The Other

By: Thomas Tryon

Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Holland and Niles Perry are identical thirteen-year-old twins. They are close, close enough, almost, to read each other's thoughts, but they couldn't be more different. Holland is bold and mischievous, a bad influence, while Niles is kind and eager to please, the sort of boy who makes parents proud. The Perrys live in the bucolic New England town their family settled centuries ago, and as it happens, the extended clan has gathered at its ancestral farm this summer to mourn the death of the twins' father in a most unfortunate accident. Mrs. Perry still hasn't recovered from the shock of her husband's gruesome end and stays sequestered in her room, leaving her sons to roam free. As the summer goes on, though, and Holland's pranks become increasingly sinister, Niles finds he can no longer make excuses for his brother's actions.

Thomas Tryon's best-selling novel about a homegrown monster is an eerie examination of the darkness that dwells within everyone. It is a landmark of psychological horror that is a worthy descendent of the books of James Hogg, Robert Louis Stevenson, Shirley Jackson, and Patricia Highsmith.

©1971 Thomas Tryon (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

I never guessed the twist!

What made the experience of listening to The Other the most enjoyable?

Read this novel BEFORE you watch the 1972 film. Do not sneak a peek at the movie's poster art!

Any additional comments?

What was so shocking about the rabbit-in-the-hat trick?

Very dark, well written.

A great period piece horror novel. Takes some time to get gritty. The third act is haunting.

The Other has always been a favorite movie.

I usually read the book first, always better. but saw the movie first. Book was different .

Wish I could read it again for the 1st time

i read this long ago and loved it. it is still excellent even if not quite as i remembered and holds up. there is some very nice writing by tryon in this as well, much better than stephen king. it is creepy but in a different way than might at first appear. it's hard to say much without giving something away. if you like a suspenseful and well written creepshow try this and stay away from reviews that give away key plot points. I kept thinking of similar novels and want to suggest Some of Your Blood by Sturgeon; We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Jackson; and not on audio yet but incredible is The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks.

Good psychological thriller

Would you consider the audio edition of The Other to be better than the print version?

I ended up liking this book. The writing style took me a bit getting used to, but the story was compelling, so I stuck with it. If you like psychological thrillers, this is a good one.

What other book might you compare The Other to and why?

The Bad Seed

Which character – as performed by William Dufris – was your favorite?

Holland

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Best Narrator yet!

I read this book when I was a wee lad and it stayed with me forever. I couldn't have asked for a better narrator. I sure wished he'd been hired to do all of Thomas' books.

Wow

This book starts slow. I almost gave up on it. It slowly starts hitting you then picks up speed.

Well-written, well-performed

Listening to this audiobook was my first exposure to Thomas Tryon’s work and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Other had been billed as a horror classic, but what I found as I listened was a carefully constructed world populated by vibrant characters. It wasn’t the biggest page-turner I’ve read and I think it’s more accurately described as “macabre” than outright scary, but there were enough memorable scenes and set pieces that it was easy to keep listening. I was especially impressed by the writing, which was so full of life and emotion, as well as William Dufris’ performance, which was energetic and warm. The novel deftly evokes the mystery and confusion of early adolescence in a rather heartwarming way despite the grisly narrative.

I gave this book 5 hours of my life...

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I gave this book 5 hours of my life hoping the story would pick up. I am uncertain if it was the narration or the story line, but I could not engage.

Very slow pace

What would have made The Other better?

Not enough of a story line...too much focus on descriptions, not enough on the plot.