brandon1029's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s like hentai tenticle porn but scary
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Blood, Self harm, Vomit, and Excrement
deardanaya's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
reanimatedreader's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn't put this down. Well paced, creepy and believable character development. Recommended by Jo, thanks!
leighanneslit's review against another edition
5.0
So I have read my fair share of horror as of late and I have to say that this book is one of the best horror books I have ever read! And I don't say that lightly.
I have nothing to say about plot because I think it is best to go as blind as possible, so read the synopsis and then go from there.
I will say that this is a story about survival and how when we are placed in a less than ideal situation, the very worst in us is bound to come out. And for that reason, I found myself HATING the characters! It's like when you're watching a horror movie and you're yelling BITCH WHY DID YOU JUST DO THAT?! That is how I felt pretty much the entire time I was reading this.
There is also a substantial amount of gore and some body horror, so if you're not into that you should definitely skip it. I think sometimes people can go a little overboard, but I think that was well done.
Overall a well written horror novel that I can not recommend enough!
I have nothing to say about plot because I think it is best to go as blind as possible, so read the synopsis and then go from there.
I will say that this is a story about survival and how when we are placed in a less than ideal situation, the very worst in us is bound to come out. And for that reason, I found myself HATING the characters! It's like when you're watching a horror movie and you're yelling BITCH WHY DID YOU JUST DO THAT?! That is how I felt pretty much the entire time I was reading this.
There is also a substantial amount of gore and some body horror, so if you're not into that you should definitely skip it. I think sometimes people can go a little overboard, but I think that was well done.
Overall a well written horror novel that I can not recommend enough!
angiecaedis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tchristman's review against another edition
4.0
This genre tends to be, let's face it, bad...but this one stuck with me. I really enjoyed it. I liked the way they dwelt on the idea that they would eventually be rescued if they could just hold out and the growing, horrible realization that it was not true.
aheadfullofbooks's review against another edition
3.0
SPOILERS!!!
i personally didn’t care for the plot in this book— it felt very Stephen King 1980s mass paperback feel when reading it and i don’t much care for those kinds of stories. however the writing style hooked me through the entire book: the way it’s told in everybody’s pov AND nobody’s pov simultaneously, the subtext behind only the main characters thoughts, and the way we are truly in everyone’s reality made the story a bit more devastating in the end. i rated this book 2.5/5 because although reading this towards the end was fulfilling (watching some of the characters get what they deserved was satisfying), i couldn’t get myself to care
i personally didn’t care for the plot in this book— it felt very Stephen King 1980s mass paperback feel when reading it and i don’t much care for those kinds of stories. however the writing style hooked me through the entire book: the way it’s told in everybody’s pov AND nobody’s pov simultaneously, the subtext behind only the main characters thoughts, and the way we are truly in everyone’s reality made the story a bit more devastating in the end. i rated this book 2.5/5 because although reading this towards the end was fulfilling (watching some of the characters get what they deserved was satisfying), i couldn’t get myself to care
dinipandareads's review against another edition
3.0
I'm between 3.5-4 stars...
While I did enjoy reading it, I know this isn't something that I'll be reading again. I'm writing this review directly after finishing it so I think I'm still feeling the lingering effects of the horror and nausea that were my constant companions for at least a good 50% of the book. I still find myself looking around in paranoia for any cracks in the wall and I'm keeping my feet lifted and well away from dark spaces, such as the one under my bed. You know, just in case there's a killer plant/tree with acidic sap in its vines that will grab my legs and pull me under there to devour me. ...Just in case!
I wanted to sprint through this book but the level of detail just wouldn't let me. I would find myself trying to skim ahead but worried that I'd miss some important detail and so I'd force myself to slow down. I thought the pace at the start was good but towards the latter half of the book, as there was less "action" involved, the pace slowed down considerably. I also didn't particularly latch on to any of the characters. I don't know if it was intentional as the characters were on a beach holiday but I found that the characters were either extremes of passive and lazy or neurotic and overthinking and it didn't make it easy to lend any sympathy. Although several times I did question how I'd react if I were in their shoes... Would I be the complainer? The proactive leader? The joker or the drunk? Or would I be the quiet one that decides that enough is enough and "get things over with" as quickly as possible? What would be my instinctive reaction?
While Scott Smith writes in a very simple and straightforward way, I found that sometimes his writing was unnecessarily detailed, to the point where I found myself really fighting not to skip ahead. I understand that Smith was trying to expand on the characters' thoughts and how they were coping with their situation - the thoughts, rationalizations and emotions of a human facing imminent death (but being in denial about it) - but I feel that if much of this content was taken out, the story would still flow and you wouldn't miss out on any crucial details. I have to admit that when we got to the end and still got no further information about this killer thing - how did it get there and how long has it been there? where did it come from? how many people had it killed? - I felt frustrated. Almost like I was robbed of this information with no chance of ever learning more. But I guess maybe that's the appeal of these horrors?
I am personally not the biggest fan of horrors. I read this as a way to get into the "Spooky/Horror October" that many monthly reading challenges have centered on this month. I don't dislike the genre or anything, but I just have a very, very overactive imagination that does not do me any favors when I'm trying to sleep at night (yes, I'll admit it). So although I don't read them that often, I guess this book was filled with everything you'd expect from a horror - including plenty of blood and gore. I know that I'll be imagining the scenes that played out in my head for at least several days to come... Will I read another horror after this? Nope! Will I (eventually) read another Scott Smith book? Definitely.
