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Come Closer
If everything in Amanda's life is so perfect, then why the mood swings, the obscene thoughts, the urge to harm the people she loves? What are those tapping sounds in the walls? And who's that woman following her? The mystery behind what's happening to Amanda in Come Closer is so frightening that it "ought to carry a warning to...readers."
223 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2003
1639 people are currently reading
108023 people want to read
About the author
Sara Gran
16 books2,019 followersSara Gran's most recent book is LITTLE MYSTERIES, available from Dreamland Books on 2/11/25. She is the author of 7 1/2 previous novels, a screenwriter, and a publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,760 reviews
September 24, 2024
Wow!
I don’t think that I have any words that can describe this book.
I don’t wish to mention any spoilers, so…l guess that all l can say is, if you love a great psychological thriller, then this is the one to read.
There are a lot of things going on in this story. A lot of delusions. A lot of confusion. A lot of insanity. 😱 Beware! 😳
Highly recommended!
Five fantastic stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don’t think that I have any words that can describe this book.
I don’t wish to mention any spoilers, so…l guess that all l can say is, if you love a great psychological thriller, then this is the one to read.
There are a lot of things going on in this story. A lot of delusions. A lot of confusion. A lot of insanity. 😱 Beware! 😳
Highly recommended!
Five fantastic stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 20, 2024
➳
4.5/5 stars
"We could devote our lives to making sense of the odd, the inexplicable, the coincidental. But most of us don’t, and I didn’t either.”
"Come Closer" by Sara Gran is one of those books that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go until the end. Although im not the biggest fan of horror but my brother always spoke so highly of it that I decided to give it a try. And I must say, it completely blew my mind. The story left me questioning the meaning of my existence in a way few books ever have.
Despite its brevity, the writing and execution are nothing short of masterful, drawing you in with each carefully crafted word. The way Gran builds tension and explores complex themes is truly remarkable. The plot is compelling and thought-provoking, making you reflect deeply on your own life and experiences. This book may be short, but it packs an incredible punch, making it a memorable and impactful read.
This book centers around Amanda, an ambitious architect working on her biggest project to date, the Fitzgerald House. She hopes this project will enable her to leave her current employers, Fields and Carmine, and establish her own business. Amanda is happily married to Ed, and they live together in a loft apartment. Their peaceful life begins to unravel with the onset of a sinister tapping sound that never seems to stop, which is revealed to be the first sign of demonic possession.
As the story unfolds, we witness Amanda's steady decline. Her personal and professional lives begin to spiral out of control, and she becomes increasingly erratic and disturbed. The novel delves deeply into Amanda's disintegration, highlighting how the possession affects every aspect of her existence. The sinister tapping and other eerie occurrences create a chilling atmosphere, making the readers feel Amanda's growing sense of dread and helplessness.
This was genuinely one of the creepiest, scariest, and most realistic demon possession novels I've ever read. It grips you from all angles as you witness Amanda's chilling descent into chaos. The horror is visceral as you see her unraveling, each page turning up the intensity. The gory scenes are vividly described, and the dialogue feels disturbingly real, making the characters unforgettable. The eerie atmosphere is masterfully crafted, leading up to an insane and unforgettable ending. This novel isn’t just a great read; it's an experience that lingers long after you've finished it.
°˖➴ "Overall, I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful demonic horror novel. It’s captivating, easy to read, and something that will haunt you for years to come." 💌
"We could devote our lives to making sense of the odd, the inexplicable, the coincidental. But most of us don’t, and I didn’t either.”
"Come Closer" by Sara Gran is one of those books that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go until the end. Although im not the biggest fan of horror but my brother always spoke so highly of it that I decided to give it a try. And I must say, it completely blew my mind. The story left me questioning the meaning of my existence in a way few books ever have.
Despite its brevity, the writing and execution are nothing short of masterful, drawing you in with each carefully crafted word. The way Gran builds tension and explores complex themes is truly remarkable. The plot is compelling and thought-provoking, making you reflect deeply on your own life and experiences. This book may be short, but it packs an incredible punch, making it a memorable and impactful read.
This book centers around Amanda, an ambitious architect working on her biggest project to date, the Fitzgerald House. She hopes this project will enable her to leave her current employers, Fields and Carmine, and establish her own business. Amanda is happily married to Ed, and they live together in a loft apartment. Their peaceful life begins to unravel with the onset of a sinister tapping sound that never seems to stop, which is revealed to be the first sign of demonic possession.
As the story unfolds, we witness Amanda's steady decline. Her personal and professional lives begin to spiral out of control, and she becomes increasingly erratic and disturbed. The novel delves deeply into Amanda's disintegration, highlighting how the possession affects every aspect of her existence. The sinister tapping and other eerie occurrences create a chilling atmosphere, making the readers feel Amanda's growing sense of dread and helplessness.
This was genuinely one of the creepiest, scariest, and most realistic demon possession novels I've ever read. It grips you from all angles as you witness Amanda's chilling descent into chaos. The horror is visceral as you see her unraveling, each page turning up the intensity. The gory scenes are vividly described, and the dialogue feels disturbingly real, making the characters unforgettable. The eerie atmosphere is masterfully crafted, leading up to an insane and unforgettable ending. This novel isn’t just a great read; it's an experience that lingers long after you've finished it.
°˖➴ "Overall, I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful demonic horror novel. It’s captivating, easy to read, and something that will haunt you for years to come." 💌
October 31, 2020
HEY, QUARANTINERS! i wrote another readalong/booklist thing for f(r)iction! this book is on it: The Call Is Coming From Inside You
this is short and anything but sweet, somehow managing to pack a whole lot of creepiness into just under 200 pages.
it’s a story of a woman’s disintegration as she is invaded by a demonic presence that insinuates itself into her body and mind, slowly and irrevocably supplanting her free will, causing her to engage in increasingly self-destructive behaviors, blowing up her life as it sinks its claws ever-deeper into her mind; jeopardizing her marriage, her job, her reputation, and her list of “never have i evers,” leading her helplessly down a violent path…as much as she can recall of it.
it’s a truly chilling little story of a character’s descent into madness, her blackouts leaving the reader to fill in some of the pieces themselves, but showing enough of the gruesome aftermath to know that whatever she did, it ain’t gonna win her any good citizen awards.
a few months back, i read Freshwater, which is (in part) about possession manifesting as mental disorder/insanity, and i thought emezi did a fantastic job of writing that headspace—making it accessible and sympathetic to the reader. this is just as effective, but gran spins her similar situation in a different direction. instead of emezi's transcendent/poetic/mythological realm, Come Closer shows, through a tantalizingly slow psychological slippage, how easy it is to give in, to let it all go, how freeing, sometimes, to let the demon tear down the whole damn house of cards.
and that, my friends, is terrifying.
*********************************
SPOOKTOBER READING CONTINUES!!
come to my blog!
this is short and anything but sweet, somehow managing to pack a whole lot of creepiness into just under 200 pages.
it’s a story of a woman’s disintegration as she is invaded by a demonic presence that insinuates itself into her body and mind, slowly and irrevocably supplanting her free will, causing her to engage in increasingly self-destructive behaviors, blowing up her life as it sinks its claws ever-deeper into her mind; jeopardizing her marriage, her job, her reputation, and her list of “never have i evers,” leading her helplessly down a violent path…as much as she can recall of it.
it’s a truly chilling little story of a character’s descent into madness, her blackouts leaving the reader to fill in some of the pieces themselves, but showing enough of the gruesome aftermath to know that whatever she did, it ain’t gonna win her any good citizen awards.
a few months back, i read Freshwater, which is (in part) about possession manifesting as mental disorder/insanity, and i thought emezi did a fantastic job of writing that headspace—making it accessible and sympathetic to the reader. this is just as effective, but gran spins her similar situation in a different direction. instead of emezi's transcendent/poetic/mythological realm, Come Closer shows, through a tantalizingly slow psychological slippage, how easy it is to give in, to let it all go, how freeing, sometimes, to let the demon tear down the whole damn house of cards.
and that, my friends, is terrifying.
*********************************
SPOOKTOBER READING CONTINUES!!
come to my blog!
November 10, 2021
This has a super interesting premise, and I love the idea of this book — but the execution wasn’t my favorite. For how short of a book this is I’m surprised by how it felt so repetitive and almost like it was dragging? I think the concept is absolutely fascinating and I see what the author was trying to do, I just expected it to be a little more scary and creepy. While there were a few unsettling moments, it just didn’t do it for me sadly.
