the_evergrowing_library's review against another edition
3.0
In my youth….. all those years ago, I devoured James Herbert books based on 2 things. 1) I loved horror books. 2) they were great charity shop find for my meagre funds.
The problem was when faced with ghosts, killer rats, deadly fog and…. Well, a dog…. Fluke managed to stay off my radar.
While you could argue a couple of his books fall under the thriller bracket, Fluke is Herbert’s only non-horror novel; A fantasy adventure from a dogs perspective.
Not only was this devoid of horror; its usage of violence and particularly sex was much more muted than one would expect from him.
It was strange to read a Herbert book that could be comfortably handed to a younger audience. Yes there was some usage and mentions, but we’ve all read watership down
The problem was when faced with ghosts, killer rats, deadly fog and…. Well, a dog…. Fluke managed to stay off my radar.
While you could argue a couple of his books fall under the thriller bracket, Fluke is Herbert’s only non-horror novel; A fantasy adventure from a dogs perspective.
Not only was this devoid of horror; its usage of violence and particularly sex was much more muted than one would expect from him.
It was strange to read a Herbert book that could be comfortably handed to a younger audience. Yes there was some usage and mentions, but we’ve all read watership down
joel_wyrick's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting take on reincarnation. The story flowed well at times and other times, not. In the end, the plot closing left me feeling slightly disappointed.
drakeula_73's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
opheliapo's review against another edition
3.0
‘My own name was rising from ocean depths and about to break the surface. But a car swished past and the names scattered like startled fish.’
It made a lot of sense, upon discovering that James Herbert was a best selling horror writer, why Fluke had such an unusually tense feeling for a spiritual adventure story. Not to knock it, that is: I believe that this edge added immensely to the believability of the book, for having such a farfetched concept. Herbert handles emotions, particularly negative ones, with confidence and assuredness. I was particularly stricken by the tale of Victoria the cat and the chimney.
This tale follows a similar pattern that a lot of seventies adventure stories did at the time, in that it acts as if you are reading a series of short stories that all amalgamate through one perspective (kind if like a Dickens, I suppose), and it works to make this surprisingly heavy book an easy read.
Herbert put forward an idea that the communication between dogs and other animals would create an ‘us and them’ stance, which I found interesting. And he generally does a fantastic job of giving the dogs, in particular, characters without forcing upon them ‘human’ traits. This is particularly true in the character of Rumbo (I cry).
The ending to Fluke (no spoilers, I promise) sets itself apart from the horror or thriller story and into the realms of adventure by ultimately setting itself down as a story of belief.
It made a lot of sense, upon discovering that James Herbert was a best selling horror writer, why Fluke had such an unusually tense feeling for a spiritual adventure story. Not to knock it, that is: I believe that this edge added immensely to the believability of the book, for having such a farfetched concept. Herbert handles emotions, particularly negative ones, with confidence and assuredness. I was particularly stricken by the tale of Victoria the cat and the chimney.
This tale follows a similar pattern that a lot of seventies adventure stories did at the time, in that it acts as if you are reading a series of short stories that all amalgamate through one perspective (kind if like a Dickens, I suppose), and it works to make this surprisingly heavy book an easy read.
Herbert put forward an idea that the communication between dogs and other animals would create an ‘us and them’ stance, which I found interesting. And he generally does a fantastic job of giving the dogs, in particular, characters without forcing upon them ‘human’ traits. This is particularly true in the character of Rumbo (I cry).
The ending to Fluke (no spoilers, I promise) sets itself apart from the horror or thriller story and into the realms of adventure by ultimately setting itself down as a story of belief.
benjaminbarlow's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bundy23's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. A dog with a human conscience does loads of annoying dog stuff. Not sure where it was going but I didn't care enough to go past about a third of the way through. Very meh.
chrissireads's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read anything of Herbert's before as I don't like the usual genre he writes. This was recommended to me by my sister. I'm glad I read it. It's a simple story, sad in places of a dog remembering his life as a human. A good, quick easy to read book.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
Totally love it! Not herberts usual horror and suspense but the tale of a dog who used to be a man. Told from the dogs perspective it goes through his early years back to his memories of being human and trying to find his family. Highly recommended!