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A review by larry_yonce
Funland by Richard Laymon
2.0
Under the Boardwalk....Boardwalk!
Boleta Bay has a new kid in town, 16 year old Jeremy Wayne, who wastes no time whatsoever -- hanging with the wrong crowd; namely, a violent group of "trollers", some of which have colorful nicknames like Samson, Shiner, and Cowboy. Jeremy himself is quickly dubbed Duke by Cowboy (from The Duke, John Wayne, of course). The trollers are after the "trolls", a population of derelicts and homeless who inhabit the area around Funland, a seedy amusement park. Some of the trolls are violent as well, some are not. In fact this book is filled with people you'd cross to the other side of the street to avoid if you saw any of them coming your way. The only well-adjusted person in the novel seems to be Jeremy's mother (poor woman!). There is a lot of dialogue in this book, much of which is cringeworthy and/or silly, from adults and teens alike. Lots of angst, lust, insta-love, jealousy, and rage. And not a lot of scares. The inclusion of a "creature feature" scene near the end falls completely flat and makes no sense! There is a bit of poetic justice at the very, very end which was nice. Overall, a disappointment.
Boleta Bay has a new kid in town, 16 year old Jeremy Wayne, who wastes no time whatsoever -- hanging with the wrong crowd; namely, a violent group of "trollers", some of which have colorful nicknames like Samson, Shiner, and Cowboy. Jeremy himself is quickly dubbed Duke by Cowboy (from The Duke, John Wayne, of course). The trollers are after the "trolls", a population of derelicts and homeless who inhabit the area around Funland, a seedy amusement park. Some of the trolls are violent as well, some are not. In fact this book is filled with people you'd cross to the other side of the street to avoid if you saw any of them coming your way. The only well-adjusted person in the novel seems to be Jeremy's mother (poor woman!). There is a lot of dialogue in this book, much of which is cringeworthy and/or silly, from adults and teens alike. Lots of angst, lust, insta-love, jealousy, and rage. And not a lot of scares. The inclusion of a "creature feature" scene near the end falls completely flat and makes no sense! There is a bit of poetic justice at the very, very end which was nice. Overall, a disappointment.