November 3, 2021
What scares you?
I’ve been reflecting on that question more and more as the true horror books I’ve read lately have failed to give me any reason to keep the lights on. After some analysis of my past Halloween reading lists, I’ve realized the following applies for me:
Not scary: Haunted houses, monsters, ghosts and witches
Scary: Demonic possession and creepy kids
Since I’ve read the “classics” with those tropes, the interwebs were helpful in directing me to this little 2006 gem by Sara Gran. In Come Closer, readers are taken into the first-person perspective of Amanda, a young woman who slowly begins to realize she’s possessed by a demon. While she’s aware of it - she knows who the demon is and has been able to research her origins back to a biblical story - there’s nothing she can do to rid herself of her sinister companion.
At a mere 194 pages, this novella packed the paranormal - and paranoia - punch I’d been looking for. Scary, indeed.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
I’ve been reflecting on that question more and more as the true horror books I’ve read lately have failed to give me any reason to keep the lights on. After some analysis of my past Halloween reading lists, I’ve realized the following applies for me:
Not scary: Haunted houses, monsters, ghosts and witches
Scary: Demonic possession and creepy kids
Since I’ve read the “classics” with those tropes, the interwebs were helpful in directing me to this little 2006 gem by Sara Gran. In Come Closer, readers are taken into the first-person perspective of Amanda, a young woman who slowly begins to realize she’s possessed by a demon. While she’s aware of it - she knows who the demon is and has been able to research her origins back to a biblical story - there’s nothing she can do to rid herself of her sinister companion.
At a mere 194 pages, this novella packed the paranormal - and paranoia - punch I’d been looking for. Scary, indeed.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
June 6, 2021
5.0 Stars
This is an incredibly short novel that manages to pack a punch in a limited number of pages. The details of the story are vivid and memorable, creating a sense of unease.
Told in the first person perspective, most of the horror of this book resides within the mind of protagonist. This unique choice blends together elements of traditional horror with psychological suspense. The story itself is fairly quiet and slow paced with minimal action, yet I found it to be incredibly suspenseful and psychologically scary.
The strength of the story should come from the subtle details and unreliable nature of the main character. This book deals with themes of marriage and mental health, while providing a horrorifying story. This has become my favourite horror novella... ever.
This is an incredibly short novel that manages to pack a punch in a limited number of pages. The details of the story are vivid and memorable, creating a sense of unease.
Told in the first person perspective, most of the horror of this book resides within the mind of protagonist. This unique choice blends together elements of traditional horror with psychological suspense. The story itself is fairly quiet and slow paced with minimal action, yet I found it to be incredibly suspenseful and psychologically scary.
The strength of the story should come from the subtle details and unreliable nature of the main character. This book deals with themes of marriage and mental health, while providing a horrorifying story. This has become my favourite horror novella... ever.
July 3, 2022
“Come Closer” by Sara Gran was such a genuine page-turner, it was extremely hard to put this novel down once I started. It was the first time I’ve ever read anything by Gran as her writing style is fantastic making it an amazing reading experience that checks all the boxes for this horror reader.
I won’t spoil anything for you but this was genuinely one of the creepiest, scariest, and most realistic demon possession novels I’ve ever read. It truly hits you from all angles as you start to see what ultimately happens to Amanda as you keep reading. Just flat-out terrifying, to say the least.
From the gory scenes, dialogue, characters, atmosphere, and insane ending, I’d highly recommend this novel to anyone that wants one hell of a demonic horror novel. It’s great, easy to read, and something I’ll never forget for years to come.
I give “Come Closer” by Sara Gran a perfect 5/5 as she has a new fan in me! Looking forward to reading her previous and future work as she’s truly an excellent author. This was a brilliantly written demonic horror novel that is perfect for a quick weekend read or something to keep you up as you read deep into the night in one sitting. It’s that good!
I won’t spoil anything for you but this was genuinely one of the creepiest, scariest, and most realistic demon possession novels I’ve ever read. It truly hits you from all angles as you start to see what ultimately happens to Amanda as you keep reading. Just flat-out terrifying, to say the least.
From the gory scenes, dialogue, characters, atmosphere, and insane ending, I’d highly recommend this novel to anyone that wants one hell of a demonic horror novel. It’s great, easy to read, and something I’ll never forget for years to come.
I give “Come Closer” by Sara Gran a perfect 5/5 as she has a new fan in me! Looking forward to reading her previous and future work as she’s truly an excellent author. This was a brilliantly written demonic horror novel that is perfect for a quick weekend read or something to keep you up as you read deep into the night in one sitting. It’s that good!
February 15, 2019
I just finished this book. I started it a couple days ago and I would have devoured it in one sitting but, you know--life--so I gulped down huge chunks of it in whatever reading time I could steal. I can't believe it's just under 200 pages! I feel like so much happened in these pages...
...certain things are going to scare certain people. Okay? Let's just start there. Not everything is going to have the same impact on every, single reader because we all come to the story with so much baggage--preferences, worldviews, triggers, perspectives, pet peeves, history, so much baggage.
For me, Sara Gran touches on a subject that hits very close to home. So, the protagonist, Amanda--I can relate to her.
Things happen to her that feel akin to my context.
And then when the author starts to turn up the heat and the bubbles begin to gather around the edges of the pot...the water starts getting warm...and then hot...hotter...and then BOILING...I felt it all. I felt everything Amanda did and it just straight terrified me.
This book got under my skin in the worst/best way.
Like, I even wondered about myself there for a minute, you know??
People who have read this book, are you nodding your head in agreement? Did you go over that checklist and you're like, hmmmm, I could score a 3 or a 4 right now...
Ack! *shivers*
Those of you who haven't read this book, this is for you:
I'm recommending this read for people who enjoy those psychological, unreliable-narrator, creeping-dread, disturbing stories that just get more and more messed up and crazy as it goes on.
Truly, there were some stand out moment here that if this was a movie, I’d cover my eyes.
Scary, scary, scary.
Maybe not for some--I understand that, but it was for ME. Big time.
...certain things are going to scare certain people. Okay? Let's just start there. Not everything is going to have the same impact on every, single reader because we all come to the story with so much baggage--preferences, worldviews, triggers, perspectives, pet peeves, history, so much baggage.
For me, Sara Gran touches on a subject that hits very close to home. So, the protagonist, Amanda--I can relate to her.
Things happen to her that feel akin to my context.
And then when the author starts to turn up the heat and the bubbles begin to gather around the edges of the pot...the water starts getting warm...and then hot...hotter...and then BOILING...I felt it all. I felt everything Amanda did and it just straight terrified me.
This book got under my skin in the worst/best way.
Like, I even wondered about myself there for a minute, you know??
People who have read this book, are you nodding your head in agreement? Did you go over that checklist and you're like, hmmmm, I could score a 3 or a 4 right now...
Ack! *shivers*
Those of you who haven't read this book, this is for you:
I'm recommending this read for people who enjoy those psychological, unreliable-narrator, creeping-dread, disturbing stories that just get more and more messed up and crazy as it goes on.
Truly, there were some stand out moment here that if this was a movie, I’d cover my eyes.
Scary, scary, scary.
Maybe not for some--I understand that, but it was for ME. Big time.
June 7, 2021
Sarah Gran's novella is a haunting horror thriller, interspersed with the darkest of humour, chillingly ambiguous about the central character, the suitably unreliable Amanda. She is an ambitious architect working on her biggest project to date, the Fitzgerald House, which she is hoping will lead to her moving on from her current employers, Fields and Carmine, to set up in business on her own. She is happily married to Ed, living in a loft apartment, where it all begins with the sinister tapping that never seems to stop, which we are later to learn is the first sign of demonic possession. From here, we slowly see the disintegration of Amanda, her personal and professional spiralling out of her control. As is stated by Amanda “We could devote our lives to making sense of the odd, the inexplicable, the coincidental. But most of us don’t, and I didn’t either.”
Without doubt, a series of strange and odd events do occur, the German Alsation dog close to home that was initially so friendly to Amanda, turning hostile and fearful, the all too vivid dreams, the rising number of arguments she has with Ed, the blackouts where she can remember nothing of what happens, the shoplifting, taking up smoking again after having successfully quit, and the delivery of the wrong book, Demon Possession, Past and Present. However, can Amanda's account really be trusted? Is she really possessed by the demon Naamah, her unfortunate history outlined in Christian and Jewish history or is it her mental health issues that are contributing to her breakdown? Amanda's disturbing and unsettling downwards slide into the concluding nightmare of horror is inevitable, marked by her increasing scores in the demonic possession quiz.
