Koko

Rating:
Summary: Deer Hunter Redux
Review: The first of Straub's "Blue Rose" murder mysteries, and my least favorite, though it is - like all Straub's novels - very well written. Koko is often reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, a film I frankly didn't care for at all, and is all about the Viet Nam war, which I care for even less. The book is far too long for the simple serial killer story it is, and isn't terribly involving if you're not into the military or Viet Nam.

I liked Straub's other "Blue Rose" books, but this one took me years to finish and I wasn't glad I did - in fact, I didn't read another Straub book for years, afterward - however, if you're into Viet Nam or military matters, you might enjoy Koko a great deal.

Rating:
Summary: Solid and Good
Review: This books fills ya up. It is one of the more straightforward and easy-to-follow Straub books, too, so it's a good choice for Peter Straub beginners.

However -- and you knew there was going to be a however, didn't you? This book highlights my ongoing problem, not with Peter Straub's writing, which is technically superb, but is off thematically when it comes to his female characters.

Mr. Straub has a bad case of what we called in college the Madonna - (word I can't type here) complex, otherwise known as the good-girl/bad-girl dichotomy. His female characters are all either powerless "good" little virgin-types or powerful "bad", sex-crazed types. Sometimes he'll take a "good" girl and make her "bad" (and therefore powerful) by making her unrealistically promiscuous.

Just look at Maggie. I mean, come ON. Would she really just hop in bed with two of the main characters whenever they snap their little fingers? But as soon as she does it, she becomes one tough manga chick. Look at the doctor's wife -- she is "frigid" and therefore it's OK for him to leave her and go to bed with Maggie. Huh?

You see this issue happening over and over in his work, including in the books "Mystery", "If You Could See Me Now", and especially "The Hellfire Club".

I also have an issue with the way he implies that the women being killed in sex shows in a certain third world county sort of enjoy being killed (???!!!???). I mean, I know he is trying to be poetic, but it just doesn't pay off, not with the subject matter in mind. For such an epic, important subject, you should be able to make it pay off in a big way for the reader, and if it doesn't, you should just nix it out of your story, don't you think?

Anyway -- this is all not to say that this is not a brilliant book. It is. You will find yourself racing through the pages, and he has a lot of important things to say. I just wish he would go ahead and resolve his issues with women. I think that would make his books even better -- and that's saying something.

Rating:
Summary: Straub's take on Vietnam.....
Review: Veitnam veterans who have not seen each other in a long time.

Strange murders in the Far East where they served.

A fellow veteran who was presumed dead from their old unit.

The story picks up kind of slowly, but Straub weaves an interesting and entertaining story. This is not for people who like their horror fun and light; instead for people who like "thinking man's horror."

Straub has been known to get wordy and he does early on, that is why he starts off so slowly. However, once he picks up steam, few in the Scream Factory can compete with Straub. He knows how to scare and terrify; he is also a master at "subtle horror."

This novel is ONE of his best!!!

Rating:
Summary: Strange Story!
Review: When I get through with a Straub book, I always feel worn out. He gets you so entwined in the book that you feel like you are living it. This book is about four Vietnam vets who hear of murders in the Far East that are signed, "Koko". They feel this is one of their fellow vets and they strike out to find him. Their travels take them to Singapore and Tapei, Milwaukee, and ultimately, New York City. The path is winding and when the mystery is finally solved, you realize what the peril of war does to a man's soul.