Category: Books

Let me say upfront that this is all my own opinion. This is how I feel about things. I mean no harm and no ill in ANY way towards Mr. Hendrix. I think he is a terrific writer. I have no complaints about the stories that Mr. Hendrix writes. I am in no way attempting to insult either the person or the work involved in his career as a writer.

Having said that, let me explain where I am coming from.

A few years ago, a friend sent me a copy of My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix.

A few weeks ago, by request, my father sent me a copy of We Sold Our Souls.

Last week, I went to the library as I had to renew my card and I picked up a copy of The Final Girl Support Club and a copy of How To Sell A Haunted House.

I read the Exorcism book rather quickly. Interesting premise. Good story. But, something was off for me. I didn’t like it that much. I could not pinpoint that one thing that set me on edge with the book.

The book pretty much fell by the wayside in my mind and in my memory. I could not have even told you it was written by Grady Hendrix—until I borrowed The Final Girl Support Club. About that time, I looked up Grady Hendrix on Amazon and saw Exorcism on his author’s page.

Now, I read the Final Girl Support Club. It’s a great book. It’s an interesting story. It hits so many tropes in the horror movie genre. It was awesome.

But, again, there was something about the story itself that left me… dissatisfied? Unappreciated? Unfulfilled?

There is something missing. I am in no way condemning the author. I think whatever is missing is something I am looking for that I have not articulated even to myself.

I read the blurb for How To Sell A Haunted House. I have not read further. I have read several someone died and a relative has to sell the house horror-type books — and seen similar movies — of late. I plan to return the book unread.

I started to read We Sold Our Souls at least three times now. I have not made it past the first few pages every time. Why?

Because in the first few pages of the book, I already hate the one character so much that I don’t care what happens past that for her.

That is a bit callous, I know. I am sure that things improve as you read further into the book. However, I have no plans to do so.

I have also taken Horrorstor off my to be read/to be bought lists.

Again, not because of anything against Mr. Hendrix. I have no issues with his writing or his books in any way.

For me, there is something lacking in the tales, something infinitesimal, something difficult to define, something unclear even to myself as I work to expose what it may be that I seek.

If I knew more precisely what I am looking for, then I would seek that out and be able to tell you, this book has X, but this book has Z, and Z is not what I want to see in my horror stories.

I do indeed recommend Grady Hendrix and his books. He is an incredible writer. He’s just not that one writer who is my everything cup of tea.

This is my opinion.

How do you feel about Grady Hendrix, or any other writer? Or what I expressed here? Let me know in the comments below.