This is the perfect read for those time of the year where horror and supernatural fiction comes into its own, such as Halloween, or whenever you feel in the need to venture into darker reading territory. I particularly like the ambiguity of this relatively short story, with Amanda visiting the spiritual advisor, Sister Maria, and a psychotherapist, Dr Fenton, both unsettling in their different way for her. This is a wonderfully intense and eerie read, which I think will appeal to many readers of horror. Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.
Without doubt, a series of strange and odd events do occur, the German Alsation dog close to home that was initially so friendly to Amanda, turning hostile and fearful, the all too vivid dreams, the rising number of arguments she has with Ed, the blackouts where she can remember nothing of what happens, the shoplifting, taking up smoking again after having successfully quit, and the delivery of the wrong book, Demon Possession, Past and Present. However, can Amanda's account really be trusted? Is she really possessed by the demon Naamah, her unfortunate history outlined in Christian and Jewish history or is it her mental health issues that are contributing to her breakdown? Amanda's disturbing and unsettling downwards slide into the concluding nightmare of horror is inevitable, marked by her increasing scores in the demonic possession quiz.
This is the perfect read for those time of the year where horror and supernatural fiction comes into its own, such as Halloween, or whenever you feel in the need to venture into darker reading territory. I particularly like the ambiguity of this relatively short story, with Amanda visiting the spiritual advisor, Sister Maria, and a psychotherapist, Dr Fenton, both unsettling in their different way for her. This is a wonderfully intense and eerie read, which I think will appeal to many readers of horror. Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.
March 13, 2024
Thoroughly creepy and deeply unsettling, especially for how short it was. I loved it.
April 23, 2025
Come Closer is a tragic and horrifying tale about a woman's decent into madness.
When main character, Amanda, realizes she is hearing strange sounds and visions she is terrified of the drastic changes in behavior.
Rapidly spiraling out of control, she succumbs to erratic fights with her husband, terror filled dreams, picking up strange men, and waking up covered in blood in strange places.
Is she possessed by a demon? Or is she insane? This may be short but it sure packs a powerful punch. The ultimate in psychological terror. Definitely plan on reading more of Gran's work.
When main character, Amanda, realizes she is hearing strange sounds and visions she is terrified of the drastic changes in behavior.
Rapidly spiraling out of control, she succumbs to erratic fights with her husband, terror filled dreams, picking up strange men, and waking up covered in blood in strange places.
Is she possessed by a demon? Or is she insane? This may be short but it sure packs a powerful punch. The ultimate in psychological terror. Definitely plan on reading more of Gran's work.
October 12, 2023
Mira que odio las historias de posesiones y lo que he amado este libro.
Que si las odio es porque me dan miedo, y este libro da bastante mal rollo, no lo voy a negar, hay cosas que me pusieron la piel de gallina... pero también me hizo reír, me hizo empatizar, me indignó...
Es un libro breve que cuenta su historia con mucha habilidad, que te engancha desde la primera página y va arrastrando cada vez más para conocer a ese demonio que ¿a quién no ha conquistado?
Un libro sobre los impulsos que todos tenemos (los lleguemos a liberar o no), sobre la vida de muchas parejas, la carga de muchas mujeres, sobre nuestra sociedad actual y sobre ese absurdo espejismo que queremos crear de nuestras vidas con nosotros mismos.
Sigo pensando en él.
Que si las odio es porque me dan miedo, y este libro da bastante mal rollo, no lo voy a negar, hay cosas que me pusieron la piel de gallina... pero también me hizo reír, me hizo empatizar, me indignó...
Es un libro breve que cuenta su historia con mucha habilidad, que te engancha desde la primera página y va arrastrando cada vez más para conocer a ese demonio que ¿a quién no ha conquistado?
Un libro sobre los impulsos que todos tenemos (los lleguemos a liberar o no), sobre la vida de muchas parejas, la carga de muchas mujeres, sobre nuestra sociedad actual y sobre ese absurdo espejismo que queremos crear de nuestras vidas con nosotros mismos.
Sigo pensando en él.
June 20, 2022
Gripping novella detailing someone's life taking a major U-turn. Unravelling from successful and happily married, to madness, paranoia, blackouts and possible demonic possession.
April 14, 2021
oh wow this was fucking boring 🥱
September 17, 2024
What a totally unhinged crazy read... I mean, what a relatable main character lol.
This read a little comical to me? lol. Idk. Maybe something’s wrong with me? Pretty decent story but I didn’t take it seriously at all.
✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
Well, the book I was reading today just wasn't doing it for me - and then I saw Shanayaa's update and decided to give this a try. 👀 This book is so unhinged so far lol
This read a little comical to me? lol. Idk. Maybe something’s wrong with me? Pretty decent story but I didn’t take it seriously at all.
✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
Well, the book I was reading today just wasn't doing it for me - and then I saw Shanayaa's update and decided to give this a try. 👀 This book is so unhinged so far lol
February 10, 2022
One of those short, shocking stories, Come Closer is a terrific little descent into terror. The dreadful images stay with you, although most of the gore is out of sight, as the main character has trouble remembering the worst of her acts. There are enough that she does recall to keep you cringing. Sara Gran has heaps of talent.
May 3, 2023
The Year of Women--in which I'm devoting 2021 to reading female authors only--comes out at the bell with a southpaw knockout punch. Published in 2003, Come Closer was the sophomore novel by author Sara Gran, whose jagged detective story Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead I very much liked when I read it a few years ago. I had no idea what I was in store for here (the choice of Bret Easton Ellis to write the blurb was foreboding). If you like first-person narratives that knock you on your ass, stop reading before I spoil anything and throw this on your reading docket.
Questions. Have profane Post-It notes appeared on a proposal you placed on your boss's desk? Do you hear strange tapping in the walls of your home? Have arguments between you and your husband become more frequent? Have you had unusual dreams lately? Do animals or children react strangely around you? Stress manifests itself in mysterious ways. Perhaps you need to relax, go somewhere and get away from it all. Maybe it's this election, or the pandemic. Or maybe you've been possessed by a demon.
Our narrator Amanda is an architect for a small firm. She lives with her husband of six years, Edward, in an apartment they purchased at her insistence, a fixer-upper in what was once an aspirin factory in an industrial section of town so deserted that stray dogs outnumber neighbors. Edward is on the neat and fussy side, but quirks and peccadilloes aside, Amanda has a stable marriage. Then she starts experiencing vivid dreams of an imaginary friend she hasn't thought of since she was a girl. She takes up cigarette smoking again. She orders a book titled Design Issues Past and Present but is instead delivered Demon Possession Past and Present.
On the first page there was a little quiz:
Are YOU Possessed by a Demon?
1. I hear strange noises in my home, especially at night, which family members tell me only occur when I am present.
2. I have new activities and pastimes that seem "out of character," and I do things that I did not intend and do not understand.
3. I'm short and ill-tempered with my friends and loved ones.
4. I can understand languages I've never studied, and have the ability to know things I couldn't know through ordinary means.
5. I have blackouts not caused by drugs, alcohol, or a pre-existing health condition.
6. I have unusual new thoughts, or hear voices in my head.
7. I've had visions or dreams of personalities who may be demons.
8. A psychic, minister, or other spiritualist has told me I'm possessed.
9. I have urges to hurt or kill animals and other people.
10. I have hurt or killed animals or people.
On the next page was an analysis of the quiz results. I had scored a four out of ten; there was the noise in our apartment, I had started smoking again, I had been fighting with Ed, and I had been having strange dreams.
0-3: You are probably not possessed. See a doctor or mental health professional for an evaluation.
3-6: You may be haunted, or in the early stages of possession. Seek a spiritual counselor for assistance.
6-10: You are possessed. Consult with your spiritual counselor immediately. You may be a threat to the safety of yourself and your family.
The first thing I LOVED about Come Closer is that Sara Gran isn't fucking around here. This is not another homage to the horror movies of the '70s or '80s with winks and elbows as it shuffles through scenarios we've seen before, slyly commenting on them. I don't want to read a joke book, I want to read something that seems real, and this novel did that. Gran doesn't barrel down the highway of any one genre. Amanda doesn't act like a character acting out a Psychological Thriller or a Black Comedy or a Horror novel. The author blurs the lines between genres with aplomb.
