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Die Stimme unseres Schattens
For Joe Lennox, successful young writer, Vienna provides a refuge from the tragedy of his brother's death, until he starts up a friendship with the eccentric India Tate and her magician husband Paul. Gradually Joe falls in love with India, but Paul finds out - before he suddenly drops dead. And now Joe has two deaths on his conscience and another voice calling from beyond the grave . . .
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First published January 1, 1983
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About the author
Jonathan Carroll
129 books1,166 followersJonathan Carroll (b. 1949) is an award-winning American author of modern fantasy and slipstream novels. His debut book, The Land of Laughs (1980), tells the story of a children’s author whose imagination has left the printed page and begun to influence reality. The book introduced several hallmarks of Carroll’s writing, including talking animals and worlds that straddle the thin line between reality and the surreal, a technique that has seen him compared to South American magical realists.
Outside the Dog Museum (1991) was named the best novel of the year by the British Fantasy Society, and has proven to be one of Carroll’s most popular works. Since then he has written the Crane’s View trilogy, Glass Soup (2005) and, most recently, The Ghost in Love (2008). His short stories have been collected in The Panic Hand (1995) and The Woman Who Married a Cloud (2012). He continues to live and write in Vienna.
Outside the Dog Museum (1991) was named the best novel of the year by the British Fantasy Society, and has proven to be one of Carroll’s most popular works. Since then he has written the Crane’s View trilogy, Glass Soup (2005) and, most recently, The Ghost in Love (2008). His short stories have been collected in The Panic Hand (1995) and The Woman Who Married a Cloud (2012). He continues to live and write in Vienna.
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December 14, 2017
Εξαιρετική τεχνική γραφής. Αξιοθαύμαστη πλοκή και απίστευτη αίσθηση του πραγματικού πάνω σε υπερφυσικές ανατροπές.
Απολαυστικά εκκεντρικοί χαρακτήρες. Φανταστικές μαγικές πινελιές φόβου σε καταστάσεις πλήρους ηρεμίας.
Ακατάπαυστα στοιχεία εξέλιξης που κρέμονται απο μια κλωστή και αιωρούνται ανάμεσα σε λογική και απόγνωση τρέλας.
Όλα αυτά στολισμένα με μια κοσμοπολίτικη οπτική τέχνης και παράδοσης.
Ο αναγνώστης αισθάνεται πως κατεβαίνει μια στενή σκάλα, μια σίγουρη και γερή κατασκευή που σε κάνει να αισθάνεσαι δέος αφού επικρατεί το απόλυτο σκοτάδι αλλά και ασφάλεια που σου παρέχουν τα άριστα υλικά κατασκευής.
Σε όλη την διαδικασία της πλοκής κατεβαίνεις συντροφιά με αντιφασικές σκέψεις τη σιδερένια σκάλα, πατώντας σταθερά και σίγουρα, προσδοκώντας το φως που θα σημάνει το τέλος της κατάβασης-ιστορίας.
Λίγο πριν φθάσεις στα τελευταία βήματα - σελίδες ακούς τη Φωνή Της Σκιας να ουρλιάζει σαδιστικά πως απο κάτω υπάρχει μόνο η άβυσσος.
Και πριν προλάβεις να σταθείς για να συνειδητοποιήσεις την κατάσταση, στο επόμενο βήμα προς τα κάτω η σκάλα κόβεται... δεν υπάρχει κάπου να πατήσεις πριν χαθείς στο χάος της αβύσσου .. του ανθρώπινου μυαλού.
Αν εξαιρεθούν όλα τα άλλα αυτό το βιβλίο αξίζει να διαβαστεί για το ένα, τελευταίο σκαλί που λείπει και σε πετάει στο απόλυτο κενό.
Αλήθεια τώρα; Ποιο διεστραμμένο υπόβαθρο νόησης γράφει έτσι και ποιο απροετοίμαστο μυαλό - μα εξίσου γόνιμο στους καρπούς της παράνοιας - το απολαμβάνει;
(Το δικό μου, πλήρως, τελείως,παντελώς )
Απόλαυσα την μυθιστοριογραφημένη φαντασία ενώ η Φωνή της Σκιας μου έκαιγε το μυαλό.
Αφήνει πολλά περιθώρια συζήτησης ο συγκεκριμένος συγγραφέας μέσα σε πλαίσια προβληματισμού για πολλά αναπάντητα ερωτήματα ζωής και θανάτου.
Δεν κατέληξα αν είναι φανταστικό μυθιστόρημα ψυχολογίας ή όχι. Δεν είχα σκοπό να το αξιολογήσω με άριστα μέχρι και τη μέση της εξέλιξης. Δεν είχε ιδιαίτερη πρωτοτυπία στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της πρωτοπρόσωπης αφηγησης.
Όμως, αφού κατάφερε με έντονη εστίαση απο το καθημερινό στο εξαιρετικά απίθανο και απο το υπερφυσικό στο πιθανό, να αναπτύξει σημάδια εκκολαπτόμενης τρέλας και στοιχειωμένων με φαντάσματα λογισμών στην τελευταία στροφή, τότε σίγουρα ο συγγραφέας, κάτι, έκανε πολύ καλά, κάπου, κατάφερε την υπέρβαση και με έπεισε ξεκάθαρα για το ταλέντο του.
Αναθεώρησα, και για μένα αυτό λέει πολλά.
*Οπότε δικαιωματικά του ανήκει όλο μα όλο το πατέ...( και μόνο αυτό θέλει) απο ένα πλουσιοπάροχο τραπέζι με όλων των ειδών τα φαγητά όπου οι παρευρισκόμενοι καλούνται να διαλέξουν απο μια τεράστια ποικιλία εδεσμάτων *
🌑🌒🌓🌖🌕🌚
Καλή ανάγνωση.
Πολλούς ασπασμούς.
Απολαυστικά εκκεντρικοί χαρακτήρες. Φανταστικές μαγικές πινελιές φόβου σε καταστάσεις πλήρους ηρεμίας.
Ακατάπαυστα στοιχεία εξέλιξης που κρέμονται απο μια κλωστή και αιωρούνται ανάμεσα σε λογική και απόγνωση τρέλας.
Όλα αυτά στολισμένα με μια κοσμοπολίτικη οπτική τέχνης και παράδοσης.
Ο αναγνώστης αισθάνεται πως κατεβαίνει μια στενή σκάλα, μια σίγουρη και γερή κατασκευή που σε κάνει να αισθάνεσαι δέος αφού επικρατεί το απόλυτο σκοτάδι αλλά και ασφάλεια που σου παρέχουν τα άριστα υλικά κατασκευής.
Σε όλη την διαδικασία της πλοκής κατεβαίνεις συντροφιά με αντιφασικές σκέψεις τη σιδερένια σκάλα, πατώντας σταθερά και σίγουρα, προσδοκώντας το φως που θα σημάνει το τέλος της κατάβασης-ιστορίας.
Λίγο πριν φθάσεις στα τελευταία βήματα - σελίδες ακούς τη Φωνή Της Σκιας να ουρλιάζει σαδιστικά πως απο κάτω υπάρχει μόνο η άβυσσος.
Και πριν προλάβεις να σταθείς για να συνειδητοποιήσεις την κατάσταση, στο επόμενο βήμα προς τα κάτω η σκάλα κόβεται... δεν υπάρχει κάπου να πατήσεις πριν χαθείς στο χάος της αβύσσου .. του ανθρώπινου μυαλού.
