I just reviewed another one of Jim’s books and here we are again. I’m back with another novelette of his, also coming in at 32 pages. I wonder if that’s his lucky number. Jim, write another at 32 and let’s see what happens? Please?
In case you didn’t read the last review, we like Jim. Jim can tell a complete story in 32 pages and leave you feeling as satisfied as though you’d read a full novel. He’s always creative in his work, always managing to find something to make each story unique. You should keep an eye on Jim.
So, Repossession. A look at the cover (which has some pretty neat, creepy effects going on) and the title tells you it’s a possession story before you’ve even read the summary. For as much as I love horror, there are so many types of horror that I just don’t care for and demonic possession is up there. It’s not that I’m against the idea of it, it’s just I’m almost 40 and I can count on one hand the number of times I think it’s been done right. (Why, for example, is it always a Catholic priest handling the exorcism? Demons exists in all religions, can someone else have a turn?)
But it’s Jim. You start the book and the first chapter is just a guy talking about going to work and his boss being difficult and you think you know what’s going on and then he turns everything upside down in the second chapter. It’s a different story entirely. That was delightful and unexpected.
So, David Cross. Family man. A good man, it seems like. David isn’t messing around with the occult or taking a page from Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark, but does that really matter? (That’s a real book, btw. A nonfiction book that tells you how to play supernatural games from all around the world. It’s the most amazing thing.) Sometimes it’s nice to have a book where a terrible thing happens just because life fucking sucks sometimes.
As with his other book, I can’t say too much about this one because it is best if you go in blind so that you can fully appreciate the things that you did not expect. I will say, though, that I love myself a good bleak, no happy endings story. Especially when that unhappiness hits you out of nowhere and you’re like, wait, what?!
I recommend this book to people looking for a quick read and something different from your average demonic possession formula.
