Horror Aficionados discussion

The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn is Group Read #3 (mod power is a great thing, isn't it??)

Discuss it here. Enjoy and use spoilers.

I'm going to be way late to the party this month, as I just started a huge proofreading job - probably be a couple of weeks before I start. Been wanting to read one of her books for a while, so I'm anxious to finally get a chance!

Awesome! I'm in!

Awesome! I'm in!

Awesome! I'm in!

Just ordered the book today. Should have it by early next week. Sounds good. Can't wait.

Ordering this week, I will join in as soon as I can!

I loved this book. Consider me lurking.

Just at the beginning, we have guests for the weekend so little time to read, but I'm loving campy horror movie feel to the book.

I'm in. I've been wanting to read this for a while.

I have this on kindle unlimited. It's in line to read. I'm hoping to read this WITH you guys! The month goes by too fast!

I was just looking into this book an hour ago on Kindle Unlimited. I have a few others to finish up, but I hope to join in soon on this one!

I'm currently starting chapter 4. I must say that so far the novel seems like it will be very predictable, but am hoping that Ania throws us a few surprises.... But even if the story unfolds exactly like I am figuring it will, it is still a fun read. Anyone want to take bets on the order the friends will get picked off? I'm figuring that April is the first to go.

Just noticed that an audiobook is available, and I can get it for $2 since I own the Kindle ebook. I may jump on that, since I'm likely to get to it much faster that way. Just FYI, in case anyone else is in the same boat!

I just finished and was pretty disappointed. As Marc-Antoine noted, it was very predictable, but beyond that, I thought there were some serious plot holes. I'll wait until more people have finished before discussing those issues in more detail.

Ok I just added this to my kindle unlimited!!

Melissa wrote: "Ok I just added this to my kindle unlimited!!"

I got a copy on Kindle, so I'll get started tomorrow.

Here is my death watch list as I see it:

In order of demise

1. April
2. Lauren
3. Sawyer
4. Ryan
5. Jane (at the very end)

Starting chapter 4 now, let's see if I get these right...

Marc-Antoine wrote: "Here is my death watch list as I see it:

In order of demise

1. April
2. Lauren
3. Sawyer
4. Ryan
5. Jane (at the very end)

Starting chapter 4 now, let's see if I get these right..."

I'm agreeing with your list. See how it goes. About 25% in.

I did not mention the dog Oona, but I believe she will be the sole survivor. I don't think Ania has it in her to kill off the dog. It's not like we are reading Jack Ketchum here...

Chapter 5; (view spoiler)[. "God," Lauren groaned, shivering as the cold poured into the room. "This is like a goddamn horror movie." (hide spoiler)]. ....really????

First thoughts - first scene was pretty bad. I never understand why authors want to take that initial tense scene in a horror and intersperse it with recollections and ponderings.

Sorry, Don. You might be an interesting guy and have a wonderful life with Jenny, but I don't care. Your purpose in this story is to die quickly and horribly. Don't spoil my buzz.

I'm about 30% in and Jane isn't impressing me much, and Lauren is doing anything for me either. I love Huskies so Oona is on the top of my list of characters so far.

It really annoys me to have waded through several scenes and read Lauren's thoughts that Jane and Ryan are so in sync. Thanks for telling me that, but it might have been more effective if there was even a slight display of this "in-syncness" beforehand. And honestly, were a whole bunch of friends really just going to leave Jane with the dishes after she spent hours preparing dinner and dessert for them? And she was going to make like a human doormat and be happy about that? Ick.

The whole thing has been formulaic so far (substitute cabin in the woods for chalet mansion in the woods). Having said that, I'm not hating it and the read is not demanding, which could be a benefit when everything hits the fan.

I don't think any of that warrants a spoiler tag, but yell out if you think I'm revealing too much.

I'd say you are bang on, Caleb. I'm a huge fan of Ania's so far, but this one is surprising me. I found her other stories to be fresh and original, this one seems to be following the age old horror formula. Still a fun read, though...

Beginning chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ pretty sure this will be where our friend April will get killed off, they'll think she hitched a ride out, which will give Sawyer the opportunity to hitch up with Jane (hide spoiler)]

Page 172 (view spoiler)[ hahaha, two for two (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13

(view spoiler)[ darn, I thought I was three for three after chapter 12, but Sawyer survived... Oh well it ain't over yet, and he is weak now, he should still be next to go! (hide spoiler)]

Page 266 (view spoiler)[3 for 3, on a roll!!! (hide spoiler)]

Although I am really finding this a fun light read, I don't care much for any of the characters. They all seem one dimensional, and the relationships seem superficial. Any one else get the same vibe?

Finished... (view spoiler)[ ok, so I got my sole survivor and last death wrong, even though you know it's not lasting much longer for Jane... I was definitely expecting more from Ania Ahlborn, but even King has written some duds, so all is forgiven. Still an entertaining read, but getting only three stars from me. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't care all that much about the characters but I didn't hate them either. Overall, I thought it was a fun book.

No disagreement there.

Now that it looks like several people have finished, I really had a problem with (view spoiler)[the entire underlying premise of the book. At the beginning, the older man remembers his father whispering to him about the winter and states that they always left the area during the winter, implying that the creatures were an annual problem. However, the remainder of the book makes it clear that the creatures have only gone after people on an intermittent basis; I think at one point the explanation was that the unusually bad storm had eradicated or hidden their usual food supply. Which is it? Surely, the entire area would have a history of disappearing people if the former, yet there is no suggestion that the ski resort has had problems before. If it's the latter, once the storm abated at the end, why are we left with the distinct impression that the creatures are going to attack the new cabin to which Jane is being driven? (hide spoiler)]

Deborah wrote: "Now that it looks like several people have finished, I really had a problem with [spoilers removed]"

Also (view spoiler)[ how does a fiancé not go looking for the mother of his unborn child???? Ryan fall in love in less than a day???? (hide spoiler)]

still reading. enjoying it, though. not feeling too scared at this point.

