stumerac's review
2.0
A lot like Scooby-Doo, but with disturbing bits, no dogs, and an odd obsession with breasts.
haunted_atoms's review
dark
fast-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
2.5
This was a laughably bad book lol. But you know what....I just couldn't stop reading it. I needed to know what was going on with this beast. There is no character development and honestly none of the characters are even remotely likable. Much of the book reads like a script. But a really bad script, like C movie level at best. The plot is thin and don't even get me started on the description! If you read the description on here, just know that it has NOTHING to do with the book lol. It's like a weird ploy. All in all it reads like a 15 year old boy wrote this. I can't really recommend this because I can't imagine many people liking it, even though i did.... somewhat. "Liked" it. Read at your own risk.
skamlig's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
fellumhistane's review
2.0
I picked this up at random.
The Cellar is one of those awful monster stories you read on a rainy weekend...except the horrific bits are really dark sexual assaults and pedophilia- so yuck. A lot could be said how this book is inappropriate by today's social standard, but that isn't its worse crimes. Characters are built to eccentric degrees and discarded way too easily, plenty of plot holes make the story too farfetched to be scary, and for such a thin narrative, the first half is much too detailed, somehow providing almost no atmosphere.
I give this one 2 stars because I still had the desire to finish it, the beast mystery was intriguing at the start while it lasted...And Laymon has a way of introducing micro-character development rather smoothly and obviously, giving you enough to care a tad for his cardboard people, without distracting from the suspense.
There are probably better books you could read.
The Cellar is one of those awful monster stories you read on a rainy weekend...except the horrific bits are really dark sexual assaults and pedophilia- so yuck. A lot could be said how this book is inappropriate by today's social standard, but that isn't its worse crimes. Characters are built to eccentric degrees and discarded way too easily, plenty of plot holes make the story too farfetched to be scary, and for such a thin narrative, the first half is much too detailed, somehow providing almost no atmosphere.
I give this one 2 stars because I still had the desire to finish it, the beast mystery was intriguing at the start while it lasted...And Laymon has a way of introducing micro-character development rather smoothly and obviously, giving you enough to care a tad for his cardboard people, without distracting from the suspense.
There are probably better books you could read.
charmandareads's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
tyler_j's review
3.0
Uh...3? I seriously have no idea wtf I just read.
Poorly written and full of nonsense, but easy to fly through (minus the wtf factor), and just...I have no idea ok?
I have no idea...
Poorly written and full of nonsense, but easy to fly through (minus the wtf factor), and just...I have no idea ok?
I have no idea...
slimeandslashers's review against another edition
4.0
This book is beyond trashy in every way. However, I found that I just could not stop reading it.
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of problematic issues with this book. But that is no surprise as that type of thing is part of Laymon's style (or so it seems). This book, and Laymon's work in general, is not for everyone.
I didn't think it was possible to be equally disgusted and entertained by a book -- and, yet, here we are! I wouldn't call this a good book, by any means, but it was a fun book to read regardless!
The Cellar is the kind of book that reminds me of why I love old school horror (and Laymon, in particular). Sometimes his stories can be so absurd that you can't help but laugh and scoff all the way through until the end of the book. Once there, you realize that you had a ball reading it despite the fact that the whole thing was ridiculous. Deep down you know the writing isn't great and the story is over-the-top, but, somehow, you enjoyed it anyway!
And that's where I stand with this book! I am giving it 4 stars for providing me with a mindless good time.
To reiterate, not everyone would enjoy this story and/or his other work. His books do tend to have some really outrageous sexual content. A lot of it can be off-putting. If you are worried, I'd suggest researching this book further and make sure to look up trigger warnings as well.
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of problematic issues with this book. But that is no surprise as that type of thing is part of Laymon's style (or so it seems). This book, and Laymon's work in general, is not for everyone.
I didn't think it was possible to be equally disgusted and entertained by a book -- and, yet, here we are! I wouldn't call this a good book, by any means, but it was a fun book to read regardless!
The Cellar is the kind of book that reminds me of why I love old school horror (and Laymon, in particular). Sometimes his stories can be so absurd that you can't help but laugh and scoff all the way through until the end of the book. Once there, you realize that you had a ball reading it despite the fact that the whole thing was ridiculous. Deep down you know the writing isn't great and the story is over-the-top, but, somehow, you enjoyed it anyway!
And that's where I stand with this book! I am giving it 4 stars for providing me with a mindless good time.
To reiterate, not everyone would enjoy this story and/or his other work. His books do tend to have some really outrageous sexual content. A lot of it can be off-putting. If you are worried, I'd suggest researching this book further and make sure to look up trigger warnings as well.
habbisham's review
2.0
For a full review and discussion of the Splatterpunk genre and its evolution from the Male Gothic please check out my blog:
https://abmostfiction.wordpress.com/latest-posts/
TL;DR (your blog) Review: Laymon offers up lashings of Male Gothic-esque gore and sexual violence in his first published novel. Not for the faint hearted, but also not for the more high-brow horror reader. 2** (out of 5*****)
https://abmostfiction.wordpress.com/latest-posts/
TL;DR (your blog) Review: Laymon offers up lashings of Male Gothic-esque gore and sexual violence in his first published novel. Not for the faint hearted, but also not for the more high-brow horror reader. 2** (out of 5*****)