Αν εξαιρεθούν όλα τα άλλα αυτό το βιβλίο αξίζει να διαβαστεί για το ένα, τελευταίο σκαλί που λείπει και σε πετάει στο απόλυτο κενό.
Αλήθεια τώρα; Ποιο διεστραμμένο υπόβαθρο νόησης γράφει έτσι και ποιο απροετοίμαστο μυαλό - μα εξίσου γόνιμο στους καρπούς της παράνοιας - το απολαμβάνει;
(Το δικό μου, πλήρως, τελείως,παντελώς )
Απόλαυσα την μυθιστοριογραφημένη φαντασία ενώ η Φωνή της Σκιας μου έκαιγε το μυαλό.
Αφήνει πολλά περιθώρια συζήτησης ο συγκεκριμένος συγγραφέας μέσα σε πλαίσια προβληματισμού για πολλά αναπάντητα ερωτήματα ζωής και θανάτου.
Δεν κατέληξα αν είναι φανταστικό μυθιστόρημα ψυχολογίας ή όχι. Δεν είχα σκοπό να το αξιολογήσω με άριστα μέχρι και τη μέση της εξέλιξης. Δεν είχε ιδιαίτερη πρωτοτυπία στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της πρωτοπρόσωπης αφηγησης.
Όμως, αφού κατάφερε με έντονη εστίαση απο το καθημερινό στο εξαιρετικά απίθανο και απο το υπερφυσικό στο πιθανό, να αναπτύξει σημάδια εκκολαπτόμενης τρέλας και στοιχειωμένων με φαντάσματα λογισμών στην τελευταία στροφή, τότε σίγουρα ο συγγραφέας, κάτι, έκανε πολύ καλά, κάπου, κατάφερε την υπέρβαση και με έπεισε ξεκάθαρα για το ταλέντο του.
Αναθεώρησα, και για μένα αυτό λέει πολλά.
*Οπότε δικαιωματικά του ανήκει όλο μα όλο το πατέ...( και μόνο αυτό θέλει) απο ένα πλουσιοπάροχο τραπέζι με όλων των ειδών τα φαγητά όπου οι παρευρισκόμενοι καλούνται να διαλέξουν απο μια τεράστια ποικιλία εδεσμάτων *
🌑🌒🌓🌖🌕🌚
Καλή ανάγνωση.
Πολλούς ασπασμούς.
April 6, 2017
Ο Τζο Λένοξ είναι ένας επιτυχημένος συγγραφέας ο οποίος για να ξεφύγει από τους δαίμονες της παιδικής του ηλικίας μετακομίζει προσωρινά στην Βιέννη. Εκεί θα γνωρίσει ένα πολύ ιδιαίτερο ζευγάρι, τον Πολ και την Ίντια. Οι τρεις τους θα σχηματίσουν μια πολύ καλή παρέα με κοινά ενδιαφέροντα (κινηματογράφο, ζωγραφική κλπ κλπ) μέχρι που ο Τζο θα αρχίσει να αισθάνεται ερωτική έλξη για την Ίντια. Η Ίντια ξεπερνώντας της αναστολές της υποκύπτει στην γοητεία του Τζο, όμως αμφότεροι δεν έχουν υπολογίσει την οργισμένη αντίδραση του Πολ…
Ο Κάρολ είναι ένας συγγραφέας ο οποίος ξέρει να δημιουργεί ατμόσφαιρα τρόμου και κυρίως να σμιλεύει σωστά τους χαρακτήρες του, ώστε η αγωνία να μεταδίδεται στον αναγνώστη με έναν άμεσο τρόπο.
Ουσιαστικά το βιβλίο χωρίζεται σε 3 μέρη. Στο πρώτο, στο οποίο περιγράφεται η παιδική ηλικία του Τζο Λένοξ, στο δεύτερο όπου ο Τζο γνωρίζει τον Πολ και την Ίντια και στο τρίτο και τελευταίο όπου ο συγγραφέας επιστρέφει στην Νέα Υόρκη. (υπάρχει και ένα τέταρτο αλλά είναι σπόιλερ !!!! )
Σε κάθε ένα από αυτά τα μέρη ο Κάρολ μας δείχνει και μια διαφορετική πλευρά του χαρακτήρα του Τζο Λένοξ. Τον δομεί σιγά σιγά ενώ παράλληλα τον πλαισιώνει με εξίσου ενδιαφέροντες και ιδιαίτερους χαρακτήρες.
Το μεταφυσικό στοιχείο του βιβλίου εμφανίζεται ξαφνικά και σε μικρές δόσεις, αλλά σε καίρια χρονικά σημεία και κάτι που κάνει άκρως εφιαλτική . Ο πανούργος μάγος καταφέρνει μαζί με τον Τζο Λένοξ να στοιχειώσει και τους αναγνώστες.
5/5 για την ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου, τις πανέμορφες περιγραφές της Βιέννης, τις αμέτρητες αναφορές στην τέχνη και κυριως στον κινηματογράφο, την γραφή του Κάρολ και στο στήσιμο της πλοκής από τον Μανχάταν μέχρι το αχαρτογράφητο ελληνικό νησάκι της Κρήτης!!!
ΥΓ: Προσωπικά θεωρώ πως ο συγγραφέας είχε επηρεαστεί από την Ντάιον Φόρτσιουν και το Δαιμονικό εραστή της, μόνο που το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είχε όλα αυτά που έλειπαν από το αντίστοιχο της Αγγλίδας μάγισσας!!
Ο Κάρολ είναι ένας συγγραφέας ο οποίος ξέρει να δημιουργεί ατμόσφαιρα τρόμου και κυρίως να σμιλεύει σωστά τους χαρακτήρες του, ώστε η αγωνία να μεταδίδεται στον αναγνώστη με έναν άμεσο τρόπο.
Ουσιαστικά το βιβλίο χωρίζεται σε 3 μέρη. Στο πρώτο, στο οποίο περιγράφεται η παιδική ηλικία του Τζο Λένοξ, στο δεύτερο όπου ο Τζο γνωρίζει τον Πολ και την Ίντια και στο τρίτο και τελευταίο όπου ο συγγραφέας επιστρέφει στην Νέα Υόρκη. (υπάρχει και ένα τέταρτο αλλά είναι σπόιλερ !!!! )
Σε κάθε ένα από αυτά τα μέρη ο Κάρολ μας δείχνει και μια διαφορετική πλευρά του χαρακτήρα του Τζο Λένοξ. Τον δομεί σιγά σιγά ενώ παράλληλα τον πλαισιώνει με εξίσου ενδιαφέροντες και ιδιαίτερους χαρακτήρες.
Το μεταφυσικό στοιχείο του βιβλίου εμφανίζεται ξαφνικά και σε μικρές δόσεις, αλλά σε καίρια χρονικά σημεία και κάτι που κάνει άκρως εφιαλτική . Ο πανούργος μάγος καταφέρνει μαζί με τον Τζο Λένοξ να στοιχειώσει και τους αναγνώστες.
5/5 για την ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου, τις πανέμορφες περιγραφές της Βιέννης, τις αμέτρητες αναφορές στην τέχνη και κυριως στον κινηματογράφο, την γραφή του Κάρολ και στο στήσιμο της πλοκής από τον Μανχάταν μέχρι το αχαρτογράφητο ελληνικό νησάκι της Κρήτης!!!
