Red

Rating:
Summary: A book with a wide range of emotions
Review: "Red", the first book I've read by Bram Stoker Award winning author Jack Ketchum, will wring a number of different emotions out of the reader. Anger, compassion, sympathy, relief are just a few that many readers will experience while reading this short novel.

The book revolves around a lonely old man and his dog and how both of their lives are basically destroyed by the immature actions of three teenage boys. As Avery Ludlow and his dog Red, begin to wrap up an afternoon of fishing, their peaceful time together is disrupted by the appearance of Harold and Danny McCormick and their friend, Pete Daoust. The boys, it seems, have decided that old Avery may just be an easy "mark" way out in the middle of nowhere and decide to rob him. After finding out that Avery has little or no money, Danny McCormick (the obvious leader of the boys) decides that the group needs to insure that Avery won't say anything about the failed robbery, so out of spite and intimidation, Danny shoots and kills Red.

What the boys didn't bank on, of course, is the determination and vengence of this grizzled Korean War veteran and the love that he had for his only friend. As Avery (or Av, as he is referred to throughout the bulk of the book) sorts out HIS emotions, he sets upon a course of action to right this wrong. When he finds out who the boys are and contacts their parents, he is rudely rebuffed and called a liar. The parents refuse to believe that their little angels could have committed such a heinous crime.

Well, they picked the wrong guy to mess with!

Ketchum does a great job of building the suspense and even throws in a twist or two. Will Avery get the satisfaction of having the boys dealt with by the authorities or their parents or will he have to take matters into his own hands? The reader will have to find out for his or herself.

The book is a VERY quick read because of its length and also due to the way that Ketchum causes the prose to jump off the book. Just prepare for an emotional roller coaster as you churn through the book to the finish. Also included in the August 2002 Leisure Books printing of this novel is the novella, "The Passenger". Very good in it's own right. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A book with a wide range of emotions
Review: "Red", the first book I've read by Bram Stoker Award winning author Jack Ketchum, will wring a number of different emotions out of the reader. Anger, compassion, sympathy, relief are just a few that many readers will experience while reading this short novel.

The book revolves around a lonely old man and his dog and how both of their lives are basically destroyed by the immature actions of three teenage boys. As Avery Ludlow and his dog Red, begin to wrap up an afternoon of fishing, their peaceful time together is disrupted by the appearance of Harold and Danny McCormick and their friend, Pete Daoust. The boys, it seems, have decided that old Avery may just be an easy "mark" way out in the middle of nowhere and decide to rob him. After finding out that Avery has little or no money, Danny McCormick (the obvious leader of the boys) decides that the group needs to insure that Avery won't say anything about the failed robbery, so out of spite and intimidation, Danny shoots and kills Red.

What the boys didn't bank on, of course, is the determination and vengence of this grizzled Korean War veteran and the love that he had for his only friend. As Avery (or Av, as he is referred to throughout the bulk of the book) sorts out HIS emotions, he sets upon a course of action to right this wrong. When he finds out who the boys are and contacts their parents, he is rudely rebuffed and called a liar. The parents refuse to believe that their little angels could have committed such a heinous crime.

Well, they picked the wrong guy to mess with!

Ketchum does a great job of building the suspense and even throws in a twist or two. Will Avery get the satisfaction of having the boys dealt with by the authorities or their parents or will he have to take matters into his own hands? The reader will have to find out for his or herself.

The book is a VERY quick read because of its length and also due to the way that Ketchum causes the prose to jump off the book. Just prepare for an emotional roller coaster as you churn through the book to the finish. Also included in the August 2002 Leisure Books printing of this novel is the novella, "The Passenger". Very good in it's own right. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Tragedy: Man's Best Friend
Review: Avery Allan Ludlow is a man haunted by the siren songs existing within the fond recollections of the past, with his time spent dwelling upon the threshold of a world in which he now almost totally alone. His only surviving companion, a 14 year-old dog aptly titled Red by his deceased beloved, has become family to him during these trying times, leaving him attached to a life that would have otherwise consumed him within swells of tumultuously horrific "long agos." For that Av is thankful and finds himself seemingly loving this dog just as much as he does his own father.

In the blink of an eye everything can change and Avery knows that well, for he has had the misfortune of watching the house of cards called happiness crumble again and again. Still, he doesn't seem to think of the dreadful concoctions that can be birthed simply by being at the wrong fishing spot at the wrong time. In fact, everything seems to be going fairly well for him on that fateful day as he approaches his three-catch limit - until those three boys and their shotgun comes along. Then, a lifelong friend is gone in what can only be described as a purely malicious act perpetrated without the benefit of rhyme or reason. This sets Avery into a plan of action, him simply demanding that tiny taste of justice that seems to elude him at every corner, making him wonder if anything can be done within and perhaps outside the law.

