myweereads's review against another edition
4.0
Well, my first thought was what on earth did I just read???? This book is a complete mind fuck when it comes to understanding what is going on. At one point it feels like you are on some kind of wicked acid trip but soon the characters begin to realise that the forest which surrounds the house is actually alive and their friend the famous writers has more than just a few skeletons in his closet. If you want to read a book that leaves you staring at it after you’ve read it thinking what on earth was that then this is the book for you!!!! It draws you in and you can’t help but keep reading on to find out what everything means!!!
chimps's review against another edition
1.0
It started out alright, but it ends up sounding like it was written by a philosopher on drugs
aksel_dadswell's review against another edition
4.0
Nobody does an acid trip of a story quite like John Claude Smith. What I’ve read of his short fiction is dazzling, and weird, and dazzlingly weird. His first novel, Riding the Centipede (which I reviewed here a while back), was a marvellous debut, a neon-lit, hallucinatory nightmare of manic proportions. Smith’s writing thus far feels like the perfect distillation of gonzo horror fiction, a combination of great character beats, off-the-wall insanity, and an enormous bit of fun.
Read my full review over at my blog: https://wordpress.com/post/larvalforms.wordpress.com/227
Read my full review over at my blog: https://wordpress.com/post/larvalforms.wordpress.com/227
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
1.0
This book was such a huge disappointment for me. I was expecting greatness because I got it in a NRB and their choices are normally on point. But this one was just not for me, for about 75% of the book all I could think was what in the actual fuck.
It started off really interesting but then it veered off in such a strange direction. It felt like the author was hopped up on some crazy ass drug and the story would only make sense to someone equally hopped up.
I’m just left feeling confused and uncomfortable after reading this, it was just so strange. And all that’s running through my head is what in the fuck did I just read?
It started off really interesting but then it veered off in such a strange direction. It felt like the author was hopped up on some crazy ass drug and the story would only make sense to someone equally hopped up.
I’m just left feeling confused and uncomfortable after reading this, it was just so strange. And all that’s running through my head is what in the fuck did I just read?
lisaml's review against another edition
2.0
This was a weird one. There were moments that I liked, but the bizarre horror is not really my thing. If it's yours, you should give this one a read.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars!
The Wilderness Within blew my mind! I should be used to that by now, as John Claude Smith never presents anything boring to his readers.
Novelist Derek Gray responds to his friend Frank's letter asking for him to come for a visit. Frank Harlan Marshall lives in the forest, miles away from civilized life. Together, they're awaiting a third friend and while passing the time, Derek notices Frank is in dire straits mentally. He's not himself, he's barely even present when they talk. Derek also meets Frank's neighbor, Alethea, former singer of Dark Angel Asylum. Together, all three will face something-something in the forest, something that is ancient and will change them all, forever.
John Claude Smith is always exploring new ideas and this book is no exception. My favorite parts happened in the forest-the first time Derek and Frank take a walk in the woods together is truly creepy. "I sensed in my mind, something picking through my thoughts, as if my skull had been opened up and something was looking for whatever special thoughts, memories and imagination that it fed on, and was diligently feeding: beetles picking the carcass clean."
The creative minds of authors and musicians are interesting things to explore. I'm reminded of U2's lyrics from The Fly: "Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief, all kill their inspiration and sing about the grief." John Claude's take is: "But I know creative individuals and know the madness and intensity that is part of their make-up. There has to be a lack of inhibition in allowing the madness full reign in order to really capture the gist of what one really needs to express creatively."
All of this makes it seem as if this book is focused on the inner lives of artists, and in a way it is, but it's also about the forest, nature, what is going on around us, and just maybe...how small we are in the bigger scheme of things. That part of the story and what's really wrong with Frank-these are things you have to discover for yourself. But be prepared because the truth is scary and often ugly too. Not only do we not know everything there is to know about nature and how the world works, we often don't even know the people we think we know the best.
Surreal, intense and brave, The Wilderness Within is a unique story that delivers on the creep factor and explores deeply the inner lives of the creative and the broken. At the same time, it makes me want to stay away from the forest, at least for now.
Highly recommended!
You can pre-order your copy here: The Wilderness Within
*I was provided an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
The Wilderness Within blew my mind! I should be used to that by now, as John Claude Smith never presents anything boring to his readers.
Novelist Derek Gray responds to his friend Frank's letter asking for him to come for a visit. Frank Harlan Marshall lives in the forest, miles away from civilized life. Together, they're awaiting a third friend and while passing the time, Derek notices Frank is in dire straits mentally. He's not himself, he's barely even present when they talk. Derek also meets Frank's neighbor, Alethea, former singer of Dark Angel Asylum. Together, all three will face something-something in the forest, something that is ancient and will change them all, forever.
John Claude Smith is always exploring new ideas and this book is no exception. My favorite parts happened in the forest-the first time Derek and Frank take a walk in the woods together is truly creepy. "I sensed in my mind, something picking through my thoughts, as if my skull had been opened up and something was looking for whatever special thoughts, memories and imagination that it fed on, and was diligently feeding: beetles picking the carcass clean."
The creative minds of authors and musicians are interesting things to explore. I'm reminded of U2's lyrics from The Fly: "Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief, all kill their inspiration and sing about the grief." John Claude's take is: "But I know creative individuals and know the madness and intensity that is part of their make-up. There has to be a lack of inhibition in allowing the madness full reign in order to really capture the gist of what one really needs to express creatively."
All of this makes it seem as if this book is focused on the inner lives of artists, and in a way it is, but it's also about the forest, nature, what is going on around us, and just maybe...how small we are in the bigger scheme of things. That part of the story and what's really wrong with Frank-these are things you have to discover for yourself. But be prepared because the truth is scary and often ugly too. Not only do we not know everything there is to know about nature and how the world works, we often don't even know the people we think we know the best.
Surreal, intense and brave, The Wilderness Within is a unique story that delivers on the creep factor and explores deeply the inner lives of the creative and the broken. At the same time, it makes me want to stay away from the forest, at least for now.
Highly recommended!
You can pre-order your copy here: The Wilderness Within
*I was provided an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
gnomepartay's review
2.0
Trippy horror novel that makes it difficult to tell what is real and what isn't. I rated it 2 stars because it had a lot of tropes and cliches that I have seen done better in other novels.