Gran has this wonderful plainsong prose that does propel the book forward and reminded me of a wallflower type, a socially withdrawn person who doesn't speak much but usually makes her words count, and possesses a great degree of wit. Amanda isn't static, though. As the book progresses, both her behavior and her delivery changes as she gradually falls under the influence of some voice or spirit within her which is at such odds with her body or lifestyle that I couldn't help but laugh. Gran brings these changes on very subtly. The devil is in the details.
I lit a cigarette. Edward gently rolled his eyes. We had made an agreement that I would keep my smoking in the loft to a minimum, a concession to Ed's tragic allergies. I ignored him. I smoked and looked at my book, half listening to the television. The cigarette was in its usual place between the first and second fingers of my right hand.
I thought, What if I stuck Edward with this cigarette?
Everyone has thoughts like this from time to time: What if I burned my husband? What I pushed him off this cliff? What if I jumped off this roof? The thought came into my head and then disappeared just as quickly. I lifted the cigarette to my lips for a last drag. Then, in my mind, I took it down to stub it out in the little white custard cup I used as an ashtray. Very nice, French, we had gotten a set of six as a wedding present, I don't remember from whom. I do know that I never before or after made a custard. In my mind my hand moved towards the table and snuffed out the cigarette in the little white cup. My fingers, with a chipped brown manicure, were at my lips, the brown filter suspended between the first and second fingers of my right hand. I took the last drag and then released my lips. I assumed my hand would move down to the table and put out the cigarette.
One of the criticisms of The Exorcist is that it's about men taming or torturing a young woman into submission. Come Closer is written completely from Amanda's point of view and as the demon Naamah gains more power, suggests that Amanda is being empowered, that her mild-mannered life before the demon was the prison and that with new powers, she can be set free. I was rooting for the demon, not the establishment to make Amanda all better again. And Gran doesn't wimp out on the ending. She doesn't come to the page lightly. She made a mark on me.
Word count: 55,506 words
Sara Gran was born in 1971. Her website states she was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and that she now lives in California.
Questions. Have profane Post-It notes appeared on a proposal you placed on your boss's desk? Do you hear strange tapping in the walls of your home? Have arguments between you and your husband become more frequent? Have you had unusual dreams lately? Do animals or children react strangely around you? Stress manifests itself in mysterious ways. Perhaps you need to relax, go somewhere and get away from it all. Maybe it's this election, or the pandemic. Or maybe you've been possessed by a demon.
Our narrator Amanda is an architect for a small firm. She lives with her husband of six years, Edward, in an apartment they purchased at her insistence, a fixer-upper in what was once an aspirin factory in an industrial section of town so deserted that stray dogs outnumber neighbors. Edward is on the neat and fussy side, but quirks and peccadilloes aside, Amanda has a stable marriage. Then she starts experiencing vivid dreams of an imaginary friend she hasn't thought of since she was a girl. She takes up cigarette smoking again. She orders a book titled Design Issues Past and Present but is instead delivered Demon Possession Past and Present.
On the first page there was a little quiz:
Are YOU Possessed by a Demon?
1. I hear strange noises in my home, especially at night, which family members tell me only occur when I am present.
2. I have new activities and pastimes that seem "out of character," and I do things that I did not intend and do not understand.
3. I'm short and ill-tempered with my friends and loved ones.
4. I can understand languages I've never studied, and have the ability to know things I couldn't know through ordinary means.
5. I have blackouts not caused by drugs, alcohol, or a pre-existing health condition.
6. I have unusual new thoughts, or hear voices in my head.
7. I've had visions or dreams of personalities who may be demons.
8. A psychic, minister, or other spiritualist has told me I'm possessed.
9. I have urges to hurt or kill animals and other people.
10. I have hurt or killed animals or people.
On the next page was an analysis of the quiz results. I had scored a four out of ten; there was the noise in our apartment, I had started smoking again, I had been fighting with Ed, and I had been having strange dreams.
0-3: You are probably not possessed. See a doctor or mental health professional for an evaluation.
3-6: You may be haunted, or in the early stages of possession. Seek a spiritual counselor for assistance.
6-10: You are possessed. Consult with your spiritual counselor immediately. You may be a threat to the safety of yourself and your family.
The first thing I LOVED about Come Closer is that Sara Gran isn't fucking around here. This is not another homage to the horror movies of the '70s or '80s with winks and elbows as it shuffles through scenarios we've seen before, slyly commenting on them. I don't want to read a joke book, I want to read something that seems real, and this novel did that. Gran doesn't barrel down the highway of any one genre. Amanda doesn't act like a character acting out a Psychological Thriller or a Black Comedy or a Horror novel. The author blurs the lines between genres with aplomb.
Gran has this wonderful plainsong prose that does propel the book forward and reminded me of a wallflower type, a socially withdrawn person who doesn't speak much but usually makes her words count, and possesses a great degree of wit. Amanda isn't static, though. As the book progresses, both her behavior and her delivery changes as she gradually falls under the influence of some voice or spirit within her which is at such odds with her body or lifestyle that I couldn't help but laugh. Gran brings these changes on very subtly. The devil is in the details.
I lit a cigarette. Edward gently rolled his eyes. We had made an agreement that I would keep my smoking in the loft to a minimum, a concession to Ed's tragic allergies. I ignored him. I smoked and looked at my book, half listening to the television. The cigarette was in its usual place between the first and second fingers of my right hand.
I thought, What if I stuck Edward with this cigarette?
Everyone has thoughts like this from time to time: What if I burned my husband? What I pushed him off this cliff? What if I jumped off this roof? The thought came into my head and then disappeared just as quickly. I lifted the cigarette to my lips for a last drag. Then, in my mind, I took it down to stub it out in the little white custard cup I used as an ashtray. Very nice, French, we had gotten a set of six as a wedding present, I don't remember from whom. I do know that I never before or after made a custard. In my mind my hand moved towards the table and snuffed out the cigarette in the little white cup. My fingers, with a chipped brown manicure, were at my lips, the brown filter suspended between the first and second fingers of my right hand. I took the last drag and then released my lips. I assumed my hand would move down to the table and put out the cigarette.
One of the criticisms of The Exorcist is that it's about men taming or torturing a young woman into submission. Come Closer is written completely from Amanda's point of view and as the demon Naamah gains more power, suggests that Amanda is being empowered, that her mild-mannered life before the demon was the prison and that with new powers, she can be set free. I was rooting for the demon, not the establishment to make Amanda all better again. And Gran doesn't wimp out on the ending. She doesn't come to the page lightly. She made a mark on me.
Word count: 55,506 words
Sara Gran was born in 1971. Her website states she was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and that she now lives in California.
October 9, 2018
2.5 stars. This was such a weird lil book.
But as much as I try, mostly what I remember is the bedroom filled with blood.
At under 200 pages, Come Closer is a delightfully fast read. Also can I just say how much I fucking love this cover!
LOOK AT IT!
Unfortunately, it's not exactly the most original, or exciting. The story starts out on a track where you think you know will happen. Then...it happens. It's very predictable.
It was occasionally interesting. I will ALWAYS have a soft spot for possession stories, and with such a small page count it was easy to fly through the story. But the brevity of the story also worked against it. There was barely any time to develop Amanda and Ed as characters. It's just like, boom here are your characters and now let the (predictably) spooky stuff start.
It's also really not scary. I wanted to be chilled or spooked or creeped out or something. I got some cool imagery of a bloody lake and sharp teeth? But no chills. Which is especially disappointing during my favorite month - October, aka Halloween days 1 - 31.
“I choose you,” she said.
“You’ll never leave?” I asked.
“Never,” she said. “Nothing can get me out.”
Really, it needed more time to develop, to make me care about the characters. How am I supposed to root for Amanda when I have no sense of what it is she's losing? Her family, her career, her identity - I know logically what's at stake, but it's hard to care about it at all.
Come Closer unfortunately never ascends beyond a straightforward, shallow story. It sometimes entertains, but fails to achieve anything beyond the predictable.
But as much as I try, mostly what I remember is the bedroom filled with blood.
At under 200 pages, Come Closer is a delightfully fast read. Also can I just say how much I fucking love this cover!
LOOK AT IT!
Unfortunately, it's not exactly the most original, or exciting. The story starts out on a track where you think you know will happen. Then...it happens. It's very predictable.
It was occasionally interesting. I will ALWAYS have a soft spot for possession stories, and with such a small page count it was easy to fly through the story. But the brevity of the story also worked against it. There was barely any time to develop Amanda and Ed as characters. It's just like, boom here are your characters and now let the (predictably) spooky stuff start.
