jjmann3's review against another edition
3.0
“Maybe we're all monsters underneath…"
A Stir of Echoes is a thoroughly enjoyable noiresque ghost story that employs telepathic and psychic powers to explore the duplicity in suburban life. Tom Wallace works at an aerospace manufacturer and rents a small tract house with his pregant wife Anne and young son. Young couples punctuate the neighborhood on Tulley St., and story begins with the Wallaces joining their neighbors for a late-night weekend party at which Tom gets hypnotyzed. The hypnosis opens up a sixth sense in Tom, who subsequently can hear the inner thoughts of his neighbors, can somehow sense future violent events, and sees a haunting visage of his home’s former occupant.
“It reminded me of Jekyll and Hyde. The neighbourhood was two creatures. One presented a clean, smiling countenance to the world and, beneath, maintained quite another one. It was hideous, in a way, to consider the world of twists and warps that existed behind the pleasant setting of Tulley Street.”
I consider A Stir of Echoes a light thriller of sorts. I enjoyed its mid-century vibe. Generally recommended.
A Stir of Echoes is a thoroughly enjoyable noiresque ghost story that employs telepathic and psychic powers to explore the duplicity in suburban life. Tom Wallace works at an aerospace manufacturer and rents a small tract house with his pregant wife Anne and young son. Young couples punctuate the neighborhood on Tulley St., and story begins with the Wallaces joining their neighbors for a late-night weekend party at which Tom gets hypnotyzed. The hypnosis opens up a sixth sense in Tom, who subsequently can hear the inner thoughts of his neighbors, can somehow sense future violent events, and sees a haunting visage of his home’s former occupant.
“It reminded me of Jekyll and Hyde. The neighbourhood was two creatures. One presented a clean, smiling countenance to the world and, beneath, maintained quite another one. It was hideous, in a way, to consider the world of twists and warps that existed behind the pleasant setting of Tulley Street.”
I consider A Stir of Echoes a light thriller of sorts. I enjoyed its mid-century vibe. Generally recommended.
david_agranoff's review against another edition
5.0
Masterpiece. Re-read to prepare for Screen to the page event at the San Marcos library, my pick for awesome novel to movie.
Full review coming.
Full review coming.
casey887's review against another edition
4.0
I wish the ending wasn't so abrupt but overall it was a great book!
nathanrester's review against another edition
3.0
Basically an elongated Twilight Zone story, complete with fifties-era gender roles and that "peel off the innocuous veneer of suburban domesticity to reveal the simian depravity underneath" theme that Rod Serling was so damn good at articulating. I just wish the messaging had been a bit more concise here: the novel's treatment of women is uneven, and the antiquated notion of Rockwellian suburbia is shattered and restored multiple times throughout the narrative, muddling the theme past paradox and into outright incongruity.
But once you can get past the thematic mixed signals, there's a great slow-burn supernatural thriller here with some hellishly good plot turns scattered throughout. If you're a fan of Rod Serling or Shirley Jackson, this is a sparse but effective horror story about domestic dysfunction, marital infidelity, and the inevitable violence (literal and otherwise) inflicted on and by members of artificially tightened communities. Solid read.
But once you can get past the thematic mixed signals, there's a great slow-burn supernatural thriller here with some hellishly good plot turns scattered throughout. If you're a fan of Rod Serling or Shirley Jackson, this is a sparse but effective horror story about domestic dysfunction, marital infidelity, and the inevitable violence (literal and otherwise) inflicted on and by members of artificially tightened communities. Solid read.
sarahelisewrites's review against another edition
4.0
An eerie tale of latent psychic abilities, all wrapped up in an "innocent" little suburb in California. Entertaining and quick to read.
danidani814's review against another edition
4.0
Worth the Read
I became a fan of Matheson after reading “I Am Legend”; “A Stir of Echoes” did not disappoint.
I saw the film, “Stir of Echoes”, years ago when it was released. I enjoyed the movie, but had no idea it was based on a book. Like most adaptations, there was some departure from the novel. I think that allowed me to still be engaged in the book, as I didn’t quite know where it would lead.
I became a fan of Matheson after reading “I Am Legend”; “A Stir of Echoes” did not disappoint.
I saw the film, “Stir of Echoes”, years ago when it was released. I enjoyed the movie, but had no idea it was based on a book. Like most adaptations, there was some departure from the novel. I think that allowed me to still be engaged in the book, as I didn’t quite know where it would lead.
suvata's review against another edition
3.0
I saw this book classified as "horror". It definitely wasn't that but still it was pretty interesting. Not what I expected at all.
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