ΥΓ: Προσωπικά θεωρώ πως ο συγγραφέας είχε επηρεαστεί από την Ντάιον Φόρτσιουν και το Δαιμονικό εραστή της, μόνο που το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είχε όλα αυτά που έλειπαν από το αντίστοιχο της Αγγλίδας μάγισσας!!
January 6, 2013
This didn't work for me. In fact, it just doesn't work at all. Ghost story, love story, bildungsroman... it is unclear what Carroll was trying to accomplish but he was not successful on any of those levels. It worked on only one level and I will get to that briefly.
My main complaint is the clunky, wooden, ridiculous dialogue. No one talks like this, no one has ever talked like this. No one has ever called their illicit lover "Sporty" or "Champ." At times the dialogue actually harms the story due to its wild inappropriateness in context. An example: our protagonist interrupts a violent sexually motivated assault and manages to extract a (previously unknown) female character from the situation. Her response? "Gee, what part of heaven did you say you came from?" She then insists he spend the night in her apartment... because it is a well-known fact that women who have just been sexually assaulted feel safer with strange men sleeping in their homes. Yeah...
The novel changes tone about two-thirds of the way through which makes the ending feel forced and completely implausible (even more so than the aforementioned scene). The author's intent for the ending is clear albeit somewhat obvious, but he executes so poorly the reader is left rolling their eyes and muttering "that's it?!"
However, I said this novel works on one level and it does: as an extended love letter to Vienna. The city becomes the most intriguing and well-developed aspect of the story and feels more like an authentic character than any sentient (or nonsentient) being. Carroll's descriptions of the city are thoughtful and original and one is left with a better understanding of Vienna, and Austria in general.
If Carroll could put that amount of care and attention into his dialogue and storytelling, he'd be onto something.
My main complaint is the clunky, wooden, ridiculous dialogue. No one talks like this, no one has ever talked like this. No one has ever called their illicit lover "Sporty" or "Champ." At times the dialogue actually harms the story due to its wild inappropriateness in context. An example: our protagonist interrupts a violent sexually motivated assault and manages to extract a (previously unknown) female character from the situation. Her response? "Gee, what part of heaven did you say you came from?" She then insists he spend the night in her apartment... because it is a well-known fact that women who have just been sexually assaulted feel safer with strange men sleeping in their homes. Yeah...
The novel changes tone about two-thirds of the way through which makes the ending feel forced and completely implausible (even more so than the aforementioned scene). The author's intent for the ending is clear albeit somewhat obvious, but he executes so poorly the reader is left rolling their eyes and muttering "that's it?!"
However, I said this novel works on one level and it does: as an extended love letter to Vienna. The city becomes the most intriguing and well-developed aspect of the story and feels more like an authentic character than any sentient (or nonsentient) being. Carroll's descriptions of the city are thoughtful and original and one is left with a better understanding of Vienna, and Austria in general.
If Carroll could put that amount of care and attention into his dialogue and storytelling, he'd be onto something.
June 5, 2015
I really like Jonathan Carroll. Voice of Our Shadow has the feel of a classic literary novel about human relationships...and then it gets creepy. Loved it. Crazy ending.
August 24, 2019
ΕΝΑ ΨΥΧΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΘΡΙΛΕΡ... ΕΝΑ ΤΑΞΙΔΙ ΣΤΑ ΣΚΟΤΕΙΝΑ ΜΟΝΟΠΑΤΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΜΥΑΛΟΥ Κ ΤΗΣ ΚΑΡΔΙΑΣ....ΜΙΑ ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΕΙΑ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΑΖΗΤΗΣΗΣ... ΜΙΑ ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΕΙΑ ΑΝΑΖΗΤΗΣΗΣ ΤΑΥΤΟΤΗΤΑΣ.
ΠΑΙΧΝΙΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΜΥΑΛΟΥ Ή ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΤΗΤΑ;
ΜΥΣΤΙΚΑ Κ ΨΕΜΑΤΑ....
ΜΑΓΙΚΕΣ ΕΙΚΟΝΕΣ, ΨΕΥΔΑΙΣΘΗΣΕΙΣ, ΕΡΙΝΥΕΣ, ΑΡΡΩΣΤΑ ΜΥΑΛΑ, ΚΥΝΗΓΟΙ ΦΑΝΤΑΣΜΑΤΩΝ...
ΜΙΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΟΥΣΙΑ, Ο ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΕΑΣ ΚΑΤΑΦΕΡΕ ΝΑ ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΗΣΕΙ ΕΝΑΝ ΙΔΙΑΙΤΕΡΟ ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΑ, ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΣΚΙΑΓΡΑΦΗΣΕΙ, ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΞΥΨΩΣΕΙ, ΝΑ ΕΙΣΧΩΡΗΣΕΙ ΣΤΟ ΜΥΑΛΟ ΤΟΥ Κ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΡΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ Κ ΝΑ ΜΑΣ ΤΟΝ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΖΕΙ "ΤΕΛΕΙΑ" ΧΑΡΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΙΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΔΕΞΙΟΤΕΧΝΙΑ.
ΔΕ ΘΑ ΣΑΣ ΠΩ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΑ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΘΑ ΑΝΑΓΚΑΣΤΩ ΝΑ ΠΡΟΒΩ ΣΕ ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΕΙΣ.
ΣΑΣ ΠΡΟΚΑΛΩ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΕΤΕ ΩΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΑΝΑΚΑΛΥΨΕΤΕ ΜΟΝΟΙ ΣΑΣ ΤΟ "ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΜΥΣΤΙΚΟ" 😉
ΠΑΙΧΝΙΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΜΥΑΛΟΥ Ή ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΤΗΤΑ;
ΜΥΣΤΙΚΑ Κ ΨΕΜΑΤΑ....
ΜΑΓΙΚΕΣ ΕΙΚΟΝΕΣ, ΨΕΥΔΑΙΣΘΗΣΕΙΣ, ΕΡΙΝΥΕΣ, ΑΡΡΩΣΤΑ ΜΥΑΛΑ, ΚΥΝΗΓΟΙ ΦΑΝΤΑΣΜΑΤΩΝ...
ΜΙΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΟΥΣΙΑ, Ο ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΕΑΣ ΚΑΤΑΦΕΡΕ ΝΑ ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΗΣΕΙ ΕΝΑΝ ΙΔΙΑΙΤΕΡΟ ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΑ, ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΣΚΙΑΓΡΑΦΗΣΕΙ, ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΞΥΨΩΣΕΙ, ΝΑ ΕΙΣΧΩΡΗΣΕΙ ΣΤΟ ΜΥΑΛΟ ΤΟΥ Κ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΡΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ Κ ΝΑ ΜΑΣ ΤΟΝ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΖΕΙ "ΤΕΛΕΙΑ" ΧΑΡΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΙΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΔΕΞΙΟΤΕΧΝΙΑ.
ΔΕ ΘΑ ΣΑΣ ΠΩ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΑ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΘΑ ΑΝΑΓΚΑΣΤΩ ΝΑ ΠΡΟΒΩ ΣΕ ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΕΙΣ.
ΣΑΣ ΠΡΟΚΑΛΩ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΕΤΕ ΩΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΑΝΑΚΑΛΥΨΕΤΕ ΜΟΝΟΙ ΣΑΣ ΤΟ "ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΜΥΣΤΙΚΟ" 😉
July 31, 2012
Before I wrote down my thoughts on this book, I had a quick look through some of the other reviews just to see what other people felt about it. It seems that this book is quite controversial, particularly for the twist at the end which turns everything on its head. Many of the reviewers didn't think it made sense, that it was out of context with the rest of the story. I have to say that I couldn't disagree more! It makes perfect sense and I liked the ambiguity of possible interpretations that it left.