It's also really not scary. I wanted to be chilled or spooked or creeped out or something. I got some cool imagery of a bloody lake and sharp teeth? But no chills. Which is especially disappointing during my favorite month - October, aka Halloween days 1 - 31.
“I choose you,” she said.
“You’ll never leave?” I asked.
“Never,” she said. “Nothing can get me out.”
Really, it needed more time to develop, to make me care about the characters. How am I supposed to root for Amanda when I have no sense of what it is she's losing? Her family, her career, her identity - I know logically what's at stake, but it's hard to care about it at all.
Come Closer unfortunately never ascends beyond a straightforward, shallow story. It sometimes entertains, but fails to achieve anything beyond the predictable.
June 2, 2018
Many of the popular horror story tropes don't really affect me. Vampires, zombies, slasher killers, monsters. But demonic possession always freaks me out a little. Losing control of myself has always been one of my biggest fears, and the idea that a purely evil spirit is capable of controlling my susceptible body, soul, and thoughts is a little nerve-wracking. This book is a very well-done portrait of one woman as she slowly loses that control.
Author Sara Gran skillfully crafts this perfectly paced descent. How terrifying would it be to lose long lengths of time from your day, not knowing what happened, or what you did during that time? I love the subtlety and control of tone Gran maintains through most of the book. It's not all out horror, but instead it's a great psychological exploration, creepy and hypnotic.
*By the way, this little book has some great covers. Here's probably the coolest cover:
Author Sara Gran skillfully crafts this perfectly paced descent. How terrifying would it be to lose long lengths of time from your day, not knowing what happened, or what you did during that time? I love the subtlety and control of tone Gran maintains through most of the book. It's not all out horror, but instead it's a great psychological exploration, creepy and hypnotic.
*By the way, this little book has some great covers. Here's probably the coolest cover:
July 18, 2011
I discovered this book last year at a bookstore and was immediately attracted by the french cover (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76...) and then the synopsis. But at the time, only the hardcover was available and it was too expensive so I waited for the paperback version... goodness, I did well. No wonder we say "Don't judge a book by its cover".
The good points of this book are that it's short and easy to read... that's all for me.
The only thing that comes to mind after the last page (well actually during the whole thing) is boring.
I was expecting something scary... it wasn't in the slightest. From the start we know exactly what's happening, then we understand quickly what will happen and can easily guess how it'll end.
Moreover, the fact that no "relationship" is built between the reader and the main character doesn't help at all in creating a creepy, disturbing, frightening ambiance. I didn't care about Amanda, I didn't feel anything towards her, I kept reading because I was curious to see how it would end. I don't know how to explain but it felt a bit like observing ants and their routine just out of curiosity and not because you care. I felt utterly indifferent to Amanda and her husband.
I wouldn't say it's a bad book or I wouldn't have finished it but with so many good reviews and such an interesting synopsis, I was expecting much more than that. I guess I'm just not the right reader for this kind of novel because I'm sorry but Come Closer is certainly not a scary novel to me.
The good points of this book are that it's short and easy to read... that's all for me.
The only thing that comes to mind after the last page (well actually during the whole thing) is boring.
I was expecting something scary... it wasn't in the slightest. From the start we know exactly what's happening, then we understand quickly what will happen and can easily guess how it'll end.
Moreover, the fact that no "relationship" is built between the reader and the main character doesn't help at all in creating a creepy, disturbing, frightening ambiance. I didn't care about Amanda, I didn't feel anything towards her, I kept reading because I was curious to see how it would end. I don't know how to explain but it felt a bit like observing ants and their routine just out of curiosity and not because you care. I felt utterly indifferent to Amanda and her husband.
I wouldn't say it's a bad book or I wouldn't have finished it but with so many good reviews and such an interesting synopsis, I was expecting much more than that. I guess I'm just not the right reader for this kind of novel because I'm sorry but Come Closer is certainly not a scary novel to me.
June 25, 2024
"Podríamos dedicar nuestras vidas a encontrarle sentido a lo extraño, a lo inexplicable, a lo fortuito, pero la mayoría de nosotros no lo hacemos. Y yo tampoco lo hice."
La biblioteca de Carfax nos trae esta pequeña novela sobre posesiones demoníacas de la autora Sara Gran. Con prólogo de Mariana Enríquez 👌🏻🖤
En ella nos cuenta como Amanda, una joven arquitecta de 36 años que vive con su marido Ed, le empiezan a suceder una serie de hechos que cada vez van cobrando un cariz más siniestro. Lo que al principio se manifiesta como unos simples golpeteos rítmicos (toc, toc) muy poco a poco va cobrando más protagonismo en su vida, llegando incluso a tener extraños sueños donde una bella mujer muy parecida a ella pero con una larga cabellera negra y unos dientes afilados, se le aparece cada vez más en ese mundo onírico de pesadilla que cada vez va teniendo mayor relevancia en su día a día.
En ellos solo está la enigmática mujer y una playa roja como la sangre🩸
Lo cierto es que esperaba mucho más, en parte a las buenas críticas que he leído y a esa portada tan llamativa y perturbadora, pero la historia no me ha llegado, y la forma de narrarla menos.
Uno de los principales elementos que ha hecho que no conecte del todo con esta lectura como digo, es su prosa, tan directa y sin pararse en descripciones irrelevantes que puede parecer muy simple y fría.
Esto, a su vez, ha facilitado enormemente su lectura, sumado a unos capítulos muy cortos hacen que te leas la novela prácticamente de una sentada.
Es un terror muy sutil, con alguna escena inquietante pero nada más. También las notas de humor serán protagonistas sobre todo al empezar la historia, reconozco que lograron sacarme alguna sonrisa pero sobre todo me dejaron descolocada, en especial en las que un perro era el protagonista.
Pero poco a poco se irá volviendo todo más oscuro.
Sueños incluidos.
"La batalla era solo mía y era obvio lo rápido que la estaba perdiendo."
Me ha gustado la perspectiva que Sara Gran le ha dado a la historia, haciendo que sea Amanda la que nos narre los cambios que va sintiendo. En ese sentido no es la típica historia de posesiones, porque sentiremos todo como si fuéramos la propia Amanda. Su terror e impotencia ante determinadas situaciones y cambios que se van dando y la total incomprensión de su entorno ante estos hechos, en especial de su marido, Ed.
Otro aspecto a destacar es la parte donde conoceremos al ente demoníaco y sus orígenes; Naamah se muestra como una mujer poderosa, gemela de la bíblica Lilith, con un gran poder de seducción sobre los hombres.
Lo he leído en conjunta con Devoradora de libros y hemos tenido percepciones muy similares.
En definitiva, no es la novela sobre posesiones demoníacas que esperábamos.
No hay exorcismos, algo que por otro lado agradezco ya que en mi caso ha llegado a un punto que, en general y depende de como me lo muestren, no me aportan nada nuevo. Pero, lamentablemente, la prosa me ha parecido muy simple y la historia muy previsible.
Lo mejor es el prólogo de Mariana Enríquez, aunque a mi juicio destripa demasiado de la trama, la perspectiva que se le da a la novela, siendo la propia poseída la que narra los cambios que le van sucediendo y los temas que abarca, llegando a tocar algo tan sensible como la salud mental así como los convencionalismos sociales a los que las mujeres tenemos que amoldarnos, más en concreto a los roles de pareja o la liberación de las represiones que nos rodean. En este sentido, a Naamah se la representa como fuente de esa ansiada liberación.
Un último apunte son algunas erratas que me he encontrado durante su lectura ⤵️
✍🏻 Como la de la página 150: "[...] con una sonrisa burlona a mis espadas."
Y ocho páginas más adelante otra: "[...] y luego seabrieron aun más [...]"
Cosillas a mejorar si hubieran otras ediciones 👌🏻
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?i... 🖤📖
La biblioteca de Carfax nos trae esta pequeña novela sobre posesiones demoníacas de la autora Sara Gran. Con prólogo de Mariana Enríquez 👌🏻🖤
En ella nos cuenta como Amanda, una joven arquitecta de 36 años que vive con su marido Ed, le empiezan a suceder una serie de hechos que cada vez van cobrando un cariz más siniestro. Lo que al principio se manifiesta como unos simples golpeteos rítmicos (toc, toc) muy poco a poco va cobrando más protagonismo en su vida, llegando incluso a tener extraños sueños donde una bella mujer muy parecida a ella pero con una larga cabellera negra y unos dientes afilados, se le aparece cada vez más en ese mundo onírico de pesadilla que cada vez va teniendo mayor relevancia en su día a día.
