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Book Review of Audrey's Door

Audrey's Door
Audrey's Door
Author: Sarah Langan
Genre: Horror
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
mythoughtsaredeep avatar reviewed on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This book got off to a bad start-the main character felt bitchy and closed minded, the writing felt... unpolitically correct? It felt submissively racist, in small parts. Near the beginning of the novel the author whines about how life has never been easy for her and she had to work at both university cafeterias just to afford her books-UH, YEAH most everyone has to have 2 jobs in college, and you're pretty lucky if they're university jobs. Later in the book, she's fairly justified in her whining-we find out that her mom is pretty crazy, she grew up almost homeless, traveling, starving, etc., and has developed some pretty full-fledged cases of craziness and OCD herself. But before you know all that, it feels a little like whining.

However, after the initial dislike, I found a lot to like. This story is basically a haunted house story, where the building itself if an alive character and changes everyone who lives in it, as well as seeks out the "right" people to live in it. The bits of truth here and there are very intriguing-this religion of chaotic naturalism and the buildings it inspired-I believe there is some truth sprinkled in that inspired the writer. I would love to learn more. Creepy people, creepy happenings, creepy imagery, and a writer who can convincingly convey dream worlds, haunted worlds, and reality all at the same time without even confusing the reader, I very much enjoyed. And the more you learn about Audrey, the more you love her and her crazy mom. Also, her boyfriend is an overweight man who's family is from India-and he's an unsuccessful independent film maker, so it was nice having a romance with someone who's more or less normal.