This is quite an interesting entry in the Fantasy Masterworks series because there is no sense of anything fantastic until well over half way through the novel. It walks a dangerous line between being genre and non genre. Dangerous because the lack of fantastic elements throughout most of the novel risks putting off genre fans but on the other hand the weird and shocking ending could put off non-genre readers (who might well have enjoyed it up to then). But I loved it. While I'm definitely a genre fan, I like books that touch the edges and avoid the more well used tropes.
To start with it seems to be about coming to terms with his brother's death and the relationships that he develops. What happens at the end puts all that into a somewhat different light. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Jonathan Carroll has a breezy prose style and seems to offer an astute insight into relationships and characters. I'm definitely left with the desire to read something else by him.
This is quite an interesting entry in the Fantasy Masterworks series because there is no sense of anything fantastic until well over half way through the novel. It walks a dangerous line between being genre and non genre. Dangerous because the lack of fantastic elements throughout most of the novel risks putting off genre fans but on the other hand the weird and shocking ending could put off non-genre readers (who might well have enjoyed it up to then). But I loved it. While I'm definitely a genre fan, I like books that touch the edges and avoid the more well used tropes.
To start with it seems to be about coming to terms with his brother's death and the relationships that he develops. What happens at the end puts all that into a somewhat different light. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Jonathan Carroll has a breezy prose style and seems to offer an astute insight into relationships and characters. I'm definitely left with the desire to read something else by him.
August 22, 2022
Sən möhtəşəm yazıçısan, Jonathan Carroll! MÖHTƏŞƏM!
March 6, 2015
This was a fairly disappointing read for me, because I was very impressed with The Land Of Laughs. In a lot of ways, Voice Of Our Shadow mimics the format of that book; the first half to two-thirds of each book tries to pass itself of as "literary fiction," only introducing genre elements towards the end of the book. An unlikeable main character, a twist ending, and of course, an affair (as R. Scott Bakker said, the affair is to literary fiction as dragons are to fantasy). The main difference between that book and this one is that in Land all of these characteristics worked to make the story more interesting, whereas in Voice they were simply annoyances.
The unlikeable narrator thing is something I can deal with, usually. The thing is, even if the main character is intended to be imperfect, there's typically at least one aspect of their personality that is relatable, or at least interesting. Joe Lennox, I found, was neither relatable nor particularly interesting. He's a weak-willed person of fairly low moral fibre who writes for a living, although he fluked out the one time he wrote something good and hasn't been able to repeat his success. When India Tate is introduced into the story, you can tell right away that she and Joe are going to have an affair, and it really felt like Carroll had to try pretty hard to make it happen. Since it's such a central event in the story and the cause of (or at least the catalyst for) the fantasy/horror elements which occur later in the book, I would have liked for it to have been more believable.
The real kicker was the ending, and not in a good way. Without giving anything away, it felt even more contrived than the affair between Joe and India, and made considerably less sense. Whereas the twist ending to The Land Of Laughs was quirky but still satisfying, this one was bizarre, rushed and lacking in anything resembling a resolution.
Reading over this review, it makes it seem like I hated the story, but reading the book wasn't a fully negative experience. It's a testament to Carroll's skill that even with a main character who's a weenie, fairly clumsy dialogue, and some forced plotting, the bulk of the book was still engaging enough to keep me reading. A big part of the problem I had with this book was that I read The Land Of Laughs first, and that book set my expectations pretty high. Voice Of Our Shadow didn't live up to them.
The unlikeable narrator thing is something I can deal with, usually. The thing is, even if the main character is intended to be imperfect, there's typically at least one aspect of their personality that is relatable, or at least interesting. Joe Lennox, I found, was neither relatable nor particularly interesting. He's a weak-willed person of fairly low moral fibre who writes for a living, although he fluked out the one time he wrote something good and hasn't been able to repeat his success. When India Tate is introduced into the story, you can tell right away that she and Joe are going to have an affair, and it really felt like Carroll had to try pretty hard to make it happen. Since it's such a central event in the story and the cause of (or at least the catalyst for) the fantasy/horror elements which occur later in the book, I would have liked for it to have been more believable.
The real kicker was the ending, and not in a good way. Without giving anything away, it felt even more contrived than the affair between Joe and India, and made considerably less sense. Whereas the twist ending to The Land Of Laughs was quirky but still satisfying, this one was bizarre, rushed and lacking in anything resembling a resolution.
Reading over this review, it makes it seem like I hated the story, but reading the book wasn't a fully negative experience. It's a testament to Carroll's skill that even with a main character who's a weenie, fairly clumsy dialogue, and some forced plotting, the bulk of the book was still engaging enough to keep me reading. A big part of the problem I had with this book was that I read The Land Of Laughs first, and that book set my expectations pretty high. Voice Of Our Shadow didn't live up to them.
August 4, 2016
Okurken bu nasıl fantastik kitap yahu dediğim doğrudur. Fantastik ögeler geri planda kalmış. Neyse konuya gelecek olursak Joe Lennox isimli başarılı bir yazar ana karakterimiz; güzel bir çocukluk geçirmemiş, sürekli sorun çıkaran abisinin gölgesinde kalmış, abisi ve ardından annesi ölünce soluğu Viyana'da almış. Bu olaylara (çocukluğu, abisin ve annesinin ölümü vs.) kitabın birinci bölümünde yer veriliyor.
Tek kişilik sıkıcı küçük dünyasında yaşamaya devam eden Joe, gizemli ve bir o kadar eğlenceli bir çiftle tanışıyor: India ve Paul. Onları biraz kıskanıyor, biraz saygı duyuyor ama India'ya aşık olmaktan kendini alamıyor. Kısa süre sonra Paul'un ölümüyle her şey daha da gizemli ve ürkütücü bir hal alıyor.
Sonuç olarak kitabın dili biraz fazla ağdalıydı. Daha önce dediğim gibi kitabın fantastik yönü yok gibi bir şeydi. Sonlara doğru geldiğimde kitabın hakkının 3 puan olduğuna kara vermiştim. Ancak kitabın sonunda yazar beni iki kere şaşırtarak 4 puanı hakketti. Ancak 3,5'dan 4 :)
Ben kitabı ilknokta'dan kelepir olarak 5 liraya almıştım. Bir kelepire göre güzel bir kitaptı.
Tek kişilik sıkıcı küçük dünyasında yaşamaya devam eden Joe, gizemli ve bir o kadar eğlenceli bir çiftle tanışıyor: India ve Paul. Onları biraz kıskanıyor, biraz saygı duyuyor ama India'ya aşık olmaktan kendini alamıyor. Kısa süre sonra Paul'un ölümüyle her şey daha da gizemli ve ürkütücü bir hal alıyor.
Sonuç olarak kitabın dili biraz fazla ağdalıydı. Daha önce dediğim gibi kitabın fantastik yönü yok gibi bir şeydi. Sonlara doğru geldiğimde kitabın hakkının 3 puan olduğuna kara vermiştim. Ancak kitabın sonunda yazar beni iki kere şaşırtarak 4 puanı hakketti. Ancak 3,5'dan 4 :)
Ben kitabı ilknokta'dan kelepir olarak 5 liraya almıştım. Bir kelepire göre güzel bir kitaptı.