En ellos solo está la enigmática mujer y una playa roja como la sangre🩸
Lo cierto es que esperaba mucho más, en parte a las buenas críticas que he leído y a esa portada tan llamativa y perturbadora, pero la historia no me ha llegado, y la forma de narrarla menos.
Uno de los principales elementos que ha hecho que no conecte del todo con esta lectura como digo, es su prosa, tan directa y sin pararse en descripciones irrelevantes que puede parecer muy simple y fría.
Esto, a su vez, ha facilitado enormemente su lectura, sumado a unos capítulos muy cortos hacen que te leas la novela prácticamente de una sentada.
Es un terror muy sutil, con alguna escena inquietante pero nada más. También las notas de humor serán protagonistas sobre todo al empezar la historia, reconozco que lograron sacarme alguna sonrisa pero sobre todo me dejaron descolocada, en especial en las que un perro era el protagonista.
Pero poco a poco se irá volviendo todo más oscuro.
Sueños incluidos.
"La batalla era solo mía y era obvio lo rápido que la estaba perdiendo."
Me ha gustado la perspectiva que Sara Gran le ha dado a la historia, haciendo que sea Amanda la que nos narre los cambios que va sintiendo. En ese sentido no es la típica historia de posesiones, porque sentiremos todo como si fuéramos la propia Amanda. Su terror e impotencia ante determinadas situaciones y cambios que se van dando y la total incomprensión de su entorno ante estos hechos, en especial de su marido, Ed.
Otro aspecto a destacar es la parte donde conoceremos al ente demoníaco y sus orígenes; Naamah se muestra como una mujer poderosa, gemela de la bíblica Lilith, con un gran poder de seducción sobre los hombres.
Lo he leído en conjunta con Devoradora de libros y hemos tenido percepciones muy similares.
En definitiva, no es la novela sobre posesiones demoníacas que esperábamos.
No hay exorcismos, algo que por otro lado agradezco ya que en mi caso ha llegado a un punto que, en general y depende de como me lo muestren, no me aportan nada nuevo. Pero, lamentablemente, la prosa me ha parecido muy simple y la historia muy previsible.
Lo mejor es el prólogo de Mariana Enríquez, aunque a mi juicio destripa demasiado de la trama, la perspectiva que se le da a la novela, siendo la propia poseída la que narra los cambios que le van sucediendo y los temas que abarca, llegando a tocar algo tan sensible como la salud mental así como los convencionalismos sociales a los que las mujeres tenemos que amoldarnos, más en concreto a los roles de pareja o la liberación de las represiones que nos rodean. En este sentido, a Naamah se la representa como fuente de esa ansiada liberación.
Un último apunte son algunas erratas que me he encontrado durante su lectura ⤵️
✍🏻 Como la de la página 150: "[...] con una sonrisa burlona a mis espadas."
Y ocho páginas más adelante otra: "[...] y luego seabrieron aun más [...]"
Cosillas a mejorar si hubieran otras ediciones 👌🏻
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?i... 🖤📖
April 27, 2024
This novella started off slow, the characters seem to have nothing to know about them just standard regular people. And the plot was classic possessing story that followed many at the same beats every other possessing story.
It was right around the halfway point that things really kicked off for me. Things got more exciting in the characters Individual personalities became more well-rounded. They were still regular people but they felt more real like this kind of person you could actually meet. You could really feel like you knew them, and was key to impact of all the horrible things that happened to them.
The end of the blew me away! It was perfect. When the book was creeping towards the end I didn’t think there’s gonna be enough time to get everything finished, it didn’t look like there was enough of a page count left to do so. This equal some very intensive pages of horror.
I can really appreciate the slow start at I finish the story having all the little build ups and character moments that came with it. It was a slow burn done, right. But this gives a point of warning, if you decide to get this book of chance is up with the right expectations that it is a little burnt at the start but it is worth it and it will pay off in the second half.
It was right around the halfway point that things really kicked off for me. Things got more exciting in the characters Individual personalities became more well-rounded. They were still regular people but they felt more real like this kind of person you could actually meet. You could really feel like you knew them, and was key to impact of all the horrible things that happened to them.
The end of the blew me away! It was perfect. When the book was creeping towards the end I didn’t think there’s gonna be enough time to get everything finished, it didn’t look like there was enough of a page count left to do so. This equal some very intensive pages of horror.
I can really appreciate the slow start at I finish the story having all the little build ups and character moments that came with it. It was a slow burn done, right. But this gives a point of warning, if you decide to get this book of chance is up with the right expectations that it is a little burnt at the start but it is worth it and it will pay off in the second half.
September 23, 2024
Sometimes A Door To A Bigger Life Opens
and It's Not Easy To Say No...
COME CLOSER
by Sara Gran
No spoilers. 5 stars. Amanda and Ed, a successful couple, live in an old warehouse, which they converted into a loft style apartment...
They are happy with their life, careers, and home... although home is amid an isolated industrial area and is patrolled by stray dogs...
One of the dogs...
A German shepherd, meets Amanda every evening at her train stop and follows her home, and she rewards him with a treat...
Amanda unofficially adopts the dog, although he isn't allowed in their home due to Ed's allergies...
Later on, the dog is the first to notice she's not herself...
Mysterious tapping in the apartment began in January and continued all winter long, but would stop if Amanda went out of town on business...
Other strange things began happening in the house, and the couple quarreled regularly...
Amanda dreams at night of a woman with pointy teeth who takes Amanda to a red beach with red sand and red water...
Her name is Naamah...
She asks Amanda: Can you see me? Naamah tells Amanda: I love you, and I will never, never leave you...
About this time...
Inner voices began suggesting that Amanda do things that she shouldn't and normally wouldn't do...
Like smoking...
She had quit years ago...
The tapping, fighting, smoking, and the dreams she hadn't linked together until the mistake...
The mistake was a book on demon possession arriving in the mail for her instead of the architecture book she had ordered...
Naamah told her: Don't fight me. I will never leave you. Nothing can get me out...
Amanda never heard the tapping again from that point on, and the dog no longer recognized her when she offered him his usual treat...
He bit her...
What we think is impossible happens all the time, and sometimes the door to a bigger life opens, and it isn't always easy to say no...
This short novel was an addictive story about demon possession. More subtle in its unfolding than the over-the-top bestseller THE EXORCIST by William Peter Blatty, the effect was the same if not more chilling for its stealth.
I was fascinated by the references to Naamah and Lilith and their relation to the Kabbalah and the Freemasons.
and It's Not Easy To Say No...
COME CLOSER
by Sara Gran
No spoilers. 5 stars. Amanda and Ed, a successful couple, live in an old warehouse, which they converted into a loft style apartment...
They are happy with their life, careers, and home... although home is amid an isolated industrial area and is patrolled by stray dogs...
One of the dogs...
A German shepherd, meets Amanda every evening at her train stop and follows her home, and she rewards him with a treat...
Amanda unofficially adopts the dog, although he isn't allowed in their home due to Ed's allergies...
Later on, the dog is the first to notice she's not herself...
Mysterious tapping in the apartment began in January and continued all winter long, but would stop if Amanda went out of town on business...
Other strange things began happening in the house, and the couple quarreled regularly...
Amanda dreams at night of a woman with pointy teeth who takes Amanda to a red beach with red sand and red water...
Her name is Naamah...
She asks Amanda: Can you see me? Naamah tells Amanda: I love you, and I will never, never leave you...
About this time...
Inner voices began suggesting that Amanda do things that she shouldn't and normally wouldn't do...
Like smoking...
She had quit years ago...
The tapping, fighting, smoking, and the dreams she hadn't linked together until the mistake...
The mistake was a book on demon possession arriving in the mail for her instead of the architecture book she had ordered...
Naamah told her: Don't fight me. I will never leave you. Nothing can get me out...
Amanda never heard the tapping again from that point on, and the dog no longer recognized her when she offered him his usual treat...
He bit her...
What we think is impossible happens all the time, and sometimes the door to a bigger life opens, and it isn't always easy to say no...
This short novel was an addictive story about demon possession. More subtle in its unfolding than the over-the-top bestseller THE EXORCIST by William Peter Blatty, the effect was the same if not more chilling for its stealth.
I was fascinated by the references to Naamah and Lilith and their relation to the Kabbalah and the Freemasons.
October 4, 2025
Genialísimo 🔥
Cuando empecé este libro pensaba que la premisa era: ¿posesión o locura? Y ya con eso tenía toda mi atención.
