The Last Days of Jack Sparks

This was an interesting book, written as a “true story” from Jack's POV posthumously. Jack's opinions got a little on your nerves but he's written to be an insufferable prat so you feel for the people around him. The first half is a bit drawn out of a buildup but once Jack starts doubting and starts writing with what he's actually seeing/feeling, it really kicks off. Really enjoyable and satisfying read.

3,5/5 stars God, this took me so long. I mean it makes sense, life is stressful now for me, but still. I was being lazy with this book, partly because I am actually not really a horror fan. There is nothing wrong with horror, but... it's not particularly my thing, so for me it is kind of hard to judge them in any meaningful way. I guess that is what's happening with the newest installation in my series of nonsensical ramblings. Oh, yeah. Jack Sparks is a total dickhead. He is one of those egoistic journalists who keep trying to be special through writing about these predictably “shocking” topics, like drugs and gangs and shit, patting himself on the back constantly. Now he decides to write about... the supernatural, with his idea being that it's all bullcrap, so he can coke himself through it all. The first stop is in Italy, where an old priest is trying to exorcise a teen girl, how original. Jack laughs his ass off and the supernaturals are damn insulted by it, so our hero is in deep shit, which is not made any better by being a shitty person and addicted to all substances that can and will alter your mind. Now does our man sound like a trustworthy, reliable narrator? Didn't think so, so prepare yourself for “Oh, I lied” and “I kinda left this out to sound less like a horrible shithead”, which is something that gives it a bit of charm. Yeah, Jack is like that. As someone who had not particularly good experiences and opinions on many journalists... I can appreciate that. No, he isn't really our charming lad in pursuit of truth, which... makes him painfully realistic for a media personality, not gonna lie. I kind of liked that. On the other hand, this book is REALLY heavy on references to pop culture of the moment, which can REALLY date the thing. It is already happening, I mean I think he mentions Lemmy from Motöhead doing something and the guy is dead since then. I remember reading [b:War for the Oaks 70582 War for the Oaks Emma Bull https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1312059051s/70582.jpg 144029] by Emma Bull a couple of years back and the detailed descriptions of 80's outfits and gushing about Prince being the hottest dude ever. It wasn't too graceful. (Before you ask, I disliked that book.) To be honest, for a horror book, this didn't really freak me out. It wasn't bad, I didn't hate it, but something about it just didn't scare me. Maybe being a bit too much of a sceptic when it comes to genuinely being scared by something like this screwed with me. Oh, well. It was more entertaining than truly scary to me. Don't get me wrong, I am able to be weirded out by fiction (I'm watching Preacher now, Anatol Yusef makes me feel so uneasy, that bastard is good), but this didn't go that far into the uncanny, subtly disturbing and weird territory. Sorry. You emotionally don't get too close to the characters, so not even the shit hitting the fan had too much of an emotional impact on me. Probably part of Jack's detached dickheadery played a part in it; we don't really get to know the characters as human beings, they are more like tools and background items around the protagonist. The cover with the neon colours worked on me, though. It had a bit of some weird feel about it and find that attracts me. Dunno who designed it, but that person is good. It was worth a read. The change of pace for me was enough to make it a totally worthwhile read, even if life intervened and I couldn't just go through it fast. The thing is, I don't know what to expect from the author after this. I have never heard about him. Apparently he did (does?) Doctor Who stuff, which I am not a fan of, so I guess I am just being hindered by my particular tastes yet again. I would be open to read more from him, just not Doctor Who. The final verdict is that you should give it a shot. Short and pretty damn sweet, not at all a difficult read. Avoid if you are easily scared, even though I don't think it went too far. I like that in horror; just the right amount of gory stuff without becoming some parody with cringe-worthy, over the top, comic shock horror that makes me giggle. Have fun and don't let the Devil convince you he doesn't exist!

The voice of Jack Sparks is brilliantly rendered: cocksure, brash, full of himself. And totally deluded. I found the first half of the book more compelling than the second, when things started to get just a bit too silly. But since I read the book in one day, it clearly had me hooked, and 3 stars would not really do it fair justice.