While a fairly short read that clocks in at only 211 pages (there is another story in addition to Red in the book adding an additional 93 pages), the description that Ketchum manages to coat page after page with is quite simply phenomenal. Although not particularly a gruesome piece, it nonetheless touches on many issues including that of what defines family, the psychological torment of how loss feels and how one copes with it, and the sway of class warfare in the life of the common man. Here, the detailing is superb and the empathy one feels for Avery as he progresses through hoop after hoop is a little frightening because the hatred within him is understandable and, to an extent, condoned as his need for payback becomes greater and greater. To me, this seems to be one of the writer's talents, capturing the emotional spectrum dashing madly through the thinker's mind while life around them is still progressing and the little things weigh in on the events outside the character's control.

As included in the book is the short story, The Passenger, which focuses on the dilemmas of Janet Morris, lawyer and driver of a Taurus, as she finds herself broken down on the road and in need of aid. Luckily for her an old highschool acquaintance was passing through by the name of Marion Lane. Unluckily for her, however, is the fact that the events of the night are just beginning.

The Passenger was a faster-paced ride than Red but was, in some ways, flawed as it journeyed through its rather fragile storyline. The description was there and the character's torment was there as well, but the ending to the story was a bit far-flung and sketchy for my tastes. Still, I didn't fault the book for this because, quite simply, I didn't buy the book for anything but Red and was pleased with the way it played out.

For someone looking for a nice mystery that borders on a bit of suspense/horror, then I would recommend Red with one notation. It really isn't frightening and it really isn't graphic, so don't expect the horror aspect to shine. Instead, expect something that portrays the issuance of pain and a seemingly real man's reaction to it and you'll not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: i agree with thye review from publishers weekly. i would like to add that this is standard stuff, we've since it before and it wasn't good the first time. too slow to be suspenceful, too unoriginal to be interesting, the writing style isn't that bad. this is too simple, and it could easily have been done better

Rating:
Summary: emotionally horrifying
Review: I seen one review that stated I don't know why this is in the horror genre. Heres my answer: This is REAL terror just keep thinking "what if this happened to me" and you will understand. All the man wanted was an apology. I have read so many horror novels with all the blood, guts, and sexual perversions you can imagine, but in time the all seem the same. I can promise you that this one will stick in your mind. It will be a novel you will talk about and tell everyone you know to read.It is heartbreaking and real.I will say it again Ketchum is a genius!

Rating:
Summary: Kudos for Ketchum!
Review: I'm an avid book reader. With many books under my belt--I must admit this was one of the most excellent written books out there!
The words just seem to flow. You just get started into it and before long, you notice you're on page 100. It's written in a way that make you feel all the emotions Av Ludlow experiences, as if you were in his shoes. Anyone who has had a beloved pet taken away from them and violently killed by a ruthless, sadistic person, will surely be able to empathize with Av's situation--and feel like standing up and cheering for him!

This is the first book I've read by Jack Ketchum. I plan to read more of his works because I was so impressed. Don't hesitate to pick up this book and read it if you get the chance. You won't be sorry! :-)

Rating:
Summary: SOLID STORY
Review: In this book, Jack Ketchum does some of his absolute best character development to date. You get a real feel for the old man and the relationship with his dog. Ketchum builds the small town atmosphere with a comfort reminscent of Stephen King. You almost feel like you've lived in this town and know some of these people. This laid back normality is offset by the tension created by the old man's single-minded drive for justice. This obsession creates more tension by being directed at a family of arrogant and cruel people who feel they are above the law. This is a very enjoyable read from start to finish. The novella "The Passenger" is included here and is worth the price all by itself. A roller-coaster ride of suspense, aggression, violence, and degradation in the finest Ketchum tradition.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable With Some Reservations
Review: It may not be the most original story and I don't know why the book was labeled as a "horror" novel, but Red is very entertaining nonetheless. A little predictable at times, however, I couldn't seem to put it down. It's more of a drama with some aspects of a thriller that is well written and contains some powerful images. It's such a simple story that I think might make a better movie than a book -- one of the rare times. I look forward to seeing more of Ketchum's work from the Leisure horror line... let's just hope that "horror" is what it is. The other novella in the novel is called The Passenger and it's not nearly as good (2 and 1/2 stars). The Passenger goes off on many strange tangents that never seem believable and contains too many coincidences. That said, it's still worth buying for the story of Red.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable With Some Reservations
Review: It may not be the most original story and I don't know why the book was labeled as a "horror" novel, but Red is very entertaining nonetheless. A little predictable at times, however, I couldn't seem to put it down. It's more of a drama with some aspects of a thriller that is well written and contains some powerful images. It's such a simple story that I think might make a better movie than a book -- one of the rare times. I look forward to seeing more of Ketchum's work from the Leisure horror line... let's just hope that "horror" is what it is. The other novella in the novel is called The Passenger and it's not nearly as good (2 and 1/2 stars). The Passenger goes off on many strange tangents that never seem believable and contains too many coincidences. That said, it's still worth buying for the story of Red.

Rating:
Summary: reality horror
Review: J.K writes stories that scare the pants off you because they are stories that can happen.I also got a kick out of the novella at the end, "the passenger" excellent stuff!