October 7, 2023
Wow, I really struggled to decide my feelings on this book and took some time before writing this as I was flawed by the out of nowhere crazy ending. Before that i was enjoying the story, Carroll takes his time to flesh out the main characters, but at a sacrifice to his stories pacing. The UK cover i have markets this hard as a horror story which I would say is inaccurate. This is definately more of a character based romance with a supernatural twist in the third act. But once again that ending.. I have no words.
Feeling guilt over his brothers death, Joe moves to Vienna to become a writer. Whilst there he meets India and Paul who he builds a deep friendship with. Joe starts and affair with India and shortly after finding out Paul dies. The new couple are now haunted by there deceased friend, but to what end? And will they survive his torment?
Feeling guilt over his brothers death, Joe moves to Vienna to become a writer. Whilst there he meets India and Paul who he builds a deep friendship with. Joe starts and affair with India and shortly after finding out Paul dies. The new couple are now haunted by there deceased friend, but to what end? And will they survive his torment?
May 11, 2020
Ακόμη και αφού τελείωσα αυτό το βιβλίο, έψαχνα να βρω τη συνέχειά του. Και όχι γιατί μου άρεσε! Αλλά ας πάρουμε τα πράγματα από την αρχή. Το βιβλίο είναι τελείως διαφορετικό από ότι περίμενα. Είναι περισσότερο ένα ρομάντζο από μία ιστορία τρόμου. Και αυτό δεν είναι απαραίτητα κακό, αρκεί να το ήξερε. Κάπου στην μέση προσπαθεί να γίνει τρόμου, μετά το ξεχνάει πάλι και … τελειώνει! Πραγματικά περίμενα να δω τι θα γίνει στο τέλος και απογοητεύτηκα. Κατάλαβα τι έγινε, αλλά δεν μου άρεσε. Ίσως είναι γιατί ψιλομίσησα τον πρωταγωνιστή. Ίσως γιατί κάθε λίγο και λιγάκι ο συγγραφέας έμοιαζε να θυμάται κάτι ακόμη που ήθελε να σχολιάσει και το πετούσε. Ίσως γιατί σε πολλά σημεία το βιβλίο έμοιαζε με ταξιδιωτικός οδηγός της Βιέννης (μου αρέσει, αλλά...)
Πάντως το τέλος μου φάνηκε πιο φτηνό και από τέλος του (αγαπημένου) G. Masterton και αυτό λέει πολλά.
Πάντως το τέλος μου φάνηκε πιο φτηνό και από τέλος του (αγαπημένου) G. Masterton και αυτό λέει πολλά.
April 6, 2021
Harika bir roman. "Kahkahalar Ülkesi" tadı aldım. Bu tadı çok özlemişim. Serpiştirilmiş olağanüstü öğelerin hikayenin ana çatısını bozduğunu düşünebilirsiniz ama bence bambaşka bir tat katmışlar. Buna bağlı olarak sonu kimi okuyucuların hoşuna gitmeyecektir ama şu bilinmeli ki kitaplar sadece sonu için okunmaz. Eğer bir kitabın yarısına vardığınızda kitap o haliyle bile sizi mutlu ediyorsa iyi bir kitaptır.
Aşkla, kardeşlikle, çocuklukla, aileyle, dostlukla ilgili çok güzel bir roman okudum. Mutluyum.
Aşkla, kardeşlikle, çocuklukla, aileyle, dostlukla ilgili çok güzel bir roman okudum. Mutluyum.
January 8, 2013
There is something strangely off-kilter in the several books by Jonathan Carroll I have read so far. It is usually a bizarre turn of events, and sometimes it works for me, fits in perfectly into the bigger picture after a while to get used to it. Oftentimes it feels as if two different books have got mixed up at the printer's, and the twists, when they come, disturb in a way that does not sit easily with me. Perhaps this is exactly what the author strives for.
The novel 'Voice of Our Shadow' seems to me too short to bear all the weight of the final premise. While I do advocate the opinion that judging a novel based on its length is prejudiced and not very smart, in this instance I am using the issue of its length in terms of plot development and character motivation - what we learn of the main character's early years logically seems sufficient to pave the way for what happens after, yet it does not feel sufficient. We have the facts, we can come up with an explanation, the reasoning, the consequences, but still what transpires at the end appears contrived, and, for me, it comes as quite an anticlimax. The ending is abrupt, and has left me indifferent which for my money is not the way to end a book.
I am also not a fan of pigeonholing writing into neat little categories, but with Carroll the reader is often at too much of a loss. There seem to be absolutely no pointers in the earlier parts of the text as to the direction it might take. Again, this can be a legitimate writer's technique. Yet, with this novel, the sharply defined genre boundaries of the second part do not sit well with the trigger-lacking first part - which has led me once too often in such a short book to wonder about the point of my reading it.
Carrol is a good writer, he makes intriguing authorial choices, but in this novel the whole somehow fails to be at least as significant as the sum of its parts.
The novel 'Voice of Our Shadow' seems to me too short to bear all the weight of the final premise. While I do advocate the opinion that judging a novel based on its length is prejudiced and not very smart, in this instance I am using the issue of its length in terms of plot development and character motivation - what we learn of the main character's early years logically seems sufficient to pave the way for what happens after, yet it does not feel sufficient. We have the facts, we can come up with an explanation, the reasoning, the consequences, but still what transpires at the end appears contrived, and, for me, it comes as quite an anticlimax. The ending is abrupt, and has left me indifferent which for my money is not the way to end a book.
I am also not a fan of pigeonholing writing into neat little categories, but with Carroll the reader is often at too much of a loss. There seem to be absolutely no pointers in the earlier parts of the text as to the direction it might take. Again, this can be a legitimate writer's technique. Yet, with this novel, the sharply defined genre boundaries of the second part do not sit well with the trigger-lacking first part - which has led me once too often in such a short book to wonder about the point of my reading it.
Carrol is a good writer, he makes intriguing authorial choices, but in this novel the whole somehow fails to be at least as significant as the sum of its parts.
August 15, 2018
Carroll'ın dili her zamanki gibi şahane ancak romanın konusu, kurgusu o kadar da iyi değil. Okurken zevk almış olsam da kitabı bitirdiğimde hayal kırıklığı yaşadım. Finaldeki sürpriz için roman boyunca gerekli ipuçları verilmiyor, bu yüzden roman bitince "aaa böyle miymiş" değil de "ne alakası var" diyorsunuz -en azından ben öyle dedim. Sadece anlatım için olsa bile okumanızı tavsiye ederim. Fakat daha önce Jonathan Carroll okumadıysanız Kahkahalar Ülkesi ya da Beyaz Elmalar daha uygun bir başlangıç olacaktır.
October 6, 2020
Ara ara ne olacak diye heyecanlansam da ortalama bir kitapti.
January 30, 2016
An easy read and a rather deceptive book. It starts off a bit like a Stephen King novel, with the well realised horrible and sadistic elder brother Ross tormenting the younger one Joseph/Joe who is the novel's protagonist and first person narrator, and the tragic accident which inevitably results. Joe then suffers years of guilt though this doesn't stop him using the character of his brother and his brother's wrong-side-of-the-tracks friend as characters in a short story, which becomes a best selling play, although the play bears little resemblance to his story. So he feels a bit of a fraud/failure. Possibly he isn't meant to be much of a sympathetic character and this plundering of his own background may be a clue to that, but then as he says, writers do that.
