Posted by
Icarus on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 5:05:47 PM
I just finished
The Ruins, by Scott Smith. In fact, I was almost late to work today as I devoured the book's last few pages. It is one of the best horror books I've read in a very long time. If you think you're the hardened horror aficionado and can't be rattled by anything, then you have to read this book. I am certain that there will come several moments as you make your way through this that you will simply have to put it down for a few moments just to catch your breath. You will then be quickly drawn back to its pages, wanting to know what happens next.
Check out this
review, by Laura Miller, at Salon Books:
"A word of caution to readers, gentle and otherwise: Do not pick up a
copy of Scott Smith's "The Ruins" if you have anything else you need to
do in the next eight hours or so. Don't start this book if you're
especially weak of stomach or nerves, and above all don't pick it up if
you're not willing to tolerate some deviation from the usual
conventions of thrillers and horror stories. Not everything will be
explained to you, and not everything will turn out in the tidy,
reassuring ways to which we've all become accustomed. "The Ruins" is
like all great genre fiction in its irresistible storytelling momentum,
but in its lack of mercy, it's more like real life."
The horror elements aside, which won't be revealed here, it is the realism that makes this book such a compelling read. You know the characters. You've met them in your own life. You may even be able to remember your own vacations that began just the way Jeff's, Eric's, Amy's and Stacy's vacation began: Fun in the sun and making new friends in some exotic local.
I do have one small quibble with the book. That is, with all that the characters go through, not once does a single character turn to God or even pray for a moment. I think this certainly shows a slight bias toward materialism. However, this didn't keep me from enjoying the book. I am fully aware that most of our culture is soaked in this worldview. Which means that most of our young, especially if they are college graduates, have fully absorded the materialistic philosophy. Therefore, how the characters deal with their situation is entirely believable.
One of the characters, however, was an Eagle Scout, but if you want to find out which one you have to read the book. Read Scott Smith's "The Ruins". You won't be disappointed.