This month Stormi and I chose a horror novella to buddy read. I was excited for it and she was hesitant. Needless to say, I think we were both disappointed which is not a popular opinion where this book is concerned. So read on for my thoughts and then head to Stormi's at Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see her opinion!
AUTHOR: Stephen Graham Jones
PUBLISHER: Tor.com
PUBLISHING DATE: September 1, 2020
FROM GOODREADS:
Stephen Graham Jones returns with Night of the Mannequins, a contemporary horror story where a teen prank goes very wrong and all hell breaks loose: is there a supernatural cause, a psychopath on the loose, or both?
Stephen Graham Jones returns with Night of the Mannequins, a contemporary horror story where a teen prank goes very wrong and all hell breaks loose: is there a supernatural cause, a psychopath on the loose, or both?
MY THOUGHTS: A few years ago Sawyer and his friends found a discarded mannequin and spent the summer pulling pranks on the residents of their town. Now they are all seniors and Sawyer had a grand idea to pull one final prank on a member of their crew who has to work the summer at a local movie theater due to another prank gone wrong at her home. However, before the night is over, Sawyer sees the mannequin get up and walk out the theater on his own. What follows is something Sawyer and his friends will never forget.
I had high hopes for this book, especially after loving The Only Good Indians earlier this summer. And maybe it would have worked for me if it had been longer and more fleshed out. However, on the other hand, it might not have. Early on I had a suspicion what was going on so the ending wasn't a big buildup for me. In addition, I basic plot of the book, once I figured it out, wasn't what I wanted to read about when I was excited about this novella. I'm trying not to give anything away but if you've read Night of the Mannequins, you will fully understand.
I will continue to read future works by Stephen Graham Jones because basically I have one book by him I basically loved and one I felt differently about. So on the whole, the verdict is still out. I wish I had loved this one as well but it just wasn't meant to be. If you are looking for a quick horror read, plenty of people have fallen in love with this one so don't my opinion stop you from picking it up. I would love to know your thoughts as well.
RATING: 2 PAWS
Oof! I didn't love his book The Only Good Indians, figured I might give this one a try because it sounds so different. But maybe I would struggle with this one too, especially if you felt it wasn't fleshed out enough :(
ReplyDelete~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
I totally understand what you're talking about, Barb. Sorry this didn't work for you!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you came out of it still wanting to try the author while I quit him. :)
ReplyDeleteglad to know it didn't put you off from reading more of his work.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
That's too bad this one wasn't all you hoped it would be. The premise of it did make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteDarn, I so liked the idea of this one and mannequins freak me out at the best of times! I'm still curious about why it wasn't what you had got excited for. OK THAT was really poor English but I think you know what I mean!
ReplyDeleteCan't win them all eh. I need to read All The Good Indians. I started it and it just wasn't working for me but I think that might have been a mood thing so I'm going to give it another go in a week or two.
ReplyDeleteLynn :D
I've been on the fence with this one. I keep adding it to my cart, but then I take it out. Looks like I should wait for a library or ebook deal :)
ReplyDelete