The book then changes tack with the introduction of India and Paul Tate, two fellow Americans whom Joseph meets while living in Vienna. It is totally obvious from moment one that he and India will end up having an affair. The strange element of the book starts to creep in when they introduce Joe to Paul's alter ego, Little Boy. In this guise Paul performs magic tricks which appear to have no logical explanation, e.g. mechanical birds that manage to fly. One horrible element for bird lovers is where a flesh and blood bird is seemingly set on fire as part of this magical act.
When Paul goes away on business, he urges Joe to look after India. Although they resist the temptation to jump into bed, both feel a strong attraction, and when Paul returns he accuses them of betraying him, and his Little Boy persona starts to take over. He seems to be having a breakdown. Under the pressure of all this, Joe and India actually do start an affair.
The truly weird part of the story follows when . When it becomes clear that their relationship can't continue, Joe goes back to New York where he meets a young woman, Karen, and falls for her. His meeting with her is rather peculiar and this may be meant to tip us off that all is not right with her. She proceeds to vacillate between Joe whom she claims to love and a former boyfriend, Miles, who we never see in person, but when Joe receives a call from India telling him that and that she needs him to return, Karen in effect tells Joe that Miles is likely to take his place during his absence. Feeling torn between duty to India, whom he realises he didn't actually love, and his love for Karen, Joe returns to Vienna.
In the final act, India turns on Joe who has told her about Karen, and rips his character to shreds, accusing him of being a parasite who lives off the life energy of others. Joe is deeply hurt but still rushes to her apartment later only to discover in what I found a totally unbelievable ending that
So this book, although a good page turning read, turns out to be rather unsatisfactory. I really couldn't relate to the ending which overturns everything that has gone before in a few short pages: is it all in Joe's mind and is his final retreat to a quiet Greek island just a breakdown in effect, or was there substance in the events? And was the final scene in Vienna the truth, and if so, why did the perpetrator wait so long for his revenge?
The book then changes tack with the introduction of India and Paul Tate, two fellow Americans whom Joseph meets while living in Vienna. It is totally obvious from moment one that he and India will end up having an affair. The strange element of the book starts to creep in when they introduce Joe to Paul's alter ego, Little Boy. In this guise Paul performs magic tricks which appear to have no logical explanation, e.g. mechanical birds that manage to fly. One horrible element for bird lovers is where a flesh and blood bird is seemingly set on fire as part of this magical act.
When Paul goes away on business, he urges Joe to look after India. Although they resist the temptation to jump into bed, both feel a strong attraction, and when Paul returns he accuses them of betraying him, and his Little Boy persona starts to take over. He seems to be having a breakdown. Under the pressure of all this, Joe and India actually do start an affair.
The truly weird part of the story follows when . When it becomes clear that their relationship can't continue, Joe goes back to New York where he meets a young woman, Karen, and falls for her. His meeting with her is rather peculiar and this may be meant to tip us off that all is not right with her. She proceeds to vacillate between Joe whom she claims to love and a former boyfriend, Miles, who we never see in person, but when Joe receives a call from India telling him that and that she needs him to return, Karen in effect tells Joe that Miles is likely to take his place during his absence. Feeling torn between duty to India, whom he realises he didn't actually love, and his love for Karen, Joe returns to Vienna.
In the final act, India turns on Joe who has told her about Karen, and rips his character to shreds, accusing him of being a parasite who lives off the life energy of others. Joe is deeply hurt but still rushes to her apartment later only to discover in what I found a totally unbelievable ending that
So this book, although a good page turning read, turns out to be rather unsatisfactory. I really couldn't relate to the ending which overturns everything that has gone before in a few short pages: is it all in Joe's mind and is his final retreat to a quiet Greek island just a breakdown in effect, or was there substance in the events? And was the final scene in Vienna the truth, and if so, why did the perpetrator wait so long for his revenge?
October 5, 2014
Joe Lennox, a young American working in Vienna, still full of guilt over the death of his brother over a decade before, becomes friends with an older married couple, Paul and India Tate, who are also ex-pats. The story starts off like a non-genre novel and nothing even slightly impossible happens until the half-way point when it becomes an unusual ghost story. Towards the end, I was wondering how the story could ever be wrapped up in the last few pages, and then there was an unexpected twist and it was all over in two pages - a truly surprise ending!
Unfortunately I took an instant dislike to the protagonist which I never got over. None of his relationships rang true, although this could well be explained by the surprise ending, or possibly due to those relationships being all in his mind. Could it be that Joe was mentally ill, and rather than being pursued by vengeful ghosts, he was torturing himself with his guilt over having caused his brother's death? Thinking back over it, whenever he was with India and Paul, and later with Karen, they always did things by themselves, never with other friends, so no-one else Joe knew (not that he seems to have known many people) would ever have met them, so they could well have been figments of his imagination. Even the funeral was poorly attended and I didn't think he spoke to anyone else there either.
Unfortunately I took an instant dislike to the protagonist which I never got over. None of his relationships rang true, although this could well be explained by the surprise ending, or possibly due to those relationships being all in his mind. Could it be that Joe was mentally ill, and rather than being pursued by vengeful ghosts, he was torturing himself with his guilt over having caused his brother's death? Thinking back over it, whenever he was with India and Paul, and later with Karen, they always did things by themselves, never with other friends, so no-one else Joe knew (not that he seems to have known many people) would ever have met them, so they could well have been figments of his imagination. Even the funeral was poorly attended and I didn't think he spoke to anyone else there either.
February 12, 2008
There are books which make you stop reading every few pages. Sometimes it's because they're boring and your mind starts to wander. Sometimes it's because an observation, an idea, a character strikes you and you need to stop for a moment and think about it, digest it. Jonathan Carroll books do that for me.
He describes the process of falling in love better than anyone else I've ever read.
His novels usually contain elements of fantasy (the dead come back to life, ghosts, magicians capable of "real" magic), but they're always anchored by in-depth characterisation and searing emotional honesty. When the scares come, they're all the more shocking for that.
He describes the process of falling in love better than anyone else I've ever read.
His novels usually contain elements of fantasy (the dead come back to life, ghosts, magicians capable of "real" magic), but they're always anchored by in-depth characterisation and searing emotional honesty. When the scares come, they're all the more shocking for that.
October 5, 2021
I very very very rarely call a book rubbish, but this one is it. It was so completely 'male' in a bad way. And I really can't find any redeeming thing, anything that I liked. The female characters are paper thin (complexity-wise) and such cliches that I can't even. It felt completely unimaginative in every way. It's also racist, at some point when Joe is in New York, he witnesses a white woman sexually assaulted by a black man (that's the only description of him and it *is* mentioned that he is black ughh) and the woman clings onto Joe and trusts him and spends so much time with him and that feels like a record scratch to me, it is unbelievable in every way.
And Joe, omfg, Joe. I have no problem with unlikable characters, but unlikable characters that have nothing interesting about them, he is just unremarkable in every way. Like there is nothing interesting explored with his killing his brother, he suffers from 'nice guy' syndrome. Check out the moment he falls in love:
I fell in love with her on the spot. I was already halfway gone once I'd seen her face and that wonderful yellow T-shirt, but then her knowing who I was...
Yeah, it's all about him. Who says romance is dead, huh? But wait, a few pages later he is like 'I don't love her', because of course it is. Because how can you get to know someone when you're the only person in your mind? Right before the ending, there was a 2-page glimmer of hope and self-reflection. Then the ending was a joke.