While I did enjoy reading it, I know this isn't something that I'll be reading again. I'm writing this review directly after finishing it so I think I'm still feeling the lingering effects of the horror and nausea that were my constant companions for at least a good 50% of the book. I still find myself looking around in paranoia for any cracks in the wall and I'm keeping my feet lifted and well away from dark spaces, such as the one under my bed. You know, just in case there's a killer plant/tree with acidic sap in its vines that will grab my legs and pull me under there to devour me. ...Just in case!
I wanted to sprint through this book but the level of detail just wouldn't let me. I would find myself trying to skim ahead but worried that I'd miss some important detail and so I'd force myself to slow down. I thought the pace at the start was good but towards the latter half of the book, as there was less "action" involved, the pace slowed down considerably. I also didn't particularly latch on to any of the characters. I don't know if it was intentional as the characters were on a beach holiday but I found that the characters were either extremes of passive and lazy or neurotic and overthinking and it didn't make it easy to lend any sympathy. Although several times I did question how I'd react if I were in their shoes... Would I be the complainer? The proactive leader? The joker or the drunk? Or would I be the quiet one that decides that enough is enough and "get things over with" as quickly as possible? What would be my instinctive reaction?
While Scott Smith writes in a very simple and straightforward way, I found that sometimes his writing was unnecessarily detailed, to the point where I found myself really fighting not to skip ahead. I understand that Smith was trying to expand on the characters' thoughts and how they were coping with their situation - the thoughts, rationalizations and emotions of a human facing imminent death (but being in denial about it) - but I feel that if much of this content was taken out, the story would still flow and you wouldn't miss out on any crucial details. I have to admit that when we got to the end and still got no further information about this killer thing - how did it get there and how long has it been there? where did it come from? how many people had it killed? - I felt frustrated. Almost like I was robbed of this information with no chance of ever learning more. But I guess maybe that's the appeal of these horrors?
I am personally not the biggest fan of horrors. I read this as a way to get into the "Spooky/Horror October" that many monthly reading challenges have centered on this month. I don't dislike the genre or anything, but I just have a very, very overactive imagination that does not do me any favors when I'm trying to sleep at night (yes, I'll admit it). So although I don't read them that often, I guess this book was filled with everything you'd expect from a horror - including plenty of blood and gore. I know that I'll be imagining the scenes that played out in my head for at least several days to come... Will I read another horror after this? Nope! Will I (eventually) read another Scott Smith book? Definitely.
orangerful's review against another edition
4.0
At the center of any good, truly disturbing horror book is the frailties of human nature. It doesn't matter how many monsters jump out of the closets or serial killers lurk around the corner - it only feels real, and therefore truly scary, when you identify with the same weaknesses and fears of the main characters.
If you want a creepy read for the week before Halloween, Scott Smith's "The Ruins" will keep you on the edge of your seat. The paperback was almost 500 pages, but that didn't stop me from tearing through it in less than a weak! (Though, word of warning, if you plan on traveling to South America any time soon, you might want to save this for the return flight!)
'Ruins' is the story of 4 friends. 2 young couples, actually, on vacation in Mexico, enjoying the sand and surf and drink and mixing with the other tourists. They befriend a German man who tells them his brother has gone missing, left with a woman and gone to some archaelogical dig in the jungle. The friends offer to help (well, truly the ONE friend offers to help, the boy scout of the group, the other 3 just follow along for the fun of it) and soon they find themselves in the jungle...and in trouble.
Smith tells the story in third person limited omniscient, switching between our 4 friends, each with their own very distinct personalities. I really enjoyed this style of storytelling, especially once the characters began to get separated a bit (by space and by inner motives) and it really built the tension as you changed from one to the other.
I don't want to spoil any of the story for you. I didn't know anything about the book when I picked it up. All I knew was it was a bestseller and had a Stephen King blurb on the front. Plus, it was a paperback so perfect for taking with me on the plane. But what a TREAT!
So, if you're in the mood for something tense and well-written, you will enjoy Scott Smith's "The Ruins".
If you want a creepy read for the week before Halloween, Scott Smith's "The Ruins" will keep you on the edge of your seat. The paperback was almost 500 pages, but that didn't stop me from tearing through it in less than a weak! (Though, word of warning, if you plan on traveling to South America any time soon, you might want to save this for the return flight!)
'Ruins' is the story of 4 friends. 2 young couples, actually, on vacation in Mexico, enjoying the sand and surf and drink and mixing with the other tourists. They befriend a German man who tells them his brother has gone missing, left with a woman and gone to some archaelogical dig in the jungle. The friends offer to help (well, truly the ONE friend offers to help, the boy scout of the group, the other 3 just follow along for the fun of it) and soon they find themselves in the jungle...and in trouble.
Smith tells the story in third person limited omniscient, switching between our 4 friends, each with their own very distinct personalities. I really enjoyed this style of storytelling, especially once the characters began to get separated a bit (by space and by inner motives) and it really built the tension as you changed from one to the other.
I don't want to spoil any of the story for you. I didn't know anything about the book when I picked it up. All I knew was it was a bestseller and had a Stephen King blurb on the front. Plus, it was a paperback so perfect for taking with me on the plane. But what a TREAT!
So, if you're in the mood for something tense and well-written, you will enjoy Scott Smith's "The Ruins".
howattp's review against another edition
I stopped reading it because it moved incredibly slow and had a premise that I couldn't really hold on to. Sorry, I tried!