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The Night Strangers (2011)

by Chris Bohjalian(Favorite Author)

3.17 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0307394999 (ISBN13: 9780307394996)

languge

English

genre

Horror

publisher

Crown

review 1: I just finished reading THE NIGHT STRANGERS by Chris Bohjalian. I must say I almost took the book back to the library before I even got to chapter two. However, the more I read, the more I wanted to find out more about these strange characters he has brought to life. As a result of a plane crash this book takes you to New Hampshire where the main characters live in an old Victorian house with a greenhouse on the property. The pilot of the crashed plane, Chris, and his wife, Emily, have two twin daughters. Then as I kept reading chapter after chapter, the book started to really get weird. The women in the small town had greenhouses also and they called themselves herbalists and they grew some pretty weird stuff, no not pot if that's what you are thinking. But, certain... more plants do have an affect on a person if put in tea etc. Or, inhaled or rubbed on the skin. I don't want to say they were involved in witchcraft, but pretty damn close in my mind. I found the book exciting as I got caught up in all their activities. I want to read more of Chris Bohjalian's books as he does have a flare for getting one's attention and keeping it. Happy New Year.
review 2: The Night Strangers starts off with a mysterious prologue that leaves you with questions. It hooks you, which is a good way for a book to start. However, as the book continues the story gets quite boring. Chris Bohjalian's writing is somewhat repetitive and as a reader, I felt a bit insulted at his assumption that I would be unable to put two and two together in several parts of the book. The book is broken into four parts. This is completely unnecessary. I feel that the book could have been half the length as most of the information and story was pointless and used to draw out the story for no reason. I could not relate to the characters or really sympathize with them. While each one that their back story, they all felt cold and unrealistic. The entire time I was reading I became frustrated with the constant herb and flower references. Yes, Mr. Bohjalian, I get it. These women are "herbalists". Please stop slapping me in the face with more plant names and "tinctures". Again, insulting my intelligence as a reader. You do not need to repeat yourself over and over as if I am a child. The ending was bizarre and nonsensical. It didn't fit the characters personalities from the rest of the book. It was unexpected, but not in a good way.One interesting aspect of the book is the jump between narrative perspective. It is constantly changing. At first I didn't like it, but it eventually grew on me and I enjoyed seeing things from another view.The only other redeeming thing about the book is that it takes place in New Hampshire, where I live, which made it easy to relate to in a sense. Overall, I was disappointed. The Night Strangers, which doesn't seem to be an appropriate title, was not nearly as interesting as I had hoped. It drags on and left me relieved that it was over. less

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