This book was the first one I got from this lovely bookshop in Berlin, from their lending library. Can't wait to trade it in for something better.
Can't believe people reviewed this in like print media and said it's 'an exceptionally original ghost tale' and 'Possibly the most paranoia-inducing read of the last 20 years' or that soomeone from the Washington Post actually called this 'sexy, eerie and addictive'.
And Joe, omfg, Joe. I have no problem with unlikable characters, but unlikable characters that have nothing interesting about them, he is just unremarkable in every way. Like there is nothing interesting explored with his killing his brother, he suffers from 'nice guy' syndrome. Check out the moment he falls in love:
I fell in love with her on the spot. I was already halfway gone once I'd seen her face and that wonderful yellow T-shirt, but then her knowing who I was...
Yeah, it's all about him. Who says romance is dead, huh? But wait, a few pages later he is like 'I don't love her', because of course it is. Because how can you get to know someone when you're the only person in your mind? Right before the ending, there was a 2-page glimmer of hope and self-reflection. Then the ending was a joke.
This book was the first one I got from this lovely bookshop in Berlin, from their lending library. Can't wait to trade it in for something better.
Can't believe people reviewed this in like print media and said it's 'an exceptionally original ghost tale' and 'Possibly the most paranoia-inducing read of the last 20 years' or that soomeone from the Washington Post actually called this 'sexy, eerie and addictive'.
July 20, 2007
It's a good read, which falls apart at the end quite drastically. What was he thinking?? Note my use of two exclamations marks.
The characters of the elder brother and his friend were so spot on. I've known boys just like that: bored, bright, almost loveable, brilliant in their perceptiveness and not afraid to use it in any way that entertains them, often cruel but sometimes dazzlingly good fun.
The plot involves a young man, Joe, and an older couple, Paul and India Tate. He is charmed by them and falls in love with both of them, essentially. Paul has a strange and disturbing alter ego called Little Boy, a magician, who manifests now and then. It's truly creepy - all the nastiness of a ventriloquist's dummy and the cruelty of a child. Urgh. Brilliant.
Joe sleeps with India eventually, when Paul is away. The beginning of their affair is beautifully drawn, the longing and the resolution.
I was very much drawn to their nervy, melancholic love affair and the fear was always there that Little Boy would find out, which he does. He persecutes them, and finally Joe leaves India in Vienna, while he goes to New York, where he falls in love again.
Skip to the end... I'd like other people's opinions, but to me the ending just doesn't make sense. As some clever person pointed out to me, there was no foreshadowing throughout the book. If there had been, I could've accepted it. But!
How did that ending get past an editor?
The characters of the elder brother and his friend were so spot on. I've known boys just like that: bored, bright, almost loveable, brilliant in their perceptiveness and not afraid to use it in any way that entertains them, often cruel but sometimes dazzlingly good fun.
The plot involves a young man, Joe, and an older couple, Paul and India Tate. He is charmed by them and falls in love with both of them, essentially. Paul has a strange and disturbing alter ego called Little Boy, a magician, who manifests now and then. It's truly creepy - all the nastiness of a ventriloquist's dummy and the cruelty of a child. Urgh. Brilliant.
Joe sleeps with India eventually, when Paul is away. The beginning of their affair is beautifully drawn, the longing and the resolution.
I was very much drawn to their nervy, melancholic love affair and the fear was always there that Little Boy would find out, which he does. He persecutes them, and finally Joe leaves India in Vienna, while he goes to New York, where he falls in love again.
Skip to the end... I'd like other people's opinions, but to me the ending just doesn't make sense. As some clever person pointed out to me, there was no foreshadowing throughout the book. If there had been, I could've accepted it. But!
How did that ending get past an editor?
March 3, 2013
Joseph Lennox is a young, successful writer who is emotionally haunted by a childhood incident in which he somewhat accidentally caused his older brother's death. Against the backdrop of Vienna, the lonely young man meets an older couple with whom he develops an obsessively immersive friendship... I don't want to give too much away, but the scenario (about half way through the book) develops into a fairly tense and horrific ghost story. (although the book cover bills this as fantasy, I would definitely describe it more as 'literary horror'). However, I figured out the 'twist ending' fairly early - and although I guessed at it, I don't think it worked very well. Not all of the events and emotional turns of the characters' relationships make sense with the ending.
This was the second Jonathan Carroll book I've read, and I haven't really loved either of them, although he's quite critically acclaimed. What can I say? (I also read Bones of the Moon)
February 26, 2013
For a Jonathan Carroll novel this one was pretty mellow and understated, which is a good thing in my opinion. I'm sometimes exhausted by the anything-can-happen-shtick where nothing makes sense. This one was fairly uneventful, yet interesting and quite moving. Also creepy and disturbing, which is always nice.
October 11, 2019
4.25
I took to this book right away. The characters are well developed and the story is pulling. I’ve read several of Carroll’s books, and he lures you in knowing that you’re expecting magical realism, but he makes you wait; and when you’re enjoying the story so much you’ve forgotten about MR, BAM, he blows your mind. He’s a go to for magical realism along with Murakami and Neil Gaiman.
I took to this book right away. The characters are well developed and the story is pulling. I’ve read several of Carroll’s books, and he lures you in knowing that you’re expecting magical realism, but he makes you wait; and when you’re enjoying the story so much you’ve forgotten about MR, BAM, he blows your mind. He’s a go to for magical realism along with Murakami and Neil Gaiman.
October 7, 2025
That took me by surprise. A fairly straightforward piece of fiction examining a man's life choices and relationships with his complex family and friends. A little bit of weird thrown in as well as it teases a big twist that never seems to come.
Until the final couple of pages which just flips it all on its head.
I like Carroll's writing. He makes the mundane interesting, understands complex character writing and he has this ability to drop bombshells after mid-chapter breaks for maximum impact. He teases and retracts so often it's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. I think a lot of people probably hated the ending for being shock in its own sake, but for me I think it all worked.
A mix of literary fiction, psychological drama, noir and shock horror that I enjoyed more than I expected.
Until the final couple of pages which just flips it all on its head.
I like Carroll's writing. He makes the mundane interesting, understands complex character writing and he has this ability to drop bombshells after mid-chapter breaks for maximum impact. He teases and retracts so often it's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. I think a lot of people probably hated the ending for being shock in its own sake, but for me I think it all worked.
A mix of literary fiction, psychological drama, noir and shock horror that I enjoyed more than I expected.
March 22, 2019
ενώ ξεκίνησε εξαιρετικά στη συνέχεια με απογοήτευσε, σαν να μην ήξερε πού να το πάει. Εξαιρετική επίσης η ροή της γραφής, διαβάζεται πάρα πολύ εύκολα.
September 1, 2019
Moim zdaniem autor w przepiękny, momentami magiczny sposób pokazał, że jeśli nie rozliczymy się z naszą przeszłością to zawsze będzie do nas wracać, zwłaszcza w najmniej oczekiwanym momencie.
February 8, 2017
Voice of Our Shadow is many things: to the reader, it’s the name of the book itself; to the characters, it’s the name of a play adapted from the narrator’s short story; but Carroll’s main definition is that the voice of our shadow is our “Jiminy Cricket,” the little angel on our shoulder, our conscience. And our conscience can be a strong voice, speaking to us in such terms as guilt, indecision, and fear. Carroll’s second novel is much darker in tone than The Land of Laughs. What seemed whimsical in his first novel becomes dangerous even from the beginning of this one.
