The Amityville Horror

I was excited to listen to "Amityville" because I'd read a small portion of the book as a child, and seen enough of the movies to know what kind of haunted house book this would be--much more "active" than the classic haunted house. In this, the book does not disappoint--there's a good deal of creepy, even scary stuff. I enjoyed that aspect of the book, and there is a great deal of it.

However, the book suffers from trying to portray itself as "true." The writing is detached and investigatory, which would work better if were truly reporting, but as some of the subject matter deals with intimate or personal events which do not bear directly on the ostensibly documentary elements of the story, it doesn't work. Partly because of this "distant" style, the individual members of the Lutz Family aren't remotely realized as characters. Moreover, there's something 'wrong' about them, something that not only doesn't ring true in their characterization, but also in their basic humanity. There's very little likable about these characters beyond that they are also of our species.

The book has a few high points, but I left feeling a bit cheated.

I was surprised at how much I didn't like listening to this book. At first I thought that it was because I didn't like the narrator, whose voice barely fluctuated throughout the book, but digging deeper, I truly feel that the writing itself lacked something. It seemed to me that it was just a mere telling of the story that never brought the reader/listener into the world that the Lutz family was living in.

Normally when I read/listen to a book I am drawn into that world and hate to stop reading/listening. When I do stop, I count the minutes until I can once again enter that world. In this case I mostly thought to myself, "How much longer before this book is over?"

Disappointed.

Whether it really happed or not doesn't change the fact its a pretty good story. I like the style the novel was written in. Anson calls it a documentry not so sure about that but its a good story. Some parts gave me chills and made the book well worth the credit.

I thought this book would be scary, or at least a little creepy since all I've ever heard about the series was good things, and the movies were also good. But I don't know if it was the narrator or the book itself, I just couldn't get into it. It seems to me to be more of a drama than something that's meant to shock or scare. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who was looking for a good scare.

It was a fast, creepy read. The happenings at the Amityville house have been hotly debated for many years, but I couldn't care less. I loved it.

The sick priest and all that befell the colleagues who tried to help him.

Absolutely. The narrator brings you into the events like reading alone never could.

Yes, and I think I managed it in 4 or 5.

Could not make it through this one. It was simply dull and unable to hold my interest

I was never a big fan of the movie but I have to admit, this book scared the hell out of me. Very intense and spooky. In addition, the narrator keeps the listener on the edge of their seat with every word. If looking for a horror book, look no further! Great stuff….

Yes, its a wonderfully scary book that is definitely in the top one hundred horror books to read before you die!

The suspense is was suspenseful from the very first page to the last.

Yes he did a very good job and his voice added to the suspense and tension with each character.

The constant reminder that it was based on a true story and the character in the book were real people.

A great listen and is short so if you want it for a short trip or just a quick listen its perfect! Especially around Halloween!