Y bueno sí, pero creo que quizá es más exacto decir que es: estar aburrida porque has aparcado (hasta olvidarlo) todo lo que eres y que el buscar el recuperarte y, por tanto, romper el molde en el que tu entorno y sociedad te ha encasillado solo puede racionalizarse como “oh dios mío, me ha poseído un(a) demonio” o la peor de las opciones, “¡jod*r, me estoy volviendo loca!”
Mira que es un libro que he gozado y que inesperadamente me ha parecido divertidísimo, pero si solo puedo destacar una cosa bueno de él, es que se queda en tu cabeza haciendo ruido como una banda de música debajo de tu ventana mientras tu tratas de dormir. Puede ser molesto, sí, pero también el impulso necesario para hacer algo.
La cuestión es que Amanda, persona bastante normal hasta la fecha, empieza a oír ruidos, sucesos extraños pasan a su alrededor sin explicación, pero al mismo tiempo, se parecen bastante a lo que piensa o siente en ese lugar oscuro de su cabeza que todo tenemos donde pensamos maldades que no decimos a nadie y, además, comienza a tener sueños extraños con una mujer bellísima que surge de un mar rojo como la sangre que llega para quedarse a su lado.
¿Realmente está poseída? ¿Está perdiendo la cabeza? ¿Tiene alucinaciones? ¿Por qué su marido parece no darse cuenta de nada?
Una de esas novelas geniales que están abiertas a cierta interpretación (yo tengo la mía clarísima) pero da igual desde donde tú lo leas, lo más importante, es el ¿cuál es el origen de todo esto? ¿exista o no, qué simboliza la posesión? ¿Esta una versión moderna de la loca del ático? ¿Acaso no hemos avanzado nada?
Tengo que decir que desde mi punto de vista no es un libro que de miedo, no sé qué dice de mí, pero lo leí desde el humor, me he reído mucho, sin que eso supusiera que la historia perdiera un ápice de fuerza. Si tiene alguna escena de mal rollo, pero hasta ahí. Como mucho, el verdadero terror es ponerse en el lugar de la protagonista y sentir que te hundes en la locura, o en la depresión, o en la soledad… y que nadie te oye pedir ayuda.
Una lectura que me ha llevado a “acercarme” a mí misma (intensa siempre) y pensar en cuántas cosas que realmente me hacían feliz he dejado atrás y porqué (por suerte, parece que no tantas). Aun así, nunca es tarde para darse cuenta de que algunas cosas que nos han enseñado que son demoniacas, tal vez no lo son tanto y volver a ellas sea tan solo una parte del proceso de quererse a una misma.
Y no es que el libro vaya por derroteros de crecimiento personal precisamente, es más, diría que desde una perspectiva muy original muestra lo difícil que es equilibrar a veces, lo que queremos ser y lo que tenemos que ser. Porque parte del acuerdo social, nos guste o no, implica luchar contra nuestros demonios, o al menos intentarlo.
Además de salud mental, habla también de violencia médica y psiquiátrica, de luz de gas en las relaciones, de cómo lo que algunos llaman locura, puede llegar a ser simplemente, disfrutar de la vida.
Es verdad que tiene alguna cosilla a la que se le puede sacar punta, pero es que desde 2003 ha llovido mucho (aunque parezca ayer) y, aun así, me ha resultado en su mayoría podría estar escrito hoy.
Recomendadísimo para siempre.
Cuando empecé este libro pensaba que la premisa era: ¿posesión o locura? Y ya con eso tenía toda mi atención.
Y bueno sí, pero creo que quizá es más exacto decir que es: estar aburrida porque has aparcado (hasta olvidarlo) todo lo que eres y que el buscar el recuperarte y, por tanto, romper el molde en el que tu entorno y sociedad te ha encasillado solo puede racionalizarse como “oh dios mío, me ha poseído un(a) demonio” o la peor de las opciones, “¡jod*r, me estoy volviendo loca!”
Mira que es un libro que he gozado y que inesperadamente me ha parecido divertidísimo, pero si solo puedo destacar una cosa bueno de él, es que se queda en tu cabeza haciendo ruido como una banda de música debajo de tu ventana mientras tu tratas de dormir. Puede ser molesto, sí, pero también el impulso necesario para hacer algo.
La cuestión es que Amanda, persona bastante normal hasta la fecha, empieza a oír ruidos, sucesos extraños pasan a su alrededor sin explicación, pero al mismo tiempo, se parecen bastante a lo que piensa o siente en ese lugar oscuro de su cabeza que todo tenemos donde pensamos maldades que no decimos a nadie y, además, comienza a tener sueños extraños con una mujer bellísima que surge de un mar rojo como la sangre que llega para quedarse a su lado.
¿Realmente está poseída? ¿Está perdiendo la cabeza? ¿Tiene alucinaciones? ¿Por qué su marido parece no darse cuenta de nada?
Una de esas novelas geniales que están abiertas a cierta interpretación (yo tengo la mía clarísima) pero da igual desde donde tú lo leas, lo más importante, es el ¿cuál es el origen de todo esto? ¿exista o no, qué simboliza la posesión? ¿Esta una versión moderna de la loca del ático? ¿Acaso no hemos avanzado nada?
Tengo que decir que desde mi punto de vista no es un libro que de miedo, no sé qué dice de mí, pero lo leí desde el humor, me he reído mucho, sin que eso supusiera que la historia perdiera un ápice de fuerza. Si tiene alguna escena de mal rollo, pero hasta ahí. Como mucho, el verdadero terror es ponerse en el lugar de la protagonista y sentir que te hundes en la locura, o en la depresión, o en la soledad… y que nadie te oye pedir ayuda.
Una lectura que me ha llevado a “acercarme” a mí misma (intensa siempre) y pensar en cuántas cosas que realmente me hacían feliz he dejado atrás y porqué (por suerte, parece que no tantas). Aun así, nunca es tarde para darse cuenta de que algunas cosas que nos han enseñado que son demoniacas, tal vez no lo son tanto y volver a ellas sea tan solo una parte del proceso de quererse a una misma.
Y no es que el libro vaya por derroteros de crecimiento personal precisamente, es más, diría que desde una perspectiva muy original muestra lo difícil que es equilibrar a veces, lo que queremos ser y lo que tenemos que ser. Porque parte del acuerdo social, nos guste o no, implica luchar contra nuestros demonios, o al menos intentarlo.
Además de salud mental, habla también de violencia médica y psiquiátrica, de luz de gas en las relaciones, de cómo lo que algunos llaman locura, puede llegar a ser simplemente, disfrutar de la vida.
Es verdad que tiene alguna cosilla a la que se le puede sacar punta, pero es que desde 2003 ha llovido mucho (aunque parezca ayer) y, aun así, me ha resultado en su mayoría podría estar escrito hoy.
Recomendadísimo para siempre.
July 14, 2021
Well, that was grim.
October 17, 2016
Great literary horror is few and far between, so when my friends at Goodreads* started raving about a book called Come Closer, I had to read it.
Sara Gran has written more than a dark fiction about demon possession, she wrote a book about the female psyche, about the impulse of civilized people to do harm to those we love and those we don't know, and she gave her story a shot of the old "turn of the screw" by having a pretty, confident architect inadvertently invite the spirit Naamah from Jewish lore to take over her mind and whittle the world away until there is nothing left but these two.
Amanda lives in Manhattan with her husband, Edward, and theirs is a solid marriage. Trendy restaurants and flea-market weekends make up their complacent existence. But the tapping in the walls of their small apartment follow them to their dream loft, and one day Amanda receives a book she didn't order on how to tell if you're possessed by a demon—complete with quizzes—and she starts wondering about puzzling urges that have overtaken her daily life, such as the urge to steal small items from stores or burn her husband with her cigarette or drown the young daughter of a friend. At night she dreams of lying on a red beach next to a woman with crazy hair and pointy teeth who hugs her so fiercely she can barely breathe. Then come the blackouts and the coming to consciousness in hotel rooms with strange men. She starts scoring higher on the quizzes, but is she really possessed, or is it a case of a woman on a downward spiral into insanity?
Sara Gran has written more than a dark fiction about demon possession, she wrote a book about the female psyche, about the impulse of civilized people to do harm to those we love and those we don't know, and she gave her story a shot of the old "turn of the screw" by having a pretty, confident architect inadvertently invite the spirit Naamah from Jewish lore to take over her mind and whittle the world away until there is nothing left but these two.