Joe Lennox is plagued by the memory of his older brother, Ross, who died at age 15 on a railroad crossing. But Joe knows the complete story of that day and this knowledge haunts him, manifesting first as a short story called “Wooden Pajamas” which he writes in an attempt to exorcise his demons. The story is good enough to attract the attention of a Broadway director, who turns it into a hit play. This gives Joe enough money to travel comfortably (specifically to Italy), yet gives him only fleeting fame.
Drawn into a conversation between a couple in a movie theater, he is recognized and befriended by the two. Although Joe is attracted to both Paul and India Tate, he soon discovers his attraction to India is as much sexual as intellectual. After a period of bliss in the beginning of a friendship between the three, things start to turn nasty. Paul, after having been away for a weekend, returns and accuses Joe and India of sleeping together. Although they hadn’t, Joe and India discover that each wanted to when talking together about this incident later. The inevitable happens, and Paul, who was always a little strange, loses control.
Like The Land of Laughs, Voice of Our Shadow gives a nod to James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice. In these novels, the characters are strapped by their emotions to a carnival ride that can only end up in unhappiness. Joe is a tragic figure, and by involving himself in Paul and India’s marriage, he dooms it. Once again, the ending is ambiguous and confused, this time because it is filtered through the perceptions of Joe. The only thing obvious to the reader is that the voice of Joe’s shadow is screaming at him and he, like Paul, has lost all control.
Joe Lennox is plagued by the memory of his older brother, Ross, who died at age 15 on a railroad crossing. But Joe knows the complete story of that day and this knowledge haunts him, manifesting first as a short story called “Wooden Pajamas” which he writes in an attempt to exorcise his demons. The story is good enough to attract the attention of a Broadway director, who turns it into a hit play. This gives Joe enough money to travel comfortably (specifically to Italy), yet gives him only fleeting fame.
Drawn into a conversation between a couple in a movie theater, he is recognized and befriended by the two. Although Joe is attracted to both Paul and India Tate, he soon discovers his attraction to India is as much sexual as intellectual. After a period of bliss in the beginning of a friendship between the three, things start to turn nasty. Paul, after having been away for a weekend, returns and accuses Joe and India of sleeping together. Although they hadn’t, Joe and India discover that each wanted to when talking together about this incident later. The inevitable happens, and Paul, who was always a little strange, loses control.
Like The Land of Laughs, Voice of Our Shadow gives a nod to James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice. In these novels, the characters are strapped by their emotions to a carnival ride that can only end up in unhappiness. Joe is a tragic figure, and by involving himself in Paul and India’s marriage, he dooms it. Once again, the ending is ambiguous and confused, this time because it is filtered through the perceptions of Joe. The only thing obvious to the reader is that the voice of Joe’s shadow is screaming at him and he, like Paul, has lost all control.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2015
OK, Karen! I just finished getting caught up on reviews so I could justify reviewing this one.
Many of my followers likely know of my love affair with Jonathan Carroll books. His writing enthralls me, his imagination consumes me, and his creativity and utterly shameless writing style are something I aspire to. Every world hat he creates is something wholly new and unexpected, yet at once so familiar as to be slipped into like a separate skin. Reading his books is an experience, and an addiction. For those who his writing works for, it's a love that will last for a lifetime. Otherwise, you likely despise him. He's a polarizing author.
Voice of Our Shadow is a very strange book. It lures the reader into a false sense of security with its initial linear narrative, its logical, if surprising conclusions. This solid foundation serves as a firm jumping off point. Potential murder, madness, a tantalizing love affair, death... It all winds together and when you look at it sideways, falls into place. Could the ending have been anything but what it turned out to be? No, not really. The more I sit with it, the more sense it makes.
It's like a magic trick. Here is one way to look at things, and now it's a metaphor. But wait, there's more. Have you considered this? Everything is based on the opening chapters, and it's brilliant. Jonathan Carroll is one of the strangest authors I've read, but also one of the smartest. He forces you to see through his eyes and to follow his singular footsteps into his dreams. They're odd dreams, frightening dreams, but unmistakably beautiful dreams all the same.
Many of my followers likely know of my love affair with Jonathan Carroll books. His writing enthralls me, his imagination consumes me, and his creativity and utterly shameless writing style are something I aspire to. Every world hat he creates is something wholly new and unexpected, yet at once so familiar as to be slipped into like a separate skin. Reading his books is an experience, and an addiction. For those who his writing works for, it's a love that will last for a lifetime. Otherwise, you likely despise him. He's a polarizing author.
Voice of Our Shadow is a very strange book. It lures the reader into a false sense of security with its initial linear narrative, its logical, if surprising conclusions. This solid foundation serves as a firm jumping off point. Potential murder, madness, a tantalizing love affair, death... It all winds together and when you look at it sideways, falls into place. Could the ending have been anything but what it turned out to be? No, not really. The more I sit with it, the more sense it makes.
It's like a magic trick. Here is one way to look at things, and now it's a metaphor. But wait, there's more. Have you considered this? Everything is based on the opening chapters, and it's brilliant. Jonathan Carroll is one of the strangest authors I've read, but also one of the smartest. He forces you to see through his eyes and to follow his singular footsteps into his dreams. They're odd dreams, frightening dreams, but unmistakably beautiful dreams all the same.
July 21, 2016
I picked this up from a local libray sale only because it is in the Fantasy Masterworks series - I had never heard of the book or the author before. Now that I've read it, I'm not sure that I would call it fantasy. Yes, there are ghosts and vengeful spirits, but at the end of the book, I was more convinced that the protagonist had just gone mad rather than being haunted by his dead friends!!
It's Joe's story. A writer, fleeing to Vienna to escape the memories of his dead brother, he meets the enigmatic Paul and India Tate. Falling in love with both of them, becoming a big part of their lives, he finally feels at peace with himself. But slowly he is drawn closer and closer to India, and when they start seeing each other behind Paul's back, they pave the way for his revenge. Taken after he dies from a heart-attack.
This isn't the fasted paced of books - the supernatural stuff doesn't start happening until at least halfway through and even then it is kind of tame and a complete background to the rest of what is going on. I wasn't that keen on the ending though - a bit sudden with no clues beforehand of what was going on. Still, an interesting and enjoyable read, though not one I would return to.
It's Joe's story. A writer, fleeing to Vienna to escape the memories of his dead brother, he meets the enigmatic Paul and India Tate. Falling in love with both of them, becoming a big part of their lives, he finally feels at peace with himself. But slowly he is drawn closer and closer to India, and when they start seeing each other behind Paul's back, they pave the way for his revenge. Taken after he dies from a heart-attack.
This isn't the fasted paced of books - the supernatural stuff doesn't start happening until at least halfway through and even then it is kind of tame and a complete background to the rest of what is going on. I wasn't that keen on the ending though - a bit sudden with no clues beforehand of what was going on. Still, an interesting and enjoyable read, though not one I would return to.
May 2, 2011
Il secondo (breve) romanzo di Jonathan Carroll presenta in formazione tutti i temi tipici dell'autore, la sua visione del mondo, il suo modo di costruire le relazioni tra i personaggi, il suo particolarissimo stile. Ci sono qui le premesse delle sue opere più fortunate: gli "strappi" alla realtà che si ritrovano in tutto il cosiddetto Sestetto delle preghiere esaudite, una volontà indagatoria del mondo dei morti, il ricorrere, in veglia, degli incubi più assurdi e concretizzatisi direttamente dall'inconscio più profondo.
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