Scan barcode
A review by njdarkish
Red by Jack Ketchum
4.0
This was my first Jack Ketchum novel, and because I enjoyed it as much as I did, it certainly will not be my last.
The story was compelling while staying quite simple-- teenage boys kill an old man's dog, and the man seeks justice in any way he can find it. The writing was spare and direct, but in a good way. Like Hemingway. Simply, the writing didn't warrant flowery prose, especially considering the type of man the protagonist is, so Ketchum didn't wax poetic. Instead, he wrote a strong story that carried me through in two or three sittings. The story wasn't longer than it needed to be, which was another thing I appreciated.
The directness of the prose really heightened the emotional impact for me as a reader. When the story gave me no-nonsense details about Av's life, I felt the weight of them. I also appreciated that there is some moral complexity regarding the situation on both Av's side and on that of the teenage boys and their families.
The story was compelling while staying quite simple-- teenage boys kill an old man's dog, and the man seeks justice in any way he can find it. The writing was spare and direct, but in a good way. Like Hemingway. Simply, the writing didn't warrant flowery prose, especially considering the type of man the protagonist is, so Ketchum didn't wax poetic. Instead, he wrote a strong story that carried me through in two or three sittings. The story wasn't longer than it needed to be, which was another thing I appreciated.
The directness of the prose really heightened the emotional impact for me as a reader. When the story gave me no-nonsense details about Av's life, I felt the weight of them. I also appreciated that there is some moral complexity regarding the situation on both Av's side and on that of the teenage boys and their families.