Who Would Like This Book:
If you love campfire ghost stories, haunted house legends, or classic horror with a splash of true-crime intrigue, this book more than delivers! "The Amityville Horror" is a fast-paced rollercoaster, packed with cold chills and wild paranormal happenings. Even if you know the story’s been debunked, it's a fun, spooky ride that has inspired countless movies and pop culture references. Perfect for fans of creepy tales, the "based on a true story" horror vibe, or anyone curious about why this story became a pop culture staple.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you crave meticulously crafted prose, believable characters, or airtight plotting, this one might test your patience. Many readers found the writing style amateurish and overloaded with exclamation points, while the story's credibility is - let’s say - highly questionable. Folks who like their horror more grounded, their fact-checking thorough, or who don’t enjoy over-the-top supernatural shenanigans may find themselves rolling their eyes (a lot). If you’re a stickler for genuine true crime and get annoyed with debunked hoaxes, this may not be a satisfying read.
About:
'The Amityville Horror' by Jay Anson is a purportedly true story about the haunting of a Long Island home where the Lutz family experienced terrifying phenomena after moving in. The plot includes blood running down walls, a spirit chasing out a priest, and other strange occurrences, creating a chilling and unsettling atmosphere. The writing style is described as choppy and anecdotal, with rapid changes in point of view that add to the anxiousness of the narrative as the story progresses.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of murder, violence, mental distress, and the presence of supernatural entities.
From The Publisher:
"A fascinating and frightening book" (Los Angeles Times)-the bestselling true story about a house possessed by evil spirits, haunted by psychic phenomena almost too terrible to describe.
In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the house, but the property-complete with boathouse and swimming pool-and the price had been too good to pass up.
Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.
This is the spellbinding, shocking true story that gripped the nation about an American dream that turned into a nightmare beyond imagining-"this book will scare the hell out of you" (Kansas City Star).
Ratings (51)
Incredible (6) | |
Loved It (17) | |
Liked It (11) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (9) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (94):
Read It (54) | |
Want To Read (30) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (8) |
3 comment(s)
It's based on a true story, so I don't know about you, but that totally sold me! Loved it :)
As expected, this book crept me the F out. I finished the book questioning some of my religious beliefs--mainly that I don't really have any--and I had to look up more info about the story to put my fears to rest. It's definitely not for everyone, but I'm glad I listened.
Scary? I think not. What's scary about this book is how boring it is. I kept waiting for it to get really good but it just never did. Finally half-way through I just skimmed through the rest. And whether I believe in it or not - I don't. I believe that ghosts can exist, but I don't really believe in the credulity of this story.
What can you read after
The Amityville Horror?
About the Author:
Jay Anson (1921-1980) began as a copy boy on the New York Evening Journal in 1937, and later worked in advertising and publicity. With more than 500 documentary scripts for television to his credit, he was associated with Professional Films, Inc. He died in 1980.
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