My book finally arrived and I'm just a few pages in. Seems like a fast read.

Deborah wrote: "Now that it looks like several people have finished, I really had a problem with [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Deborah. I had a real problem with that, but I honestly don't think the author spared any thought for details in this novel.

Mini-review in spoilers for now...
(view spoiler)[It's very slapped together and every time she did not want to be taxed by giving the reader a clear picture, scenes became things that characters couldn't wrap their mind around, couldn't process, blew their mind, were impossible or indescribable. We're left we an impression of a lot of blood, or a nightmare, or a "hellion" (a word that really shouldn't appear more than once).

The characterisations were also haphazard; each almost schizophrenic in their handling: Jane's strong; now she's weak; now she's strong again; she's out-thinking the others; now she's weak again. Lauren leaps forward like a gazelle; now she can't run without tripping over her own feet. Now Ryan is talking openly about being petrified; now he wouldn't admit to anyone that he's terrified.

It honestly felt like the author was just clutching at reasons for generating more words. This is why I think that people had trouble caring for the characters.

And then there were the unbelievable and stupid actions of the characters themselves to ensure that they are put in jeopardy: The attempt to leave by Sawyer and April; April's ridiculous march into the freezing cold; Lauren's sudden dash for a scarf in a clearly life-threatening situation; Jane leaving the kitchen door unlocked and the reason she opened it in the first place; the use of a poker and shovel to dispatch a creature when they just spent time amassing other weapons (including a gun); letting their torches go out because they irrationally thought their plight was over 20km from the nearest town.

As a homage to 'C' grade horror movies, all of this is fun and there are countless references to horror movies, so perhaps this is what the author intended. I certainly inserted my own groans of disgust as punctuation throughout, so mission accomplished?

I thought it was a 2.5 star effort, which I've rounded up to 3. This was my first Ania Ahlborn and if I didn't already own two others, it would probably be my last. However, I'll give her another go and see if her other books raise the bar a bit. (hide spoiler)]

Caleb wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Now that it looks like several people have finished, I really had a problem with [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Deborah. I had a real problem with that, but I honestly don't think the au..."

Caleb, her others are better.

I loved Seed, The Neighbors and The Bird Eater, I found all to be original and well written. This one surprised me, but I think you may be right Caleb and it may be an homage to the budget horro flick.

Seed and The bird Eater both gave me nightmares as well!!!

Caleb wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Now that it looks like several people have finished, I really had a problem with [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Deborah. I had a real problem with that, but I honestly don't think the au..."

Hey Caleb, I think you should read Seed. It is, by far, her best book. It seems like after that one, everything went downhill. The Neighbors was just okay, at least somewhat original, but this one was lacking and The Bird Eater was just god awful. I mean really bad. I probably won't read another book by her after that one. It is too bad because Seed was really, really good.

uhoh... from the comments here about the author I really hope I don't regret also getting her latest book Within These Walls when I bought The Shuddering.

I just finished the book. I didn't really care about the characters. Lauren seemed like the only cool one. I loved Oona the most and the creatures were amazing. I would like to see them in a movie!!

Marc-Antoine wrote: "Page 266 [spoilers removed]"

I liked your idea of the death watch, LOL!

Although the book was formulaic, I think there is always room for just a good scary story.

I enjoyed it. Now waiting for my copy of Heart Shaped Box...on to the next one!

I'm about 30 pages in, and I'm hating it so far, mainly because the writing is pretty bad. There's a lot of overexplaining, exposition about characters that aren't going to be part of the story, and general lazy prose (such as the author using popular film comparisons to describe situations instead of writing her own scenario). In particular, (view spoiler)[the character of Lauren is a ridiculous cartoon. (hide spoiler)]

Ahlstrom hasn't even introduced all of the characters yet, and I'm ready for them all to die. :p

I did think the first 10 pages were pretty cool, so maybe it picks up once the story gets going.

WendyB wrote: "uhoh... from the comments here about the author I really hope I don't regret also getting her latest book Within These Walls when I bought The Shuddering."

i have that one on it's way... I have read all of her books so far, and IMHO she is a great author. Even though I was somewhat surprised with The Shuddering, she is usually quite original and a great writer.

Katy wrote: "Marc-Antoine wrote: "Page 266 [spoilers removed]"

I liked your idea of the death watch, LOL!

Although the book was formulaic, I think there is always room for just a good scary story.

I enjoyed ..."

Thank you, Katy. I agree that this book was still a fun read. I loved Heart Shaped Box, and hope that you also enjoy it. I have just ordered The Pilo Family Circus as the comments in that thread have got me interested.

Jeremy wrote: "I'm about 30 pages in, and I'm hating it so far, mainly because the writing is pretty bad. There's a lot of overexplaining, exposition about characters that aren't going to be part of the story, a..."

My death watch list for the characters also had me rooting for their demise... does that make me a horrible person?

i have also noticed that Ania has another book coming out; Brother... I have just preordered!

End of chapter seven. I'm not enjoying this very much. The story is pretty generic and I don't care about the main characters (and actively hate a few). So far I've enjoyed the short vignettes at the beginning of each chapter more than the main story. (view spoiler)[Looks like our main characters are (finally) going to start dying soon though, so I'm hoping it picks up from here. (hide spoiler)]

Halfway through, and (view spoiler)[all these losers are still alive! The teasers at the beginning of some of the chapters are better than the actual story. (hide spoiler)]