Every section of this book seems like it should take place in the prior section. The last third seems like the middle of a novel, the second third seems like the beginning, and the first third is mostly useless back story. (For instance, Simon's past as a magician with a troubled wife has almost literally no bearing on the plot. That is the most glaring example of wasted pages, but by no means the only one.)Three is probably a little generous, but at least the 20-page ending had a bit of Lovecraft. Lindqvist uses vivid description and a strong, well-written narrative to create a world that is easily entered and envisioned by the reader. However, I was expecting a frightening, heart-pounding thriller, and unfortunately this book did not deliver. I enjoy thrillers that are somewhat realistic, and to my dismay, this book took the route of fantasy. Horror is present in small amounts, but it is quickly dispersed by the meandering, and somewhat bizarre plot which has been laced with a strange humor. A steady build-up of terror was absent in my opinion. There were no pulse-pounding moments for me within these pages. I found myself bored with the characters; I didn't care about them at all. Lindqvist switches back from present to past several times during the novel in an eccentric fashion, which I feel had a jarring effect on the story's progression. In conclusion, Harbor was well-written but certainly not my cup of tea. A yawn-worthy thriller in my opinion. Stay away from this book if you like realistic, pulse-pounding horror novels which contain characters that matter.
What do You think about Harbor (2008)?
Couldn't put this down. One of my favorite books I've read in recent years.
—Zephaniah
