This book hit so close to home, it scared the sanity out of me. Everything about Amanda reflected major aspects of my life onto the page, pulling me in like an invisible lead on a collar. I couldn’t help but fall in love with her. Some people might call her plain, or boring. I, however, found her “normal” nature and “normal” issues to be an intriguing characteristic in this type of novel. Too often characters in this genre are so over the top that they become completely unbelievable, unreal, thereby crushing any credibility the story might have held. Amanda couldn’t be more real if she sat snuggled up beside you on the couch, breathing softly against your neck as you read to yourself. All the characters are realistic. These people could be co-workers, friends or even family; I feel I know them so well. The story on a whole rarely came off sounding false. I had to keep pouring back over events in my own life to see if perhaps I could be suffering from a similar scenario. Evil is everywhere. It could lurk inside your mailman, your pharmacist, your daycare worker or nanny. No one is immune. Who knows, perhaps there’s a demon inside me right now screaming to be let out, and you wouldn’t even know it until it was too late. Is there one in you? There are no flowers or puppies or choirs of angels in this story, so break out the pitchfork and welcome to Hell! There was no fluff to this novel. Clocking in at a scant 192 pages, the pacing was perfection. Sara Gran expertly uses the rule that states you should only write to advance character or plot, nothing more. I was extremely ecstatic to find that the author followed through all the way to the end, tying everything off exactly the way I hope. This woman has balls and isn’t afraid to write the way the story should be told, rather than the way the Powers That Be want it told. Her writing style flowed with ease, making for an effortless read. The only thing that grated on my nerves, like fingernails on a chalkboard, was Amanda’s husband, Ed. An annoyingly anal-retentive hard-ass, he is overly observant and prone to picking at details, but conveniently becomes blind to the glaring differences that manifest in his wife. I found it very hard to swallow that he could so easily overlook certain actions that should have alerted him to Amanda’s plunge into despair, such as the sudden reintegration of habits that she had given up years ago to better their relationship. I give this book 4 flaming pitchforks. It was so close to perfection, (minus the hubby slip), that I would encourage everyone to rush out and grab it now--grab it in trade paperback, don’t wait for the mass market edition. Indulge yourself, read it over and over, and descend into darkness. Review originally posted at http://www.horror-web.com/reviews/YaB... on May 14, 2007.
Classified as part thriller and part horror, Come Closer is an enjoyable read for lovers of those particular genres. At 168 pages, it isn't going to take long to read, but the action starts on page one and does not let up until the last sentence. It is an intense psychological thrill ride that has one questioning what it means to be happy or insane, self-possessed or demon-possessed.Amanda is discontent with her life, which is a huge reason (in my opinion) why certain events unfold as they do. She has changed everything for her husband and is ultimately not acting in accordance with her true self on a day-to-day basis. Because of her unconscious chafing at her life, the reader has sympathy for Amanda even as her actions and certain events spiral out of control One might argue then that possession is a metaphor for freedom - freedom from her self-imposed restraints she added to her life when she chose to settle down with her husband, freedom to be who she was truly meant to be,The topic of possession is, in itself, quite interesting. Is it a metaphor for freedom, for insanity, for obsession, for the loss of control, or for all of the above? One could also argue that demonic possession is a real event. Regardless of one's beliefs, what occurs to Amanda creates some interesting questions. Just how far should loved ones go to saving someone from a downward spiral, for whatever reason? Do we fight it? Do we give up or give in to one's demands? Do we sit and watch it happened without batting an eye? I cannot remember who reviewed this book initially that had me list it on my Wish List, but I definitely owe that person a note of thanks! Surprisingly difficult to find, Come Closer is delightfully creepy, engaging, extremely well-written, and surprisingly humorous. One would not think that the descent into madness could be funny, but Ms. Gran confirms that a story can be horrifying and funny at the same time. It is a combination that works well, making Come Closer a quick and compelling read at the same time providing food for thought on relationships and one's obligations in those relationships. Come Closer works because of these compelling questions and the hint of the macabre. This would make for an excellent read during Halloween!
What do You think about Come Closer (2006)?
The ultimate measuring stick for novels of demonic possession remains and will always be The Exorcist. That novel's pacing began with a niggling sense of dread as the hints of possession were beginning to take hold.Sara Gran uses a similar pace to possession, but from a first-person perspective. Amanda's possession begins with same niggling sense that something is there, and things begin to unhinge for her from then on out.This is a very fast read, and best read alone in a quiet room. Gran does a great job of creating a sense of unease, and the perspective of possession is unique and imaginative. If I hear a tapping in my walls any time soon I'm running for the hills.
—Bill
I read "Come Closer" in one day (it was an exceptionally short read) and in broad daylight. And while I was reading it, I was thinking "yeah, good story, interesting, creepy, but not downright scary." All along I was thinking that it wouldn't affect me the way other books/movies about possession would (The Exorcist traumatized me severely as a kid. I kept thinking that if I slept in my bed it would start shaking and I would be possessed. Yes, yes, I had an extremely active imagination like most eleven year olds, not much has changed now that I'm twenty). So, I went to bed without fear thinking that I was going to be fine.Cut to me at 2:00 am terrified because I kept hearing taps in my room that were extremely loud and were apparently coming from absoulutely nowhere (Amanda kept hearing taps in her house as she was slowly getting possessed), so naturally, I got up, turned on my light, to examine this new development in my room. It ended up being my heater. The point of this review is to tell anyone who likes horror stories to pick this up even if it isn't gory or Stephen-King-like-horror. It's still a freaky little novel that creeps up on you. And to those who don't like horror, you should check this out because it's not really out-and-out horror. But just creepy enough to give you a taste of it.
—Alisha Marie
I'm really glad I read this during the day. I can count on one had with fingers to spare how many times a BOOK has scared me. Only slightly less than films. But this book freaked me out. And even more so, left me feeling despair and sadness. It had elements that reminded me of two films that did scare me, Rosemary's Baby and Paranormal Activity. It follows Amanda at the beginnings of her possession and deterioration as the demon gains control. It's a short read at under 200 pages and I read it in a matter of hours but I couldn't put it down till the end. To me that's a sign of a good book. The only drawback that left off one star were some questions that I had about some characters in the story I didn't feel were completely answered. However, that is a slight complaint and I think I understood in the end, or at least have my guesses. Anyone interested in horror or the occult will enjoy this short quick read. Just remember, lights on or daylight.
—Laura