Amanda lives in Manhattan with her husband, Edward, and theirs is a solid marriage. Trendy restaurants and flea-market weekends make up their complacent existence. But the tapping in the walls of their small apartment follow them to their dream loft, and one day Amanda receives a book she didn't order on how to tell if you're possessed by a demon—complete with quizzes—and she starts wondering about puzzling urges that have overtaken her daily life, such as the urge to steal small items from stores or burn her husband with her cigarette or drown the young daughter of a friend. At night she dreams of lying on a red beach next to a woman with crazy hair and pointy teeth who hugs her so fiercely she can barely breathe. Then come the blackouts and the coming to consciousness in hotel rooms with strange men. She starts scoring higher on the quizzes, but is she really possessed, or is it a case of a woman on a downward spiral into insanity?
March 30, 2024
Por ahora puedo decir con seguridad que me ha fascinado, el nivel de inmersión en la mente de la protagonista y esa dicotomía que se va desarrollando a lo largo de la historia me ha hipnotizado por completo.
Reseña.
Amanda tiene una vida exitosa, con planes, aspiraciones, está casada, y todo va según su "rutina", hasta que comienza a experimentar extraños cambios, pensamientos, escuchar ruidos, hacer cosas que no haría, y que la irán perturbando cada vez más.
La autora nos presenta una delgada línea entorno a la posesión, donde nosotros, los lectores, tendremos que sacar nuestras propias conclusiones.
El nivel de inmersión en la mente de la protagonista y la dicotomía que vemos desarrollarse a lo largo de la historia hipnotizan por completo. El cómo cada parte se enfrenta a la situación estremece profundamente, por un lado se nos presenta el dominio, la seducción, tentación, y por el otro soledad, angustia, pérdida y sobre todo desconcierto e incredulidad.
Y por si fuera poco unas líneas finales que cierran perfectamente esta corta pero minuciosa historia, haciéndola cercana, inquietante, terrorífica y dejando ese exquisito destello de incertidumbre.
De forma superficial puede sentirse predecible, pero lo importante aquí está en el proceso, lo que transmite, en el camino recorrido, en lo que trasciende.
Sin duda, este pequeño libro, muy original en sus características, se fue directo a mi lista de mejores lecturas del año 2023.🖤
Reseña.
Amanda tiene una vida exitosa, con planes, aspiraciones, está casada, y todo va según su "rutina", hasta que comienza a experimentar extraños cambios, pensamientos, escuchar ruidos, hacer cosas que no haría, y que la irán perturbando cada vez más.
La autora nos presenta una delgada línea entorno a la posesión, donde nosotros, los lectores, tendremos que sacar nuestras propias conclusiones.
El nivel de inmersión en la mente de la protagonista y la dicotomía que vemos desarrollarse a lo largo de la historia hipnotizan por completo. El cómo cada parte se enfrenta a la situación estremece profundamente, por un lado se nos presenta el dominio, la seducción, tentación, y por el otro soledad, angustia, pérdida y sobre todo desconcierto e incredulidad.
Y por si fuera poco unas líneas finales que cierran perfectamente esta corta pero minuciosa historia, haciéndola cercana, inquietante, terrorífica y dejando ese exquisito destello de incertidumbre.
De forma superficial puede sentirse predecible, pero lo importante aquí está en el proceso, lo que transmite, en el camino recorrido, en lo que trasciende.
Sin duda, este pequeño libro, muy original en sus características, se fue directo a mi lista de mejores lecturas del año 2023.🖤
September 23, 2024
This was a very interesting novella length possession tale about the slow disintegration of the protagonists' life; both mentally, psychologically and physically; that to me seems lacking (albeit not in any extreme way) in the necessary horror and chills factor.
It's certainly not lacking in atmosphere and in how the story depicts the internal processes of our protagonist as she questions her reality and her world slowly unravels before her eyes.
This reads more like a supernatural thriller than horror but nevertheless, it's still enjoyable. Recommended.
2022 Read
It's certainly not lacking in atmosphere and in how the story depicts the internal processes of our protagonist as she questions her reality and her world slowly unravels before her eyes.
This reads more like a supernatural thriller than horror but nevertheless, it's still enjoyable. Recommended.
2022 Read
March 7, 2019
The best thing about this book is that it was short.
Amanda and her husband Ed hear a tapping noise in their house, but only when Amanda is there. She starts to see things that may or may not be there. She basically takes a Cosmopolitan quiz that tells her she might be possessed, and she laughs and laughs and laughs.
As time goes by and Amanda has bizarre dreams and finds herself exhibiting out-of-character behavior, like resuming smoking and putting out her butts on her husband's leg, she is once again drawn to the quiz and starts to think there might be something to it.
Basically, the list is a paint-by-numbers for demonic possession, and her new friend is going with some bold strokes—all in red.
While the book contains adult language, sex, and violence, the writing feels more like it's from someone in their mid-to-late teens who's trying too hard to be edgy. Amanda is the stereotypical 1980s B-horror-movie heroine that you watch between splayed fingers as you beg her not to go into the unlit basement with the creaky stairs.
The book could have used better editing as well. Using "where" instead of "were" is not the way you should seek to grab attention.
Basically, this was a hot mess that aspired to be something it wasn't. Far better possession tales exist.
1 out of 5 stars.
Amanda and her husband Ed hear a tapping noise in their house, but only when Amanda is there. She starts to see things that may or may not be there. She basically takes a Cosmopolitan quiz that tells her she might be possessed, and she laughs and laughs and laughs.
As time goes by and Amanda has bizarre dreams and finds herself exhibiting out-of-character behavior, like resuming smoking and putting out her butts on her husband's leg, she is once again drawn to the quiz and starts to think there might be something to it.
Basically, the list is a paint-by-numbers for demonic possession, and her new friend is going with some bold strokes—all in red.
While the book contains adult language, sex, and violence, the writing feels more like it's from someone in their mid-to-late teens who's trying too hard to be edgy. Amanda is the stereotypical 1980s B-horror-movie heroine that you watch between splayed fingers as you beg her not to go into the unlit basement with the creaky stairs.
The book could have used better editing as well. Using "where" instead of "were" is not the way you should seek to grab attention.
Basically, this was a hot mess that aspired to be something it wasn't. Far better possession tales exist.
1 out of 5 stars.
March 20, 2021
The dialogue used in the opening few pages of Come Closer made me think “am I actually going to enjoy this?!”
But as soon as I got into the main bulk of this fast paced story, I was hooked.
It follows a woman called Amanda, and her husband Edward, as slowly cracks start to appear in their relationship. Often, arguments that they have are accompanied by a strange tapping noise in their home.
Over time, there are subtle changes to Amanda, such as little parts of her appearance and her temperament. She finds herself feeling increasingly more annoyed by her husband and one day she impulsively stubs out her cigarette on his hand. It starts out as an intrusive thought and then all of a sudden, she acts on it and starts feeling more out of control of her own actions and emotions...
But what is causing Amanda to act this way?
She often dreams of a woman with long black hair, sharp teeth and a scarlet red beach. She remembers this mystery woman from her dreams as her imaginary friend friend from childhood.
She picks up some books about Demons, trying to find some answers.
Could it be a Demon possessing Amanda or is she losing grip on her sanity?
Come Closer is a creepy tale which builds suspense and the eery feeling that *something* is wrong very well. You do find yourself racing towards the end, wanting to know exactly what is going on with Amanda.
”We could devote our lives to making sense of the odd, the inexplicable, the coincidental. But most of us don’t, and I didn’t either.”
But as soon as I got into the main bulk of this fast paced story, I was hooked.
It follows a woman called Amanda, and her husband Edward, as slowly cracks start to appear in their relationship. Often, arguments that they have are accompanied by a strange tapping noise in their home.
Over time, there are subtle changes to Amanda, such as little parts of her appearance and her temperament. She finds herself feeling increasingly more annoyed by her husband and one day she impulsively stubs out her cigarette on his hand. It starts out as an intrusive thought and then all of a sudden, she acts on it and starts feeling more out of control of her own actions and emotions...
But what is causing Amanda to act this way?
She often dreams of a woman with long black hair, sharp teeth and a scarlet red beach. She remembers this mystery woman from her dreams as her imaginary friend friend from childhood.
She picks up some books about Demons, trying to find some answers.
Could it be a Demon possessing Amanda or is she losing grip on her sanity?
Come Closer is a creepy tale which builds suspense and the eery feeling that *something* is wrong very well. You do find yourself racing towards the end, wanting to know exactly what is going on with Amanda.
”We could devote our lives to making sense of the odd, the inexplicable, the coincidental. But most of us don’t, and I didn’t either.”
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