Castle
A Novel
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2.8 • 12 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Castle by J. Robert Lennon
"Castle tells a terrific story, dire and confusing and convincing." —Scott Bradfield, The New York Times Book Review
Eric Loesch, a private man with a shadowy past, returns to his hometown in rural New York, where he purchases a dilapidated house that he begins to renovate with steely determination. The adjacent woods on his property seem to beckon him, and he soon discovers a Gothic castle at the center of his land that he appears not to own. Loesch looks for an explanation, and the reader is drawn into a "terrifying and psychologically complex mystery signaling an important American writer in full command of his powers."*
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
From Graywolf: two April books by J. Robert Lennon. CastleJ. Robert Lennon. Graywolf, $22 (224p) Do not be fooled by the dull narrator of this latest novel from Lennon (Mailman); the author methodically baits readers with mystery and the macabre until the hook is set and then yanks it back with a vengeance. Eric Loesch returns to his hometown of Gerrysburg in upstate New York and sets out to renovate a secluded farmhouse. A strange bird, Eric is unpleasant and obviously burdened with secrets that, though unknown to the reader, seem to be known by the townsfolk. Childhood flashbacks fill in the gaps, and as the terrifying details of his past coalesce, Eric remains loathe to face the truth about some horrific events. Meanwhile, clues in the present lead Eric to understand that someone or something is out to get him, and past and present meet with violent but cathartic consequences. Lennon's work is full of misanthropes and unsettling figures of all stripes, and the promise of emotional or spiritual redemption remains elusive. Here, the surprising denouement packs a powerful and brutal punch.
Customer Reviews
Fails to come together
I don’t get it. Furthermore, I served in Kuwait and Iraq and I STILL don’t get it. Just not sure what this book was about. I think he tries to weave two or three stories into one, and int he end losses all three. Clearly the author is a good writer, but it seemed to me the story rambled on with no destination in mind and culminated in a benign ending. I’m disappointed I spent so much time reading it rather than something that would have proven more satisfying.
Top fave!
This is an utterly fascinating book, deeply resonated with me, will always be a top fave of mine
Castle
This was the worst book I have ever listened to/read! I slugged through the first few chapters thinking it would pick up and it did and then it jumped to another country in the story, jumped back to the present and then just ended. I actually thought I had missed some chapters and went back through to make sure. Dont waste your money!