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A review by harrietj
The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
dark
fast-paced
1.75
This is a generally readable thriller with horror around the edges.
The book has a quote from Stephen King on the front cover - 'If you like my stuff, you'll like this'. I'm not sure if this was meant as a compliment or a sideways accusation of blatant plagiarism. The best parts of this book were lifted so directly from It that I almost couldn't believe CJ Tudor got away with it. I recently read Tudor's The Taking of Annie Thorne, and made obvious comparisons to King's Pet Semetary, but this was shameless. Entire scenes, like the rock fight by the stream, are taken directly from King's bestseller - how is this allowed? One of the characters has the exact same habit of doing impressions of American talk show hosts that Richie has in It. And at one point, Tudor uses the EXACT analogy regarding unfair resolutions to cliffhangers in media that Annie Wilkes does in Misery - 'he didn't get out of the cockadoodie car!' becomes a whinge about cliffhangers in Doctor Who. This entire book is barefacedly rehashed King, and it's distracting and bizarre to read. Additionally, outside of the King rip-offs, it's just not very well written.
But, the good: I really liked the very final twist, right at the end. It tied up a loose end, it was creepy, and it was original. Liked that. Also, the descriptions of Alzheimer's throughout the book, and that zinger right at the end, were really effective. By far the most terrifying and sad parts of the book, and absolutely responsible for one of the stars in this rating.
The book has a quote from Stephen King on the front cover - 'If you like my stuff, you'll like this'. I'm not sure if this was meant as a compliment or a sideways accusation of blatant plagiarism. The best parts of this book were lifted so directly from It that I almost couldn't believe CJ Tudor got away with it. I recently read Tudor's The Taking of Annie Thorne, and made obvious comparisons to King's Pet Semetary, but this was shameless. Entire scenes, like the rock fight by the stream, are taken directly from King's bestseller - how is this allowed? One of the characters has the exact same habit of doing impressions of American talk show hosts that Richie has in It. And at one point, Tudor uses the EXACT analogy regarding unfair resolutions to cliffhangers in media that Annie Wilkes does in Misery - 'he didn't get out of the cockadoodie car!' becomes a whinge about cliffhangers in Doctor Who. This entire book is barefacedly rehashed King, and it's distracting and bizarre to read. Additionally, outside of the King rip-offs, it's just not very well written.
But, the good: I really liked the very final twist, right at the end. It tied up a loose end, it was creepy, and it was original. Liked that. Also, the descriptions of Alzheimer's throughout the book, and that zinger right at the end, were really effective. By far the most terrifying and sad parts of the book, and absolutely responsible for one of the stars in this rating.