47North; 01 April 2014
Horror
I don't typically read horror books because they sit in my brain too long, but my sister shared this book with me, and I couldn't put it down.
The story of the Holbrook House starts with the mysterious death of young Aaron's aunt. She is waiting for him to return home from school and hears a noise in the hall and then upstairs. When she goes to investigate, she finds a young boy with a bloody smile. This boy plays a major role in her death and, in turn, the rest of the story. We find out that Aaron's mother and uncle died in the house too. Aaron returns 20 years after his aunt's death to clean up the house in order to sell it. Aaron's life has been one nightmarish event after another and even though he reunites with his childhood friends, the feeling of dread never leaves him or the reader. His addiction to pills and alcohol make him wonder if the young boy following him around town and watching him through the windows of Holbrook House is real. Aaron's depression spirals out of control, and he becomes affected by the strangely multiplying birds and the prankster little boy. Sucked into the story because of Aaron's weight loss and lack of sleep, his friends try to help him deal with his internal and external problems, but it might just be too late.
The imagery and details of this story linger for hours after closing the book. Ahlborn describes a twisted young boy whose actions show no remorse and his treatment of birds is even scarier. The most terrifying part of the story is Aaron's struggle to stay sane. You are rooting so much for his success that his nightmares become yours. Aaron has redeeming qualities but his life's events have shattered him so deeply that he is easily persuaded by the demonic little boy. Learning about his past allows us to realize the repercussions of the reunion between Aaron and his first love. The end of the story is not the end, but rather the beginning of maybe another story.
The story of the Holbrook House starts with the mysterious death of young Aaron's aunt. She is waiting for him to return home from school and hears a noise in the hall and then upstairs. When she goes to investigate, she finds a young boy with a bloody smile. This boy plays a major role in her death and, in turn, the rest of the story. We find out that Aaron's mother and uncle died in the house too. Aaron returns 20 years after his aunt's death to clean up the house in order to sell it. Aaron's life has been one nightmarish event after another and even though he reunites with his childhood friends, the feeling of dread never leaves him or the reader. His addiction to pills and alcohol make him wonder if the young boy following him around town and watching him through the windows of Holbrook House is real. Aaron's depression spirals out of control, and he becomes affected by the strangely multiplying birds and the prankster little boy. Sucked into the story because of Aaron's weight loss and lack of sleep, his friends try to help him deal with his internal and external problems, but it might just be too late.
The imagery and details of this story linger for hours after closing the book. Ahlborn describes a twisted young boy whose actions show no remorse and his treatment of birds is even scarier. The most terrifying part of the story is Aaron's struggle to stay sane. You are rooting so much for his success that his nightmares become yours. Aaron has redeeming qualities but his life's events have shattered him so deeply that he is easily persuaded by the demonic little boy. Learning about his past allows us to realize the repercussions of the reunion between Aaron and his first love. The end of the story is not the end, but rather the beginning of maybe another story.
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