town have the same name – the reader is never quite certain whether this local quirk is merely some Yooper idiosyncrasy or a manifestation of the eternal feminine. Local residents are strangely absent from the streets – something that would disconcert & disorient the average visitor, but only serves to ensnare & entangle the main character with the spirit of the place.
In all quests for a female, disagreeable & distasteful things will happen along the way. If you are looking for a lost girl, a man is going to have some weird sexual experiences on route. The hero is forced into some rather unpleasant & unenjoyable sexual encounters; a man who looks for something does not ... well ... come out unscathed.
The plot is not entirely resolved when the book is finished. Ultimately, the ending of Elaine is unsatisfactory, but the ending of life itself is not entirely satisfactory either. Like all decent works of fiction, not everything is settled when your reach the final paragraphs. You don’t want answers, you just want to know how many questions are still remaining out there.
The geography of the U.P. will take you aback. The pasties will blow your mind.
May 8, 2020
Elaine is a tense and creepy rural horror story, and made me uneasy from the very start with its incestuous suggestions and the terror of no WiFi or phone signal. Despite the protagonist Chris being a massive pervert with more erections than a New York scaffolding company, I still liked the poor bloke and was rooting for him the whole way through. Plenty of sex and death, if that's your thing (it's totally my thing).
Ben Arzate writes with brevity; I easily read this in an afternoon, not wanting to stop. It’s fast-paced, compelling and disturbing in the best possible way. I thoroughly enjoyed, and the ending is both ambiguous and satisfactory.
I just hope the author doesn’t have a sister in real life, because Christmas dinner would be awkward AF after this.
Ben Arzate writes with brevity; I easily read this in an afternoon, not wanting to stop. It’s fast-paced, compelling and disturbing in the best possible way. I thoroughly enjoyed, and the ending is both ambiguous and satisfactory.
I just hope the author doesn’t have a sister in real life, because Christmas dinner would be awkward AF after this.
February 13, 2021
holy fuckin shit.
that was warped and brilliant and is the most effective book I’ve read in a while at eliciting shock and awe.
Great mystery. Great twists. Great music references. Never expected to see The Dresden Dolls mentioned in fiction.
I loved it.
I’ll be thinking about that ending for a long time.
God damn. Perkele.
that was warped and brilliant and is the most effective book I’ve read in a while at eliciting shock and awe.
Great mystery. Great twists. Great music references. Never expected to see The Dresden Dolls mentioned in fiction.
I loved it.
I’ll be thinking about that ending for a long time.
God damn. Perkele.
January 17, 2024
Short, sweet and strange
This was a quick read of the WTF variety. There are a few things that may give some folks a case of the "icks". The ending was ambiguous, maybe what I think was going on, really was, but maybe not. Maybe there will be a continuation to let us know what happens to some of the characters.
This was a quick read of the WTF variety. There are a few things that may give some folks a case of the "icks". The ending was ambiguous, maybe what I think was going on, really was, but maybe not. Maybe there will be a continuation to let us know what happens to some of the characters.
Read
March 19, 2020Really graphic sex.. Not my cup of tea.
July 8, 2020
This was a fantastic novella. My full review is posted at Signal Horizon Magazine:
https://signalhorizon.com/book-review...
https://signalhorizon.com/book-review...
July 31, 2020
Chris leaves his record store in the hands of a friend as he travels to the town of Elaine for the funeral of his girlfriend's mother. His girlfriend, Agnes, is meant to.meet him from the train, but isn't there and after a unsettling dream and journey, Chris is out of sorts when he meets Agnes' father who agrees to take him to the house. Adding up Agnes' disappearance, the fact every woman in Elaine is named Elaine and the creepy pastor Chris encounters on local TV and things in Elaine seem decidedly strange.
This is a great book where the easy prose style complements the unease you feel as things progress. It's a tough one to put down as you look to see where it goes although it might not be for everyone as Chris has increasingly graphic dreams.the longer he is in Elaine. While this is a horror I found there to be something transgressive about the book too. Certainly piqued my interest in the author and will look out for further titles by him.
This is a great book where the easy prose style complements the unease you feel as things progress. It's a tough one to put down as you look to see where it goes although it might not be for everyone as Chris has increasingly graphic dreams.the longer he is in Elaine. While this is a horror I found there to be something transgressive about the book too. Certainly piqued my interest in the author and will look out for further titles by him.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews